24ARequests may be refused if documents cannot be found, do not exist or have not been received

24A Requests may be refused if documents cannot be found, do not exist or have not been received

Document lost or non‑existent (1) An agency or Minister may refuse a request for access to a document if: (a) all reasonable steps have been taken to find the document; and (b) the agency or Minister is satisfied that the document: (i) is in the agency’s or Minister’s possession but cannot be found; or (ii) does not exist. Document not received as required by contract (2) An agency may refuse a request for access to a document if: (a) in order to comply with section 6C, the agency has taken contractual measures to ensure that it receives the document; and (b) the agency has not received the document; and (c) the agency has taken all reasonable steps to receive the document in accordance with those contractual measures.