Commentary on Sections Section 34J: Publication of statements etc. by Local Commissioner
342.This section deals with the publication of statements or adverse findings notices. A Local Commissioner may publish all or part of a statement, further publish an adverse findings notice or publish a summary of a statement or adverse findings notice. In deciding whether to publish a statement the Commissioner must take into account the public interest as well as the interests of the complainant and of other persons. The Local Commissioner may also supply a copy of all or part of a statement or adverse findings notice to anyone who requests it, and charge a reasonable fee for this. Subsections (8) and (9) of section 34H apply to a Local Commissioner’s publication of a statement or supply of any copy under this section. That means that, for example, the summary must not identify the complainant or any other person (other than the provider) unless the Commissioner considers it necessary to identify that person.