Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Part 1 Preliminary
Part 1—Preliminary
1 Name
1 Name
This is the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Regulation 2015.
3 Authority
3 Authority
This instrument is made under the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004.
4 Schedules
4 Schedules
Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.
5 Purpose and application
5 Purpose and application
This instrument prescribes:
(a) for subsections 23(1) and 38C(1) of the Act:
(i) requirements for accessing, storing, handling and destroying security classified documents and national security information; and
(ii) requirements for creating or preparing documents that relate to security classified documents or national security information; and
(b) for paragraphs 24(2)(a) and 38D(3)(a) of the Act—the form of a notice of expected disclosure; and
(ba) for the purposes of subsection 38PA(2) or 38PI(1) of the Act—matters relating to special advocates; and
(c) related matters.
Note 1: A person who contravenes a requirement prescribed for subsection 23(1) or 38C(1) of the Act by this instrument may commit an offence (see sections 45A and 46FA of the Act).
Note 2: Subsections 23(2) and 38C(2) of the Act have the effect that this instrument does not apply in relation to certain matters to the extent that orders in force under section 22 or 38B of the Act apply in relation to those matters.
6 Definitions
6 Definitions
Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following:
(a) civil proceeding;
(b) court official;
(c) document;
(d) federal criminal proceeding;
(e) national security information;
(f) special advocate.
In this instrument:
Act means the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004.
approved information and communications technology equipment, for a security classified document or national security information to which a particular security classification is, or is to be, assigned, means information and communications technology equipment that is supplied, or approved, by the Commonwealth for security classified documents or national security information to which that security classification is, or is to be, assigned.
authorised recipient, in relation to a security classified document or national security information, means a person to whom the document or information has been disclosed, or may be disclosed, in a federal criminal proceeding or a civil proceeding in accordance with:
(a) a certificate, hearing, decision, notice, order or other process under the Act; or
(b) an order or process of the court in the proceeding; or
(c) a written authorisation given by the Attorney‑General or a representative of the Attorney‑General in the proceeding;
but does not include a judicial officer.
Class B security container means a security container that is fitted with an SCEC‑endorsed combination lock.
classified document register means a register that includes details about security classified documents that are received, created, prepared or transferred in hard copy form.
Note: See section 15.
copy means to record or reproduce information in any medium.
Deputy Director‑General of Security means a person who holds, or is acting in, a position known as Deputy Director‑General of Security.
Director‑General of Security means the Director‑General of Security holding office under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979.
discrete area means an area within an enclosed building or office where:
(a) public access is restricted; and
(b) access by employees is controlled; and
(c) access by visitors is strictly controlled and is on a needs basis.
eligible former judge means a former judge of any of the following courts:
(a) the High Court;
(b) a court that is or was created by the Parliament under Chapter III of the Constitution;
(c) the Supreme Court of a State or Territory;
(d) the District Court (or equivalent) of a State or Territory.
eligible legal practitioner means a person who:
(a) is enrolled as a legal practitioner of the High Court, of another federal court or of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory; and
(b) holds a practising certificate (however described); and
(c) has at least 5 years’ legal advocacy experience; and
(d) holds a Negative Vetting Level 2 security clearance.
eligible senior counsel means a person who:
(a) is a Queen’s Counsel or Senior Counsel; and
(b) holds a Negative Vetting Level 2 security clearance.
judicial officer means a magistrate or a judge.
Negative Vetting Level 2 security clearance means a security clearance that:
(a) is issued by the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency or by another Commonwealth, State or Territory agency that is authorised or approved by the Commonwealth to issue security clearances; and
(b) permits ongoing access to information that has been assigned any of the following security classifications:
(i) PROTECTED;
(ii) CONFIDENTIAL;
(iii) SECRET;
(iv) TOP SECRET.
SCEC (short for Security Construction and Equipment Committee) means the Commonwealth Government interdepartmental committee that approves protective security products and endorses protective security services.
security classification means a protective marking assigned to national security information to indicate:
(a) the value of the information; and
(b) the minimum level of protection that the information must be afforded to protect it from compromise when it is being used, stored, transmitted, transferred or disposed of.
Note: The following are examples of security classifications that may be, or may have been, assigned to information:
(a) PROTECTED;
(b) CONFIDENTIAL;
(c) SECRET;
(d) TOP SECRET;
(e) Codeword material;
(f) Restricted.
security classified document means:
(a) a document that is disclosed, or to be disclosed, in a federal criminal proceeding or a civil proceeding:
(i) to which a security classification has been assigned; or
(ii) that the Attorney‑General, or a representative of the Attorney‑General in the proceeding, has stated, in writing, is a security classified document; or
(b) a document that includes national security information that is disclosed, or to be disclosed, in a federal criminal proceeding or a civil proceeding; or
(c) a document that includes national security information that is included in a document referred to in paragraph (a) or (b); or
(d) a document that is or was created or prepared as referred to in paragraph 8(1)(a) or (b) for the purpose of a federal criminal proceeding or a civil proceeding.
security classified document storage area means an area in which entry and openings are secured at all times to limit access to the following:
(a) an authorised recipient in relation to security classified documents or national security information stored in the area;
(b) a person in the company of such an authorised recipient;
(c) a person authorised to access the area by such an authorised recipient;
(d) a judicial officer.
7 References to federal criminal proceeding or civil proceeding
7 References to federal criminal proceeding or civil proceeding
In this instrument:
(a) a reference to a federal criminal proceeding is a reference to a federal criminal proceeding to which the Act applies under section 6 of the Act; and
(b) a reference to a civil proceeding is a reference to a civil proceeding to which the Act applies under section 6A of the Act.
Part 2 Protection of security classified documents and national security information
Part 2—Protection of security classified documents and national security information
7A When Part does not apply
7A When Part does not apply
If:
(a) an order is made under subsection 19(1A) or (3A) of the Act in relation to the disclosure, protection, storage, handling or destruction of national security information in a federal criminal proceeding or a civil proceeding; and
(b) the order is inconsistent with this Part to the extent that this Part relates to the disclosure, protection, storage, handling or destruction of national security information in the federal criminal proceeding or the civil proceeding; and
(c) the order was made on an application by the Attorney‑General or a representative of the Attorney‑General;
this Part does not apply to the extent of that inconsistency.
8 Creation or preparation of documents relating to security classified documents or national security information
8 Creation or preparation of documents relating to security classified documents or national security information
(1) This section applies to:
(a) an authorised recipient in relation to a security classified document who creates or prepares a document (including a court record referred to in subsection 29(5) or 38I(5) of the Act) that includes information included in the security classified document; and
(b) an authorised recipient in relation to national security information that is disclosed, or to be disclosed, in a federal criminal proceeding or a civil proceeding, who creates or prepares a document (including a court record referred to in subsection 29(5) or 38I(5) of the Act) that includes the national security information.
(2) The authorised recipient must create or prepare the document in a discrete area.
(3) If the document is to be created or prepared in electronic form, the authorised recipient must do so by means of approved information and communications technology equipment for the document.
(4) The authorised recipient must ensure that the document is assigned a security classification that is equivalent to the most highly classified information included in the document.
(5) The security classification assigned to the document must be clearly recorded at the top and bottom of each page of the document.
(6) If the authorised recipient has any doubt about the security classification to be assigned to the document under subsection (4), the recipient must consult with the Commonwealth as to the appropriate classification to be assigned to the document.
Note: If the document is created or prepared in hard copy form, the authorised recipient must ensure that the document is recorded on the classified document register maintained by the recipient or to which the recipient has access (see section 15).
9 Copying security classified documents
9 Copying security classified documents
(1) An authorised recipient in relation to a security classified document must not copy the document or any part of the document, or any information in the document, except in accordance with section 8.
(2) An authorised recipient in relation to a security classified document may request, in writing, the Attorney‑General, or a representative of the Attorney‑General in the proceeding to which the document relates, to give the recipient one or more copies of the document.
(3) A request under subsection (2) must state:
(a) the number of copies of the document required; and
(b) the full name of the authorised recipient making the request; and
(c) the full name of each other authorised recipient in relation to the document who is to be given a copy of the document.
10 Storage of security classified documents in hard copy form
10 Storage of security classified documents in hard copy form
(1) An authorised recipient in relation to a security classified document that is in hard copy form must store the document in a locked Class B security container.
(2) The security container must have a combination that is not known by any person other than:
(a) an authorised recipient in relation to all the security classified documents stored in the container; or
(b) an APS employee whose duties include responsibilities relating to the container.
(3) The security container must, subject to subsection (4), be located in a security classified document storage area.
(4) If any of the security classified documents stored in the security container are assigned the security classification TOP SECRET or Codeword material, the security container must be located in an area approved by the Commonwealth for the purpose of storing documents with that security classification.
(5) A person must not remove a security classified document from the security container unless:
(a) either:
(i) the person is an authorised recipient in relation to the document, and the person needs to remove the document for the purpose of the proceeding to which the document relates; or
(ii) the person is a judicial officer; and
(b) if the security container is located in an area approved by the Commonwealth for the purpose of storing documents that are assigned the security classification TOP SECRET or Codeword material—the person is permitted by the Commonwealth to access the area.
Note: Arrangements may need to be made with the Commonwealth to permit an authorised recipient in relation to the document, or a judicial officer, to access the area where the security container is located.
(6) If an authorised recipient in relation to a security classified document that is assigned the security classification TOP SECRET or Codeword material removes the document from the security container (other than for the purpose of transferring the document to another authorised recipient in relation to the document), the recipient must:
(a) make a written record of the following:
(i) the authorised recipient’s full name;
(ii) the date and time when the document was removed;
(iii) the place where the document is to be taken; and
(b) put the record in the security container.
Note: If the authorised recipient transfers the document to another authorised recipient in relation to the document, the authorised recipient who transfers the document must ensure that certain information is recorded on the classified document register maintained by the recipient or to which the recipient has access (see section 15).
11 Storage and transmission of security classified documents or national security information in electronic form
11 Storage and transmission of security classified documents or national security information in electronic form
(1) An authorised recipient in relation to a security classified document or national security information:
(a) must not store the document or information in electronic form except on approved information and communications technology equipment for the document or information; and
(b) must not transmit the document or information in electronic form unless the equipment used to transmit and to receive the document or information is approved information and communications technology equipment for the document or information.
(2) When the approved information and communications technology equipment is not being used, the equipment must, subject to subsection (3):
(a) be stored in a locked Class B security container located in a security classified document storage area; or
(b) if it is too large to be stored in a Class B security container—be located in a security classified document storage area.
(3) If any of the security classified documents or national security information stored on, or transmitted by or to, the approved information and communications technology equipment are assigned the security classification TOP SECRET or Codeword material, the equi
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