34ACommission may communicate information

34A Commission may communicate information

[Section 34A Inserted by No. 54 of 2013, s. 8, Applied:04 Mar 2013]

(1)  If, in the course of inquiring into a matter, a Commission obtains information that relates, or that may relate, to a contravention of a law, or to evidence of a contravention of a law, of the State, the Commonwealth, another State or a Territory, the Commission may, if in the opinion of the Commission it is appropriate to do so, communicate the information or furnish the evidence, as the case may be, to –

(a) the Attorney-General of the State, the Commonwealth, another State, the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory; or

(b) the Director of Public Prosecutions; or

(c) the authority or person responsible for the administration or enforcement of that law.

(2)  A reference in subsection (1) to a contravention of a law is a reference to a contravention for which a person may be liable to –

(a) a criminal penalty; or

(b) a civil or administrative penalty.

(3)  If, in the course of inquiring into a matter, a Commission –

(a) obtains information; or

(b) takes evidence; or

(c) receives a document or thing –

that, in the opinion of the Commission, relates or may relate to a matter into which another Commission is required or authorised to inquire, the first-mentioned Commission may, if in its opinion it is appropriate to do so, communicate the information or furnish the evidence, document or thing, as the case may be, to that other Commission.

(4)  For the purposes of subsection (3)  –

another Commission includes a Royal Commission, or a Commission of Inquiry, established in another Australian jurisdiction.

(5)  If, in the course of inquiry into a matter, a Commission –