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Section 61TM - Disclosure subject to confidentiality notice

Guidelines

What happens if a person receives a confidentiality notice?

1.1

A person who is served with a confidentiality notice must not disclose any restricted matter in the confidentiality notice while it has effect.3 There are penalties for breaching a confidentiality notice (120 penalty units or 12 months imprisonment, or both).4

See section 61TJ for information on when OVIC can issue a confidentiality notices and what a ‘restricted matter’ is.

When is disclosing a restricted matter permitted?

1.2

There are certain circumstances where a person may disclose a restricted matter in a confidentiality notice. This includes disclosures:

  • in accordance with a direction or authorisation from the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC);16
  • to any person where necessary for the purposes of obtaining any information to comply with a witness summons or confidentiality notice (for instance, to an interpreter); 17
  • for the purpose of obtaining legal advice or representation;18
  • by a legal practitioner who receives the disclosure for the purpose of providing legal advice;19
  • to a spouse, domestic partner, employer or manager unless the Commissioner has specified otherwise;20
  • to certain classes of professionals for the purpose of obtaining advice or support unless the Information Commissioner directs that it should not be;21 and
  • as is otherwise authorised or required to be made by or under the Act.22
1.3

If a person makes a disclosure under one of the circumstances outlined above, they must provide the person to whom the disclosure is made with:

  • a copy of the confidentiality notice and any order extending the confidentiality notice;23
  • any new confidentiality notice;24 and/or
  • notice cancelling the confidentiality notice.25
1.4

A penalty may apply for not doing this.26

Other circumstances where disclosing a restricted matter is permitted

1.5

A person may disclose a restricted matter:

  • to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) if IBAC originally referred the complaint to OVIC but then withdrew that referral;32
  • to Victoria Police if OVIC disclosed information to the Chief Commissioner of Police under section 61TI (relating to actual or potential criminal conduct) and the restricted matter is relevant to an investigation by Victoria Police of that conduct;33
  • if the disclosure is made for the purposes of:
    • making a complaint to IBAC or the Victorian Inspectorate;34 or
    • complying with a witness summons served by IBAC or the Victorian Inspectorate.35
1.6

A person may also disclose a restricted matter if the information has been published by an investigating entity (such as IBAC) or the Integrity and Oversight Committee in a report or has otherwise been made public in accordance with an Act.36

  1. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(1).
  2. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(1).
  3. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(1).
  4. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(1).
  5. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(a).
  6. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(b).
  7. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(c).
  8. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(d).
  9. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(e).
  10. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(f).
  11. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(g).
  12. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(8).
  13. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(9).
  14. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(9).
  15. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(9).
  16. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(a).
  17. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(b).
  18. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(c).
  19. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(d).
  20. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(e).
  21. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(f).
  22. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(2)(g).
  23. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(8).
  24. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(9).
  25. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(9).
  26. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(9).
  27. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(3). IBAC must have referred the complaint to the Information Commissioner under section 73A of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011 (Vic) and then withdrew the referral under section 79 of that Act.
  28. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(4).
  29. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), sections 61TM(5)(a) and 61TM(5)(b).
  30. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), sections 61TM(6)(a) and 61TM(6)(b).
  31. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(7).
  32. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(3). IBAC must have referred the complaint to the Information Commissioner under section 73A of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011 (Vic) and then withdrew the referral under section 79 of that Act.
  33. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(4).
  34. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), sections 61TM(5)(a) and 61TM(5)(b).
  35. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), sections 61TM(6)(a) and 61TM(6)(b).
  36. Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic), section 61TM(7).

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Last updated 27 December 2023

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