32ADSecurity of Commonwealth agency information and documents

32AD Security of Commonwealth agency information and documents

(1) This section applies if: (a) the Inspector‑General requires access to information or documents in the possession of a Commonwealth agency for the purposes of conducting: (i) an inspection under section 9A; or (ii) a preliminary inquiry under section 14, or any other action taken by the Inspector‑General for the purpose of deciding whether to inquire into a matter; or (iii) an inquiry under Division 3 of Part II; and (b) the information or documents have a national security or other protective security classification; and (c) the Inspector‑General intends to do any of the following for the purposes of exercising powers or performing functions or duties as the Inspector‑General: (i) remove the documents from the possession of the agency; (ii) make copies or take extracts from the information or documents; (iii) examine or otherwise make use of the information or documents. (2) The Inspector‑General must make arrangements to protect from unauthorised disclosure: (a) the information, documents, copies or extracts; and (b) any other information obtained from the documents, copies or extracts; taking into account any advice provided by the head of the relevant agency.