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Liquor Licensing Act 1997
Div 6Criminal intelligence
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Division 6—Criminal intelligence
28A—Criminal intelligence
(1) Information that is classified by the Commissioner of Police as criminal intelligence for the purposes of this Act may not be disclosed to any person other than the Commissioner, the Minister, a court or a person to whom the Commissioner of Police authorises its disclosure.
(2) If a licensing authority—
(a) refuses an application for a licence, the transfer of a licence or an approval, or takes disciplinary action against a person, or revokes or proposes to revoke an approval under section 71AA; and
(b) the decision to do so is made because of information that is classified by the Commissioner of Police as criminal intelligence,
the licensing authority is not required to provide any grounds or reasons for the decision other than that to grant the application would be contrary to the public interest, or that it would be contrary to the public interest if the person were to be or continue to be licensed or approved, or that it would be contrary to the public interest if the approval were to continue in force.
(2a) If the Commissioner proposes to impose a licence condition to improve public order and safety or to issue a public order and safety notice in respect of a licence and the decision to do so is made because of information that is classified by the Commissioner of Police as criminal intelligence, the Commissioner is not required to provide any grounds or reasons for the decision other than that it would be contrary to the public interest if the condition were not imposed or the notice were not issued.
(3) If the Commissioner of Police makes written submissions opposing an application under Part 4 because of information that is classified by the Commissioner of Police as criminal intelligence—
(a) the Commissioner of Police is not required to serve a copy of the written submissions on the applicant; and
(b) the licensing authority must, at least 7 days before the day appointed for the hearing or determination of the application, advise the applicant in writing that the Commissioner of Police has made written submissions opposing the application on the ground that to grant the application would be contrary to the public interest.
(4) If the Commissioner or the Commissioner of Police lodges a complaint under Part 8 in respect of a person because of information that is classified by the Commissioner of Police as criminal intelligence, the complaint need only state that it would be contrary to the public interest if the person were to be or continue to be licensed or approved.
(5) If the Commissioner of Police bars a person from entering or remaining on licensed premises by order under Part 9 Division 3 because of information that is classified by the Commissioner of Police as criminal intelligence, the order need only state that it would be contrary to the public interest if the person were not so barred.
(5a) In any proceedings under this Act, the Commissioner, the Court or the Supreme Court—
(a) must, on the application of the Commissioner of Police, take steps to maintain the confidentiality of information classified by the Commissioner of Police as criminal intelligence, including steps to receive evidence and hear argument about the information in private in the absence of the parties to the proceedings and their representatives; and
(b) may take evidence consisting of or relating to information so classified by the Commissioner of Police by way of affidavit of a police officer of or above the rank of superintendent.
(6) The Commissioner of Police may not delegate the function of classifying information as criminal intelligence for the purposes of this Act except to a Deputy Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner of Police.