(1) It is the Parliament's intention that if an access application is made to an agency or Minister, the agency or Minister should deal with the application unless this would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest.
(2) Sections 40, 41 and 43 state the only circumstances in which the Parliament considers it would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest to deal with an access application.
(3) However, it is the Parliament's intention that this Act should be administered with a pro-disclosure bias and an agency or Minister may deal with an access application even if this Act provides that the agency or Minister may refuse to deal with the application.