OMBUDSMAN ACT 1973 - SECT 26A Unauthorised disclosure

OMBUDSMAN ACT 1973 - SECT 26A

    (1)     A person who is, or was, an Ombudsman officer must not, directly or indirectly, provide or disclose any information acquired by the person by reason of, or in the course of, the performance of the duties and functions of the Ombudsman, or the exercise of the powers of the Ombudsman, under this Act or any other Act except—

        (a)     for the performance of the duties and functions of the Ombudsman, or the exercise of the powers of the Ombudsman, in accordance with this Act or any other Act; or

        (b)     for the purposes of—

              (i)     proceedings for an offence; or

              (ii)     a disciplinary process or action—

instituted as a result of an investigation conducted by the Ombudsman; or

        (c)     for the purposes of proceedings for an offence against section 19 of the Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1958 ; or

S. 26A(1)(ca) inserted by No. 85/2012 s. 166(1)(a), amended by No. 2/2019 s. 79(Sch.  1 Pt C item 34).

        (ca)     for the purposes of proceedings for an offence against this Act or the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 ; or

S. 26A(1)(d) amended by Nos 85/2012 s. 166(1)(b), 2/2019 s. 79(Sch.  1 Pt C item 34).

        (d)     as is otherwise authorised or required to be made by or under this Act or the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 .

Penalty:     120 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months or both.

Note to s. 26A(1) inserted by No. 85/2012 s. 166(2), amended by No. 2/2019 s. 79(Sch.  1 Pt C item 35).

Note

The person may be subject to further confidentiality obligations under Part 7 of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 .

    (2)     Proceedings may only be instituted for an offence under subsection (1)—

        (a)     by the Ombudsman; or

        (b)     by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

S. 26A(3) inserted by No. 30/2016 s. 69, amended by No. 2/2019 s. 167.

    (3)     This section does not apply to the provision or disclosure of information by the Ombudsman officer in accordance with section 16I, 16J, 16K, 17, 26FB or  26FC.

S. 26B inserted by No. 82/2012 s. 244.