19 Availability of certain documents

(1) An agency must make copies of—

(a) its most recent statement of affairs; and

(b) each of its policy documents; available for inspection and purchase by members of the community.

(2) Nothing in this section prevents an agency from deleting exempt matter from a copy of a policy document.

(3) A person must not be subjected to any prejudice because of the application of the provisions of an agency's policy document (other than provisions the agency is permitted to delete from the copies of the document) to any act or omission of the person if, at the time of the act or omission—

(a) the policy document was not available for inspection and purchase; and

(b) the person was not aware of the provisions; and

(c) the person could lawfully have avoided the prejudice had the person been aware of the provisions.

(4) During the first year of the application of this section to an agency—

(a) the agency is required to comply with subsection (1) only to the extent that is reasonably practicable; and

(b) subsection (3) does not have effect.