190Confidentiality of records

### 190 Confidentiality of records > > (1)  [*\[Section 190 Subsection (1) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpb@EN) [*\[Section 190 Subsection (1) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpa@EN) Any records, returns or information submitted to the Director under this Act are to be kept confidential for the following periods: > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 190 Subsection (1) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpd@EN) [*\[Section 190 Subsection (1) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpc@EN) records, returns or information relating to any exploration carried out under an exploration licence, or special exploration licence, for whichever of the following is the shorter: > > > > > > > > > > (i) [*\[Section 190 Subsection (1) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpe@EN) a period of 5 years from the date on which the records, returns or information is required to be submitted; > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) the period during which the licence is in force; > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 190 Subsection (1) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpf@EN) records, returns or information relating to any exploration carried out under a retention licence, the period during which the licence is in force up to a maximum of 5 years; > > > > > > > (c) [*\[Section 190 Subsection (1) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpi@EN) [*\[Section 190 Subsection (1) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hph@EN) [*\[Section 190 Subsection (1) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpg@EN) records, returns or information relating to any exploration and mining carried out under a lease or production licence, the period during which the lease or licence is in force. > > > (2)  [*\[Section 190 Subsection (2) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpj@EN) Records, returns or information is to be kept confidential after the licence ceases to be in force if– > > > > > > (a) an application for the extension of the term of a licence is made during its currency; and > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 190 Subsection (2) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpk@EN) no more than 5 years have elapsed since the records, returns or information was required. > > > (3)  [*\[Section 190 Subsection (3) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpl@EN) The Minister may extend the period during which records, returns or information is to be kept confidential. > > > (3A)  [*\[Section 190 Subsection (3A) inserted by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpm@EN) Despite [subsection (1)](#GS190@Gs1@EN) , the Minister may provide records, returns, or information, in relation to the amount of minerals obtained under a licence or lease, to – > > > > > > (a) the Director, within the meaning of the [Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1994-044) , for use by the Director in the performance or exercise of the Director's functions or powers under any Act; or > > > > > > > (b) an officer of the Commonwealth for use in the performance or exercise of functions or powers of the officer under any Act of the Commonwealth. > > > (4)  [*\[Section 190 Subsection (4) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpo@EN) [*\[Section 190 Subsection (4) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpn@EN) This section (apart from [subsection (3A)](#GS190@Gs3A@EN) ) does not apply to any records, returns or information which– > > > > > > (a) the licensee or lessee agrees may be made public; or > > > > > > > (b) deal exclusively with exploration carried out in any area which is no longer comprised in the licence or lease. > > > (5)  [*\[Section 190 Subsection (5) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 127, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS127@Hpp@EN) [*\[Section 190 Subsection (5) amended by No. 54 of 2009, Sched. 1, Applied:01 Jul 2010\]*](/view/html/inforce/2010-07-01/act-2009-054#JS1@Ja14@GC2@EN) The [Right to Information Act 2009](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2009-070) does not apply to any records, returns or information for the period during which they are to be kept confidential under this section.