18Disclosure of protected information

18 Disclosure of protected information

18 Disclosure of protected information

(1) The energy security target monitor must not disclose protected information, except—

(a) to the Minister under section 13, or

(a1) to AEMO under subsection (1A), or

(b) as required by another law.

(1A) The energy security target monitor may disclose protected information to AEMO if the monitor considers it necessary when exercising the monitor’s functions under section 12 or 13.

(1B) AEMO must not disclose protected information disclosed to it under subsection (1A).

(2) The Minister must not disclose protected information, except—

(a) with the consent of the person who provided the protected information, or

(b) to AEMO with the consent of the energy security target monitor, or

(c) for the purposes of, or in connection with, legal proceedings arising out of this Act, or

(d) to a person belonging to a class prescribed by the regulations, or

(e) if the disclosure is, in the opinion of the Minister, appropriate.

(3) The Minister is not to recommend the making of a regulation for the purposes of subsection (2)(d) unless the disclosure of the protected information to the class of persons prescribed by the regulation is, in the opinion of the Minister, appropriate.

(4) A person to whom protected information is disclosed by the Minister must not disclose protected information, except—

(a) with the authorisation of the Minister, and

(b) in accordance with a direction, if any, given by the Minister to the person that imposes a condition on or restricts the disclosure.

Maximum penalty—2,000 penalty units for a corporation or 100 penalty units for an individual.

(5) The Minister may authorise the disclosure of protected information under subsection (4) only if the disclosure is, in the opinion of the Minister, appropriate.

(6) In this section—