sec.66Maintaining confidentiality of information

### sec.66 Maintaining confidentiality of information Despite any other provision of this Act or another law about reporting, or the making of a statement to the public, if the commission considers that confidentiality should be strictly maintained in relation to information in its possession ( confidential information )— the commission need not make a report or statement on the matter to which the information is relevant; or if the commission makes a report or statement on the matter, it need not disclose the confidential information or refer to it in the report or statement. If the commission decides not to make a report or statement to which confidential information is relevant or, in a report or statement, decides not to disclose or refer to confidential information, the commission— may disclose the confidential information in a separate document to be given to— the Speaker; and the Minister; and must disclose the confidential information in a separate document to be given to the parliamentary committee. A member of the parliamentary committee or a person appointed, engaged or assigned to help the committee must not disclose confidential information disclosed to the parliamentary committee or person under subsection (2) (b) until the commission advises the committee there is no longer a need to strictly maintain confidentiality in relation to the information. Maximum penalty—85 penalty units or 1 year’s imprisonment. Despite subsection (2) (b) , the commission may refuse to disclose information to the parliamentary committee if— a majority of the commissioners considers confidentiality should continue to be strictly maintained in relation to the information; and the commission gives the committee reasons for the decision in as much detail as possible. A document mentioned in subsection (2) (a) or (b) is not a commission report for section 69 . In this section— report includes a draft report mentioned in section 69B (2) (a) (i) (A) or 69D (2) (a) (i) (A) . statement includes a draft statement mentioned in section 69B (2) (a) (ii) (A) or 69D (2) (a) (ii) (A) . s 66 amd 2025 No. 7 s 16 (sec.66-ssec.1) Despite any other provision of this Act or another law about reporting, or the making of a statement to the public, if the commission considers that confidentiality should be strictly maintained in relation to information in its possession ( confidential information )— the commission need not make a report or statement on the matter to which the information is relevant; or if the commission makes a report or statement on the matter, it need not disclose the confidential information or refer to it in the report or statement. (sec.66-ssec.2) If the commission decides not to make a report or statement to which confidential information is relevant or, in a report or statement, decides not to disclose or refer to confidential information, the commission— may disclose the confidential information in a separate document to be given to— the Speaker; and the Minister; and must disclose the confidential information in a separate document to be given to the parliamentary committee. (sec.66-ssec.3) A member of the parliamentary committee or a person appointed, engaged or assigned to help the committee must not disclose confidential information disclosed to the parliamentary committee or person under subsection (2) (b) until the commission advises the committee there is no longer a need to strictly maintain confidentiality in relation to the information. Maximum penalty—85 penalty units or 1 year’s imprisonment. (sec.66-ssec.4) Despite subsection (2) (b) , the commission may refuse to disclose information to the parliamentary committee if— a majority of the commissioners considers confidentiality should continue to be strictly maintained in relation to the information; and the commission gives the committee reasons for the decision in as much detail as possible. (sec.66-ssec.5) A document mentioned in subsection (2) (a) or (b) is not a commission report for section 69 . (sec.66-ssec.6) In this section— report includes a draft report mentioned in section 69B (2) (a) (i) (A) or 69D (2) (a) (i) (A) . statement includes a draft statement mentioned in section 69B (2) (a) (ii) (A) or 69D (2) (a) (ii) (A) . - (a) the commission need not make a report or statement on the matter to which the information is relevant; or - (b) if the commission makes a report or statement on the matter, it need not disclose the confidential information or refer to it in the report or statement. - (a) may disclose the confidential information in a separate document to be given to— (i) the Speaker; and (ii) the Minister; and - (i) the Speaker; and - (ii) the Minister; and - (b) must disclose the confidential information in a separate document to be given to the parliamentary committee. - (i) the Speaker; and - (ii) the Minister; and - (a) a majority of the commissioners considers confidentiality should continue to be strictly maintained in relation to the information; and - (b) the commission gives the committee reasons for the decision in as much detail as possible.