Protection against actions for defamation or breach of confidence

(1) Where access has been given to a document and, (a) the access was required by this Act to be given; or (b) the access was authorized by a Minister, or by an officer having authority, in accordance with section 20 or 36 of this Act, to make decisions in respect of requests, in the bona fide belief that the access was required by this Act to be given, no action for defamation or breach of confidence lies by reason of the authorizing or giving of the access, against the Government or a prescribed authority or against the Minister or officer who authorised the access or any person who gave the access. (2) The giving of access to a document (including an exempt document) in consequence of a request shall not be taken, for the purposes of the law relating to defamation or breach of confidence, to constitute an authorization or approval of the publication of the document or of its contents by the person to whom the access was given.