21CNotices—offences of disclosure

21C Notices—offences of disclosure

(1) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person is served with a notice under section 21A that includes a notation under section 21B; and (b) the person discloses the existence of, or any information about: (i) the notice; or (ii) any official matter connected with the notice; and (c) when the disclosure is made: (i) the notation has not been cancelled by subsection 21B(6); and (ii) the period of 5 years after the notice is served under section 21A has not ended.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years or 120 penalty units, or both.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the person makes the disclosure: (a) in any circumstances permitted by the notation; or (b) to a legal practitioner for the purpose of obtaining legal advice or representation in relation to the notice; or (c) to a legal aid officer for the purpose of seeking assistance under section 27 in relation to the notice; or (d) if the person is a body corporate—to an officer or agent of the body corporate for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the notice; or (e) if the person is a legal practitioner—for the purpose of obtaining the agreement of another person under subsection 21D(2) to the legal practitioner producing a document or thing; or (f) to the Ombudsman for the purpose of making a complaint under the Ombudsman Act 1976; or (g) as a NACC disclosure (within the meaning of the National Anti‑Corruption Commission Act 2022).

Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matters in subsection (2): see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.

(3) A person commits an offence if: (a) a disclosure is made to a person about: (i) a notice under section 21A that includes a notation under section 21B; or (ii) any official matter connected with such a notice; and (b) the disclosure is permitted under subsection (2) or (4) because the person is a person of a particular kind; and (c) while the person is a person of that kind, the person discloses the existence of, or any information about: (i) the notice; or (ii) any official matter connected with the notice; and (d) when the disclosure by the person is made: (i) the notation has not been cancelled by subsection 21B(6); and (ii) the period of 5 years after the notice is served under section 21A has not ended.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years or 120 penalty units, or both.

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply if the person discloses the information: (a) if the person is an officer or agent of a body corporate referred to in paragraph (2)(d): (i) to another officer or agent of the body corporate for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the notice; or (ii) to a legal practitioner for the purpose of obtaining legal advice or representation in relation to the notice; or (iii) to a legal aid officer for the purpose of seeking assistance under section 27 in relation to the notice; or (b) if the person is a legal practitioner—for the purpose of giving legal advice, making representations, or seeking assistance under section 27, in relation to the notice; or (c) if the person is a legal aid officer—for the purpose of obtaining legal advice or representation in relation to the notice; or (d) to the Ombudsman for the purpose of making a complaint under the Ombudsman Act 1976; or (e) by making a NACC disclosure (within the meaning of the National Anti‑Corruption Commission Act 2022).