{"id":"sr:parliamentary-workplace-standards-and-integrity-regulations-2025","name":"Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Regulations 2025","slug":"parliamentary-workplace-standards-and-integrity-regulations-2025","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":183400,"registerId":"vic-sr:parliamentary-workplace-standards-and-integrity-regulations-2025-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Regulations 2025","content":"Version No. 001\n\n**Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Regulations 2025**\n\n**S.R. No. 17/2025**\n\nVersion as at  \n8 April 2025\n\n**TABLE OF PROVISIONS**\n\n*Regulation Page*\n\nPart 1—Preliminary 1\n\n1 Objectives 1\n\n2 Authorising provision 1\n\n3 Definitions 1\n\nPart 2—Prescribed services and purposes 2\n\n4 Prescribed services and purposes 2\n\nPart 3—Prescribed forms 3\n\n5 Confidentiality notice 3\n\nSchedule 1—Forms 4\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes 10\n\n1 General information 10\n\n2 Table of Amendments 12\n\n3 Explanatory details 13\n\n**Version No.** **001**\n\n**Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Regulations 2025**\n\n**S.R. No. 17/2025**\n\nVersion as at  \n8 April 2025\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n\t1 Objectives\n\nThe objectives of these Regulations are—\n\n(a) to prescribe the form of a confidentiality notice issued by the Commission; and\n\n(b) to provide further circumstances in which a restricted matter specified in a confidentiality notice may be disclosed.\n\n\t2 Authorising provision\n\nThese Regulations are made under section 114 of the **Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024**.\n\n\t3 Definitions\n\nIn these Regulations—\n\n***the Act*** means the **Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024**;\n\n***Victorian Managed Insurance Authority***  means the body established under section 5(1) of the **Victorian Managed Insurance Authority Act 1996**.\n\nPart 2—Prescribed services and purposes\n\n\t4 Prescribed services and purposes\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 81(2)(f)(iii) of the Act, the following services are prescribed for the purposes of seeking crisis support, suicide prevention and mental health and wellbeing support services—\n\n(a) 1800 Respect, delivered by Telstra Health Pty Ltd ABN 38 163 077 236;\n\n(b) Beyond Blue Ltd ACN 093 865 840;\n\n(c) Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation Ltd ACN 137 533 843;\n\n(d) Lifeline Australia ACN 081 031 263;\n\n(e) QLife, delivered by LGBTIQ+ Health Australia ACN 138 151 569;\n\n(f) SANE Australia ACN 006 533 606;\n\n(g) Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Co‑operative Ltd ABN 51 825 578 859.\n\n(2) For the purposes of section 81(2)(f)(iii) of the Act, the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority is prescribed for the purposes of insurance and indemnities in relation to legal costs.\n\nPart 3—Prescribed forms\n\n\t5 Confidentiality notice\n\nFor the purposes of section 77(3)(a) of the Act, the prescribed form of a confidentiality notice is Form 1 in Schedule 1.\n\nSchedule 1—Forms\n\nFORM 1\n\nRegulation 5\n\nCONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE\n\n**Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024**\n\nTo: [*insert name of person subject to confidentiality notice*]\n\nAddress: [*insert address details*]\n\n**THIS CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE IS IMPORTANT.**\n\n**PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.**\n\n**FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE MAY BE AN OFFENCE.**\n\n**PENALTIES INCLUDING IMPRISONMENT MAY APPLY.**\n\n***1. What is this confidentiality notice?***\n\nThis confidentiality notice is issued under section 77 of the **Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024** in respect of the following restricted matters:\n\n[*Describe the investigation to which the confidentiality notice relates.*]\n\n[*Specify the restricted matter or matters including how the restricted matter relates to the recipient.*]\n\nBecause you have been given this confidentiality notice, you are not permitted to disclose the restricted matters above, except in certain circumstances. These circumstances are described under the section titled \"***When are you authorised to disclose information?***\".\n\nThere are severe penalties for breaching a confidentiality notice by disclosing a restricted matter when you are not permitted to do so. You could face:\n\n up to 12 months in prison; or\n\n a fine of up to 120 penalty units; or\n\n both.\n\n*You should also be aware of additional obligations under sections 52 and 53 of the **Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012** relating to confidentiality of assessable disclosures and people who make assessable disclosures.\n\n***2. Why have you been given this notice?***\n\nYou have been given this confidentiality notice because the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Commission (the ***Commission***) considers that your disclosure of any of the restricted matters described above would be likely to prejudice:\n\n*an investigation by the Commission, the Ombudsman, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission or Integrity Oversight Victoria; or\n\n*the safety of a person; or\n\n*the reputation of a person; or\n\n*the fair trial of a person who has been, or may be, charged with an offence.\n\n***3. When are you authorised to disclose information?***\n\nPlease read this section carefully. You can **only** disclose a restricted matter in the circumstances stated below.\n\nIf a person or an organisation does not appear under \"You **can** disclose this restricted matter:\" or under \"***Can you disclose in any other circumstances?***\", then you **cannot** disclose the restricted matter to that person or organisation. For example, if \"your employer or your manager\" does not appear under those headings, then you **cannot** disclose the restricted matter to your employer or manager.\n\n- **Restricted matter:**[*Specify restricted matter or matters as listed under paragraph 1*] You **can** disclose this restricted matter:* ✓ to your spouse or domestic partner.* ✓ to your employer or your manager or both.* ✓ to a registered health practitioner or a prescribed service providing crisis support, suicide prevention and mental health and wellbeing services for the purpose of seeking advice or support in relation to the investigation in respect of which this notice has been issued.* ✓ to a trade union, if you are a member of that union, for the purpose of seeking advice or support in relation to the investigation in respect of which this notice has been issued.* ✓ to an employee assistance program, for the purpose of seeking advice or support in relation to the investigation in respect of which this notice has been issued.* ✓ to the Victorian WorkCover Authority for the purpose of a workers' compensation claim.* ✓ to the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority for the purposes of insurance and indemnities in relation to legal costs.* ✓ for the purpose of an application to the Fair Work Commission, including any related proceeding.\n- The Commission has directed that you **cannot** disclose this restricted matter:*✗ to your spouse or domestic partner.*✗ to your employer or your manager.*✗ to a registered health practitioner or a prescribed service providing crisis support, suicide prevention and mental health and wellbeing services for the purpose of seeking advice or support in relation to the investigation in respect of which this notice has been issued.*✗ to a trade union.*✗ to an employee assistance program.*✗ to the Victorian WorkCover Authority for the purpose of a workers' compensation claim.* ✗ to the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority for the purposes of insurance and indemnities in relation to legal costs.*✗ for the purpose of an application to the Fair Work Commission, including any related proceeding.\n\n\n[*Repeat table as necessary for any restricted matter that can be disclosed in circumstances different from those above.*]\n\n***4. Can you disclose in any other circumstances?***\n\nYou are **always** permitted to disclose a restricted matter in the following circumstances:\n\n for the purposes of making a complaint to Integrity Oversight Victoria or to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission;\n\n for the purposes of complying with a witness summons served on you by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission under the **Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011** or Integrity Oversight Victoria under the **Integrity Oversight Victoria Act 2011**;\n\n if the Commission directs you or authorises you to disclose a restricted matter, including if you have requested authorisation to disclose a restricted matter and the Commission has provided that authorisation;\n\n if the disclosure is authorised or required by the **Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024**;\n\n if the disclosure is necessary for you to comply with a confidentiality notice, a notice cancelling a confidentiality notice or an order of the Supreme Court extending a confidentiality notice, including:\n\n to an interpreter if you do not know enough English to understand the nature of the confidentiality notice, notice cancelling a confidentiality notice or order extending a confidentiality notice;\n\n to a parent, guardian or independent person if you are under the age of 18 years;\n\n to an independent person, if you are illiterate or have a mental, physical or other impairment that prevents you from understanding the confidentiality notice, notice cancelling a confidentiality notice or order extending a confidentiality notice;\n\n to a legal practitioner for the purposes of obtaining legal advice or representation in relation to this confidentiality notice, or an order extending this confidentiality notice, or your rights, liabilities, obligations and privileges under:\n\n the **Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024**;\n\n the **Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011**;\n\n the **Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012**;\n\n the **Integrity Oversight Victoria Act 2011**;\n\n the Fair Work Act 2009 of the Commonwealth;\n\n the **Local Government Act 2020**;\n\n the **Racing Act 1958**;\n\n the **Freedom of Information Act 1982**;\n\n if you are a legal practitioner, for the purposes of complying with a legal duty of disclosure or a professional obligation arising from your relationship with your client;\n\n if the restricted matter is information that has otherwise been made public in accordance with the **Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024** or any other Act;\n\n if the restricted matter is information that has been published in a report by the Commission, a Privileges Committee, the Integrity and Oversight Committee or any of the following investigating entities:\n\n the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission;\n\n Victoria Police;\n\n the Victorian Ombudsman;\n\n Integrity Oversight Victoria;\n\n the Judicial Commission, including an investigating panel appointed by the Judicial Commission;\n\n the Racing Integrity Commissioner;\n\n the Information Commissioner;\n\n the Chief Municipal Inspector.\n\n***5. What are your obligations if you make a permitted disclosure?***\n\nIf you disclose information about a restricted matter to another person because the disclosure is permitted, you must, when making that disclosure, give that person a copy of this confidentiality notice, and any order extending this confidentiality notice, unless you have a reasonable excuse for not doing so. If you do not have a reasonable excuse, you can face severe penalties, including up to 12 months in prison or a fine of up to 120 penalty units or both.\n\nIn addition, if this confidentiality notice is replaced by a new confidentiality notice or if it is cancelled or extended, you must give a copy of the new confidentiality notice or the notice of cancellation or extension to each person to whom you have made a disclosure, unless you have a reasonable excuse for not doing so. If you do not have a reasonable excuse, you can face the same severe penalties listed above, including up to 12 months in prison or a fine of up to 120 penalty units or both.\n\n***6. When does this confidentiality notice expire or otherwise cease to have effect?***\n\nThis confidentiality notice expires or otherwise ceases to have effect on the date when the first of the following events occurs:\n\n the Commission cancels this confidentiality notice and issues you with a new notice that includes different restricted matters;\n\n the Commission cancels this confidentiality notice and issues you with a new notice because it believes that it is no longer necessary to restrict disclosure of one or more restricted matters in this notice;\n\n the Commission cancels this confidentiality notice because it believes that it is no longer necessary to restrict disclosure of any restricted matters in this notice;\n\n the Commission cancels this confidentiality notice and issues you with a new notice that includes further direction or authorisation in relation to the disclosure of any restricted matters;\n\n the Commission cancels this confidentiality notice at the conclusion of an investigation;\n\n if the Supreme Court makes an order extending this confidentiality notice, the period of extension ends.\n\n***7. Where can I get more information about this confidentiality notice?***\n\nA copy of the relevant law about confidentiality notices is attached to this confidentiality notice.\n\nYou can also obtain legal advice about this confidentiality notice from a legal practitioner.\n\n[*attach a copy of sections 78 and 79 of the* ***Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024*** *and an explanation of the effect of those provisions*]\n\n[*signature*]\n\n[*name*]\n\n[*title*]\n\nDate: [*insert date*]\n\n*Delete if not applicable.\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Regulations 2025, S.R. No. 17/2025 were made on 8 April 2025 by the Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Premier, under section 114 of the **Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024**, No. 27/2024 and came into operation on 8 April 2025.\n\nThe Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Regulations 2025 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 8 April 2035 (see section 5 of the **Subordinate Legislation Act 1994**).\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nThis includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  \nSee section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nSee section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after  \n1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThere are no amendments made to the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Regulations 2025 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.\n\n3 Explanatory details\n\nNo entries at date of publication.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Insufficient substantive content in the provided document to determine whether the scope changed from the original legislative intent. Only version history and status metadata are present — no operative provisions, definitions, or schedules are visible to assess."},"complexity_factors":["Regulations sit beneath a parent Act, requiring cross-referencing to understand full legal effect","Parliamentary workplace law involves unique constitutional considerations — Parliament has special privileges that complicate normal workplace law application","The document provided is fragmentary — only metadata and version history are visible, not substantive provisions","Integrity and standards frameworks typically involve multiple overlapping bodies (e.g., Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority, proposed Parliamentary Workplace Support Service)","Low score tempered by fact that the subject matter (workplace conduct) is conceptually familiar to most people"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set out rules for workplace standards and integrity in Australia’s parliamentary workplaces — Parliament House and MPs’/Senators’ offices — covering members, their staff and advisers, and others working there. \n\nThey matter because they implement how misconduct, complaints, conduct codes and integrity expectations are managed after high‑profile reviews of parliamentary culture, though the provided document is only a metadata shell and lacks full substantive detail."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations appear tightly scoped to their original purpose under section 114 of the parent Act. They prescribe specific forms, services and purposes as authorised by the primary legislation without significant expansion beyond the Act's framework for confidentiality notices and support services."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive cross-referencing to the parent Act (Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024) and multiple other statutes including the IBAC Act, Public Interest Disclosures Act, and Fair Work Act","Complex conditional logic in Form 1 with nested permissions and prohibitions (can disclose to X unless Commission directs cannot)","Multiple overlapping confidentiality regimes referenced (sections 52-53 of Public Interest Disclosures Act, section 77 of parent Act)","Detailed prescription of specific service providers by name and ABN/ACN in regulation 4","Form 1 contains extensive variable fields and optional deletions requiring case-by-case completion","Sunsetting provision and interpretation Act references in endnotes add procedural complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations support Victoria's new system for handling complaints about bullying, harassment and misconduct in Parliament. They do three main things:\n\n**1. They set up a confidentiality notice system**\nWhen the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Commission investigates something, they can issue a 'confidentiality notice' to people involved. This notice bans those people from talking about the investigation to others. Breaking this ban can land you in prison for up to 12 months or cost you a hefty fine.\n\nHowever, the regulations create **exceptions** so people can still get help. You can talk to:\n- Your spouse or partner\n- Your boss or employer\n- Mental health services (like Lifeline, Beyond Blue, 1800RESPECT)\n- Your union\n- Employee assistance programs\n- WorkCover (for compensation claims)\n- The insurance authority (for legal costs)\n- The Fair Work Commission\n- A lawyer for legal advice\n\n**2. They list approved support services**\nThe regulations specifically name seven mental health and crisis support services that people can contact even when under a confidentiality notice. These include well-known services like Lifeline, Beyond Blue, Headspace and 1800RESPECT.\n\n**3. They prescribe the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority**\nThis body is authorised to provide insurance and cover legal costs for people caught up in these investigations.\n\n**Why this matters:**\nThese regulations try to balance two competing needs. On one hand, investigations need confidentiality to protect people's safety, reputations and fair trial rights. On the other hand, people under investigation or giving evidence need mental health support and legal advice. The regulations draw careful lines about who can be told what, with criminal penalties for getting it wrong."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"These regulations do not change the Act’s substantive powers. They implement the Act by prescribing the confidentiality notice form, listing specific crisis‑support providers and naming the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority for legal‑cost indemnities, and by detailing permitted disclosure circumstances and recipient‑notification obligations (Reg 1; Reg 4; Reg 5; Schedule 1, Form 1)."},"complexity_factors":["Cross‑references to the parent Act and specific sections (reg 2 authorises under s.114 of the Act; reg 5 links to s.77(3)(a); reg 4 invokes s.81(2)(f)(iii))","Prescribed list of external service providers with ABNs/ACNs requiring upkeep and verification (reg 4(1))","Prescribing the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority for insurance/indemnities introduces inter‑agency arrangements and potential administrative interfaces (reg 4(2))","Form 1 contains layered permissions and prohibitions (who “can” vs who the Commission has directed “cannot”), potentially creating interpretive ambiguity and repetition where multiple restricted matters are listed (Schedule 1, Form 1)","High criminal penalties and mandatory procedural obligations to provide notice copies when making permitted disclosures create compliance cost and risk for recipients (Form 1 paras 1, 5)","Extensive incorporation of other statutes and investigative bodies as authorised disclosure routes increases cross‑jurisdictional complexity (Form 1 para 4)","Commission discretion to authorise, cancel or extend notices and the multiple expiry triggers require active administrative decision‑making and record management (Form 1 paras 3, 6)"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations prescribe the Commission’s confidentiality‑notice form and name the crisis‑support services and the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority as the insurer/indemnifier for legal costs. They implement powers in the Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024 to specify who may receive “restricted matters” and when disclosure is allowed. \n\nThey affect anyone served with a confidentiality notice, the listed service providers and the named insurer; create criminal penalties for unauthorised disclosure; and impose duties to give copies of notices and to follow Commission directions (Reg 4; Reg 5; Form 1)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/parliamentary-workplace-standards-and-integrity-regulations-2025","history":"/api/acts/parliamentary-workplace-standards-and-integrity-regulations-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/parliamentary-workplace-standards-and-integrity-regulations-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/parliamentary-workplace-standards-and-integrity-regulations-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/parliamentary-workplace-standards-and-integrity-regulations-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/parliamentary-workplace-standards-and-integrity-regulations-2025/documents"}}