However, there was significance resistance to the act with concerns around the speed, secrecy and lack of public consultation.

The opposition to the act was led by the Coalition for Open Government which had been formed by Sir Guy Powles, the former Chief Ombudsman of New Zealand.

The Minister for National Development, Bill Birch, largely ignored the counterarguments but Prime Minister Robert Muldoon did make some minor amendments based on the submissions, notably a clause that allowed the Court of Appeal to consider government decisions made under the act.

Critics were still unimpressed and three National MPS (Mike Minogue, Ian Shearer and Marilyn Waring) voted with the opposition against the bill, though it passed anyway.

The act, and its part in enabling the controversial Think Big policy, reduced Muldoon and his governments popularity with its 'dogmatic arrogance of executive power'.