68Unauthorised disclosure of draft inquiry reports etc.

68  Unauthorised disclosure of draft inquiry reports etc.

 (a) the person receives any of the following:

 (i) a draft inquiry report;

 (ii) a document relating to a preliminary finding or a proposed recommendation included in a draft inquiry report;

 (iii) an extract from a report or document referred to in this paragraph; and

 (b) the person discloses any information in the report, document or extract.

 (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the information is disclosed:

 (a) in a comment made in accordance with subsection 22(3) or (4); or

 (b) in a response given in accordance with subsection 23(1); or

 (c) to a lawyer for the purpose of obtaining legal advice in connection with making such a comment or giving such a response; or

 (d) to any of the following persons for the purposes of that person exercising the person’s powers, or performing the person’s functions:

 (i) the Commonwealth Ombudsman or another officer within the meaning of subsection 35(1) of the Ombudsman Act 1976;

 (ii) the Australian Information Commissioner, a member of the staff of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner or a consultant engaged under the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010;

 (iii) the National Anti‑Corruption Commissioner or a staff member of the NACC within the meaning of the National Anti‑Corruption Commission Act 2022;

 (iv) the Inspector of the National Anti‑Corruption Commission or a person assisting the Inspector under section 194 of the National Anti‑Corruption Commission Act 2022;

 (v) the Inspector‑General of the Australian Defence Force or a member of staff engaged under section 110O of the Defence Act 1903;

 (vi) the Inspector‑General of Intelligence and Security or an IGIS official.

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