Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

WITNESS PROTECTION ACT 1994 - SECT 13

             (1)  If a witness is included in the NWPP, or is being assessed for inclusion in the NWPP, the Commissioner is to take such action as the Commissioner considers necessary and reasonable to protect the witness's safety and welfare while also protecting the safety of the Commissioner, a Deputy Commissioner, AFP employees and special members of the Australian Federal Police.

             (2)  That action may include:

                     (a)  applying for any documents necessary:

                              (i)  to allow the witness to establish a new identity; or

                             (ii)  otherwise to protect the witness; and

                     (b)  permitting persons who hold or occupy designated positions to use assumed names in carrying out their duties in relation to the NWPP and to carry documentation supporting those assumed names; and

                     (c)  relocating the witness; and

                     (d)  providing accommodation for the witness; and

                     (e)  providing transport for the witness's property; and

                      (f)  providing payments to the witness for the purpose of meeting the reasonable living expenses of the witness (including, where appropriate, living expenses of the witness's family) and providing, whether directly or indirectly, other reasonable financial assistance; and

                     (g)  providing payments to the witness for the purpose of meeting costs associated with relocation; and

                     (h)  providing assistance to the witness in obtaining employment or access to education; and

                      (i)  providing other assistance to the witness with a view to ensuring that the witness becomes self--sustaining; and

                      (j)  doing other things that the Commissioner considers to be necessary to ensure the safety of the witness.

             (3)  The Commissioner must not obtain documentation for a witness that represents the witness:

                     (a)  to have qualifications that the witness does not have; or

                     (b)  to be entitled to benefits to which the witness would not be entitled if the witness were not included in the NWPP.

             (4)  A Commonwealth officer must not prepare documentation relating to the establishment of a new identity for a participant unless the officer has a national security clearance at the level of "secret" or "top secret" or a position of trust clearance at the level of "highly protected".