120Protection of commissioners and witnesses

120  Protection of commissioners and witnesses Protection of commissioners  (1) In performing his or her duties as a commissioner, a commissioner has the same protection and immunity as a Justice of the High Court. Rights and obligations of witnesses  (2) A person appearing before a commission as a witness at an inquiry:  (a) has the same protection as a witness in proceedings in the High Court; and  (b) is subject to the same liabilities in any civil or criminal proceedings as such a witness (in addition to the penalties provided by this Division). Interfering with witness is an offence  (3) A person must not:  (a) use violence to or inflict injury on; or  (b) cause or procure violence, damage, loss or disadvantage to; or  (c) cause or procure the punishment of; another person (the witness) because the witness will appear or did appear as a witness at an inquiry or because of any submission or evidence the witness gave to a commission. Interference with a witness’ employment  (4) An employer must not dismiss an employee, or prejudice an employee in his or her employment, because the employee appeared as a witness or gave any submission or evidence at an inquiry by a commission. Interference with employee who proposes to give evidence  (5) An employer must not dismiss or threaten to dismiss an employee or prejudice, or threaten to prejudice, an employee in his or her employment, because the employee proposes to appear as a witness or to give a submission or evidence at an inquiry by a commission. Offences  (6) A person who contravenes subsection (3), (4) or (5) commits an offence punishable on conviction by imprisonment for not more than 6 months, a fine of not more than 30 penalty units, or both. Note: Subsection 4B(3) of the Crimes Act 1914 lets a court fine a body corporate up to 5 times the maximum amount the court could fine a person under this subsection. Burden of proof in proceedings relating to witness  (7) In proceedings arising out of subsection (4), the employer has the burden of proving that the employee was not dismissed or prejudiced because the employee appeared as a witness or gave a submission or evidence at an inquiry by a commission, if it is established that:  (a) the employee was dismissed from, or prejudiced in, his or her employment; and  (b) before the employee was dismissed or prejudiced, the employee appeared as a witness, or gave any submission or evidence, at an inquiry by a commission. Burden of proof in proceedings relating to employee proposing to give evidence  (8) In any proceedings arising out of subsection (5), the employer has the burden of proving that the employee was not dismissed, prejudiced in his or her employment or threatened with dismissal or prejudice because the employee proposed to appear as a witness or give evidence at an inquiry by a commission, if it is established that:  (a) the employee was dismissed, prejudiced or threatened; and  (b) the employee made the proposal before the employee was dismissed, prejudiced or threatened. Relationship of subsections (3), (4) and (5)  (9) Subsections (4) and (5) do not limit subsection (3). Subdivision D—Inquiry reports 121  Timing of report   The commission must report to the Minister on the inquiry within the period specified by the Minister in the terms of reference. 122  Publication of report  (1) After reporting to the Minister, the commission must publish the report in accordance with the regulations.  (2) However, the commission must not publish the report so far as it sets out any submission or evidence whose publication the commission prohibited or restricted by a direction under paragraph 110(3)(b). Subdivision E—Commissioners’ terms and conditions