• Specific Year
    Any

WITNESS PROTECTION ACT 1991

Table of Provisions

PART 1--PRELIMINARY

  • 1 Purpose  
  • 2 Commencement  
  • 3 Definitions  
  • 3AAA Objective of witness protection  
  • 3AA Witness protection principles  

PART 2--WITNESS PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE

Division 1--Victorian witness protection program

Division 2--Interim witness protection

Division 3--Temporary assumed identities and identity documents

  • 9F Definitions  
  • 9G Application for authority to acquire and use assumed identity  
  • 9H Authority to acquire and use assumed identity  
  • 9I Duration of authority  
  • 9J Variation or cancellation of authority  
  • 9K Evidence of assumed identity  
  • 9L Protection from criminal liability—officers of issuing agencies  
  • 9M Protection from criminal liability—authorised persons  
  • 9N Misuse of assumed identity  

Division 3A--Alternative protection arrangements

Division 4--General provisions applying to witness protection and assistance

  • 10 Information not to be disclosed  
  • 10A Disclosure of information about identity etc. in proceedings  
  • 11 Offences in relation to documents  
  • 12 Privilege of matters and things relating to performance of duties in accordance with this Act  
  • 12A Immunity from civil action  
  • 12B Investigations of complaints by the IBAC  
  • 13 Court proceedings under this Act to be closed  
  • 14 Certain provisions of Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996 excluded  
  • 15 Special provision in case of marriage  
  • 15AA Review of protection and assistance provided to witnesses  

Division 5--Suspension and termination of witness protection and assistance

  • 15A Suspension of protection and assistance  
  • 16 Termination of protection and assistance  
  • 17 Involuntary termination—notice and review  
  • 18 When does involuntary termination take effect?  
  • 19 Restoration of former identity  
  • 20 When does a decision to restore a person's former identity take effect?  
  • 20A Children of participant or recognised participant who have no former identity  

PART 2A--PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY, MONITORING AND REPORTING

Division 1--Record keeping

  • 20B Record keeping  

Division 2--Independent Broad-based Anti‑corruption Commission

  • 20C Functions of the IBAC  
  • 20D IBAC to be given reasonable assistance  
  • 20E Powers in relation to monitoring  
  • 20F Recommendations  
  • 20G Reports on monitoring compliance  
  • 20H Immunity of the IBAC and IBAC Officers  

Division 3--Public Interest Monitor

Division 4--Reporting

  • 20R Report to the Minister  

PART 3--COMMONWEALTH AND INTERSTATE ARRANGEMENTS

  • 21 Arrangements with approved authorities  
  • 21A Approved authorities can only act under this Act if arrangements with Chief Commissioner are in place  
  • 22 Authorisation of approved authorities  
  • 23 Provision of information to approved authorities  

PART 4--GENERAL

PART 5--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

  • 26 Transitional provision  
  • 27 Transitional provisions—Integrity and Accountability Legislation Amendment Act 2012  
  • 28 Transitional provision—Witness Protection Amendment Act 2014  
  • 29 Transitional provision—Witness Protection Amendment Act 2016  
  • ENDNOTES

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