44Disclosure subject to confidentiality notice

44 Disclosure subject to confidentiality notice S. 44(1) amended by No. 2/2019 s. 53(1). (1) Subject to subsections (2), (2A), (2B), (3), (4) and (5), a person who— (a) is duly served with a confidentiality notice by the IBAC under section 42(9), and if applicable, any order extending the confidentiality notice; or (b) receives a copy of a confidentiality notice under subsection (6) or (7) and, if applicable, a copy of any order extending the confidentiality notice— must not disclose a restricted matter specified in the confidentiality notice while it has effect. Notes to s. 44(1) amended by Nos 30/2016 s. 46(1), 2/2019 s. 53(2), substituted by No. 31/2024 s. 75(1). **Notes** 1 A person who is served with or receives a confidentiality notice may be subject to further confidentiality obligations under Part 7 of the **Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012**. 2 Section 185 applies to an offence against this subsection. (2) Despite subsection (1), a restricted matter specified in a confidentiality notice may be disclosed if the disclosure is made in any of the following circumstances— (a) in accordance with a direction or authorisation given by the IBAC; (b) to any person where necessary for the purposes of obtaining any information, document or other thing to comply with a witness summons or a confidentiality notice, a notice cancelling a confidentiality notice or an order extending a confidentiality notice under section 42, including if the person— (i) does not have a sufficient knowledge of the English language to understand the nature of the witness summons or a confidentiality notice, a notice cancelling a confidentiality notice or an order extending a confidentiality notice under section 42, to an interpreter; (ii) is a person under the age of 18 years, to a parent, guardian or independent person; (iii) is a person who is illiterate or has a mental, physical or other impairment which prevents the person from understanding the witness summons or a confidentiality notice, a notice cancelling a confidentiality notice or an order extending a confidentiality notice under section 42 without assistance, to an independent person; (c) subject to section 127(2) and (8), for the purposes of obtaining legal advice or representation in relation to— (i) a witness summons, a confidentiality notice or an order extending a confidentiality notice under section 42; S. 44(2)(c)(ii) substituted by No. 2/2019 s. 53(3)(a). (ii) the person's rights, liabilities, obligations and privileges under this Act or a relevant Act; S. 44(2)(ca) inserted by No. 2/2019 s. 53(3)(b). (ca) for the purposes of a proceeding for an offence against, or a disciplinary process or action instituted in respect of conduct that could constitute an offence against, the **Judicial Commission of Victoria Act 2016** or Part IIIAA of the **Constitution Act 1975**; (d) by an Australian legal practitioner who receives a disclosure in the circumstances specified in paragraph (c), for the purposes of complying with a legal duty of disclosure or a professional obligation arising from his or her professional relationship with his or her client; S. 44(2)(e) substituted by No. 2/2019 s. 53(3)(c). (e) to any of the following persons, unless the IBAC directs that the restricted matter must not be disclosed to that person— (i) the spouse or domestic partner of the person served with the confidentiality notice; (ii) the employer or manager of the person served with the confidentiality notice, or both; S. 44(2)(f) inserted by No. 2/2019 s. 53(3)(c). (f) in any of the following circumstances, unless the IBAC directs that the restricted matter must not be disclosed in that circumstance— (i) to any of the following for the purpose of assisting the person to seek advice or support in relation to the investigation in respect of which the confidentiality notice has been issued— (A) a registered health practitioner; S. 44(2)(f)(i)(B) amended by No. 31/2024 s. 75(2). (B) a trade union, within the meaning of section 93AB(11) of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 of the Commonwealth, of which the person is a member; (C) an employee assistance program; (ii) to the Victorian WorkCover Authority for the purpose of a workers' compensation claim; S. 44(2)(f)(iii) substituted by No. 31/2024 s. 75(3). (iii) to a prescribed service, or to a service belonging to a prescribed class, for a prescribed purpose in relation to the service or class; (iv) for the purpose of an application to the Fair Work Commission, including any related proceeding; S. 44(2)(g) inserted by No. 2/2019 s. 53(3)(c). (g) as is otherwise authorised or required to be made by or under this Act. S. 44(2A) inserted by No. 2/2019 s. 53(4). (2A) Despite subsection (1), a restricted matter specified in a confidentiality notice may be disclosed to an investigating entity to which the IBAC has referred the relevant matter under section 73. S. 44(2B) inserted by No. 2/2019 s. 53(4). (2B) Despite subsection (1), a restricted matter specified in a confidentiality notice may be disclosed to Victoria Police if— (a) the IBAC has disclosed information to the Chief Commissioner of Police under section 41 relating to actual or potential criminal conduct; and (b) the restricted matter is relevant to an investigation by Victoria Police of the actual or potential criminal conduct. S. 44(3) amended by No. 31/2024 s. 113(Sch. 1 item 16.8). (3) Despite subsection (1), a restricted matter specified in a confidentiality notice may be disclosed if the disclosure is made for the purposes of making a complaint to Integrity Oversight Victoria about the conduct of the IBAC or of an IBAC Officer. S. 44(4) amended by No. 31/2024 s. 113(Sch. 1 item 16.9). (4) Despite subsection (1), a restricted matter specified in a confidentiality notice may be disclosed if the disclosure is made for the purposes of complying with a witness summons served on a person by Integrity Oversight Victoria under the **Integrity Oversight Victoria Act 2011**. S. 44(5) amended by No. 2/2019 s. 53(5). (5) Despite subsection (1), a restricted matter specified in a confidentiality notice may be disclosed if the disclosure made is of information that has been published by the IBAC, another investigating entity or the Integrity and Oversight Committee in a report or has otherwise been made public in accordance with this or any other Act. (6) A person who makes a disclosure of information permitted by subsection (2) must, when making the disclosure, provide the person to whom the disclosure is made with a copy of the confidentiality notice and of any order extending the confidentiality notice under section 42, unless the person has a reasonable excuse for not doing so. Note to s. 44(6) inserted by No. 30/2016 s. 46(2). S. 44(7) amended by No. 30/2016 s. 15. (7) If in respect of a particular investigation or preliminary inquiry a person who makes a disclosure of information permitted by subsection (2) receives a new confidentiality notice, a notice cancelling the confidentiality notice or an order extending the confidentiality notice under section 42, the person must as soon as reasonably practicable provide a copy of the new confidentiality notice, notice cancelling the confidentiality notice or order extending the confidentiality notice to each person to whom the disclosure has been made, unless the person has a reasonable excuse for not doing so. Note to s. 44(7) inserted by No. 30/2016 s. 46(3). S. 44(8) inserted by No. 2/2019 s. 53(6). (8) In this section— ***Fair Work Commission*** means the body established under section 575 of the Fair Work Act 2009 of the Commonwealth; ***investigating entity*** has the same meaning as in section 3 of the **Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012**; ***registered health practitioner*** means a person registered under the Health Practitioner National Law to practise a health profession (other than as a student); S. 44(8) def. of *relevant Act* amended by Nos 9/2020 s. 390(Sch. 1 item 56.3), 27/2024 s. 117, 31/2024 s. 113(Sch. 1 item 16.10). ***relevant Act*** means— (a) the **Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012**; or (b) the **Ombudsman Act 1973**; or (c) the **Integrity Oversight Victoria Act 2011**; or (d) Part 10 of the **Victoria Police Act 2013**; or (e) the Fair Work Act 2009 of the Commonwealth; or (f) the **Judicial Commission of Victoria Act 2016**; or (g) Part IIIAA of the **Constitution Act 1975**; or (h) the **Local Government Act 2020**; or (i) the **Racing Act 1958**; or (j) the **Freedom of Information Act 1982**; or (k) the **Parliamentary Workplace Standards and Integrity Act 2024**; ***Victorian WorkCover Authority*** has the same meaning as in the **Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013**. Pt 2 Div. 4 (Heading and ss 45–50) inserted by No. 28/2012 s. 13.