OMBUDSMAN ACT 2009 (NO 5 OF 2009) - SECT 120 Confidentiality of information

OMBUDSMAN ACT 2009 (NO 5 OF 2009) - SECT 120

    (1)     This section applies to a person who obtains information in the course of or for:

    (a)     the making of preliminary inquiries; or

    (b)     the conduct of conciliation or mediation of a complaint; or

    (c)     the conduct of the police complaints resolution process; or

    (d)     the conduct of an investigation.

    (2)     The person must not disclose the information to anyone else.

Fault element:     Recklessness as to the disclosure of the information.

Maximum penalty:     400 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years.

    (3)     Subsection (2) does not apply if:

    (a)     the information is disclosed for:

        (i)     the exercise of a power or performance of a function under this Act; or

        (ii)     formulating a report, or recommendations for a report, under this Act; or

    (b)     the information is disclosed in:

        (i)     a report under this Act; or

        (ii)     an agreement for the resolution of a complaint that, under section 44(5), is binding on the parties to the complaint; or

    (c)     the information is disclosed for:

        (i)     a proceeding under section 20; or

        (ii)     a proceeding for an offence against this Act; or

        (iii)     a proceeding for another offence, or breach of discipline, constituted by the action or conduct the subject of a complaint; or

    (d)     the information is disclosed to the Ombudsman of the Commonwealth or a State for exercising a power or performing a function:

        (i)     under a law of the Territory, the Commonwealth or a State; or

        (ii)     under an arrangement made under section 148; or

    (e)     the information is disclosed in consulting a legal practitioner or, with the Ombudsman's consent, someone else.

    (4)     The person must not make improper use of the information.

Fault element:     Intentionally making improper use of the information.

Maximum penalty:     400 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years.

    (5)     In this section:

"improper use", by a person of information, means the person uses the information to gain some private benefit or to benefit or cause harm to someone else.