The ACT Ombudsman has criticised the Environment and Planning Directorate for its tardy processing of an FOI request.
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Community advocate David Johnston submitted a request to the directorate on December 15, seeking information about minister Shane Rattenbury's travel to Morroco.
It was only answered on March 20, well outside the 30 days prescribed in legislation.
Mr Rattenbury said in March the directorate had indicated "an administration error" in processing the request and had apologised to Mr Johnston.
"I have asked the directorate to review its FOI procedures and have been advised that they have put in place additional assurance mechanisms to ensure future requests are not overlooked," he said.
In a letter to Mr Johnston, the Ombudsman said "it is unacceptable for an agency to overlook an FOI request".
"[The Directorate] should have informed you well before the due date under the FOI Act of its intention to provide its response outside the Act," the letter said.
The ACT parliament passed new freedom of information laws last year to create a "push" model for open access to data.
Amendments limit open access to information that comes into existence when the new system begins in January 2018.
Mr Johnston welcomed the Ombudsman's finding that delays were unacceptable.
"What hope has this agency got to process FOI requests under the new legislation next year if it can't process FOI requests in a timely, efficient and effective manner now," he said.
"Mr Rattenbury needs to walk the talk on FOI and ensure that his agency finalises FOI requests in a timely and effective manner in accordance with the legislation.
"Mr Rattenbury also needs to focus more on good public administration and the delivery of services and less on rhetoric, political stunts and grandstanding."
A directorate spokesman said in March: "The directorate endeavours to meet all FOI deadlines. On this occasion they did not meet the timeframes, for which they've apologised to Mr Johnston. The directorate have also taken steps to ensure that such delays are avoided."
