The former attorney-general and Minister for Justice, Qoriniasi Bale, in 1986, expressed concern over leaks of government information to the press.
Mr Bale, as per an article published by the Fiji Times on May 3 that year, made the remarks while closing a week-long course for government supervisory personnel at the Government Training Centre.
Mr Bale had emphasised that any information passed on to the media must only come from the press liaison officer of the department concerned or through the Director of Information.
“We are all aware of the fact that newspapers and private individuals seem to have access to information which they should not have until such time as a department or ministry is prepared to impart it,” Mr Bale said.
“Some of you work in sensitive areas where a leakage of information can be beneficial to a recipient or can cause disruption to your program at work.
“Despite the fact that all officers in government service are required to observe the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, information which should not be imparted to those outside the services still gets out.
“You must see that the provisions of the Official Secrets Act are rigorously observed. Naturally, if there are achievements, such should receive wider recognition, which should be brought to the attention of the press liaison officer.
“I am not advocating complete and utter secrecy. What I am urging is that junior officers must not feel able to talk to all and sundry if approached by the media.
“There is a laid down channel of communication which should be adopted.”
