34Disclosure of information

#### 34 Disclosure of information 34 Disclosure of information > > (1) The Ombudsman or an officer of the Ombudsman must not disclose information obtained in connection with the administration or execution of this Act unless the disclosure is made as follows— > > > > > (a) for information obtained from a public authority—with the consent of— > > > > > > > (i) the head of the authority, or > > > > > > > (ii) the responsible Minister, > > > > > (b) for information obtained from another person— > > > > > > > (i) with the consent of the person, or > > > > > > > (ii) for proceedings relating to the discipline of police officers before the Commissioner of Police or the Industrial Relations Commission, > > > > > (c) for information relating to the safety, welfare or well-being of a child or young person—to a police officer, the Department of Communities and Justice or another public authority the Ombudsman considers appropriate in the circumstances, > > > > > (d) to a person, if the Ombudsman believes on reasonable grounds that— > > > > > > > (i) disclosure to the person is necessary to prevent or lessen the likelihood of harm being done to a person, and > > > > > > > (ii) there is a risk of harm, including self-harm, being done to a person, > > > > > (e) for proceedings under the [Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2009-052), Part 5 arising as a consequence of a decision made by the Ombudsman in relation to an access application under that Act, > > > > > (f) for proceedings under the [Police Act 1990](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1990-047), section 167A, > > > > > (g) for proceedings under the [Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2022-014), section 33 or 37, > > > > > (h) for criminal proceedings resulting from an investigation under this Act, if the investigation related, whether or not entirely, to a matter referred by the Inspector of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission to the Ombudsman for investigation, > > > > > (i) for proceedings under or in relation to the following— > > > > > > > (i) this section or section 19A, 19B, 19C, 31H, 31R, 31U or 37, > > > > > > > (ii) the [Royal Commissions Act 1923](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1923-029), Part 3, > > > > > > > (iii) the [Special Commissions of Inquiry Act 1983](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1983-090), Part 4, > > > > > (j) to a law enforcement agency for an inquiry or investigation to determine whether proceedings referred to in paragraph (i) should be commenced, > > > > > (k) to a medical practitioner or psychologist in relation to the provision of medical or psychiatric care, treatment or counselling, including psychological counselling, by the Ombudsman or an officer of the Ombudsman, > > > > > (ka) if the information is identifying information—for a reason specified in section 31Z(2), > > > > > (l) for information that relates or may relate to a breach of a law of the State, another State, the Commonwealth or a Territory—to a law enforcement agency, > > > > > (m) to a Commission appointed under the [Royal Commissions Act 1923](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1923-029), > > > > > (n) to a special inquiry set up under the [Special Commissions of Inquiry Act 1983](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1983-090), > > > > > (o) in connection with the administration or execution of this Act. > > > > Maximum penalty—50 penalty units. > > > (2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the Ombudsman from disclosing information— > > > > > (a) to a person exercising functions under the law of another State, the Commonwealth or a Territory, which are similar to the functions exercised by the Ombudsman, if the Ombudsman is of the opinion the disclosure is appropriate, or > > > > > (b) about a decision made by the Ombudsman under section 13, 13AA, 13A or 15, including the commencement, progress, discontinuance or conclusion of an investigation, or > > > > > (c) to correct a public record about— > > > > > > > (i) an investigation under this Act, or > > > > > > > (ii) the exercise of a function of the Ombudsman. > > > (3) In this section— > > > > identifying information has the same meaning as in section 31Z. > > > > law enforcement agency means— > > > > > (a) the NSW Police Force, or > > > > > (b) a police force of another State or Territory, or > > > > > (c) the Australian Federal Police, or > > > > > (d) another authority or body responsible for the enforcement of the laws of the Commonwealth or of the State or another State or Territory. > > **s 34:** Am 1978 No 81, Sch 1 (3); 1983 No 189, Schs 1 (9), 2 (11); 1983 No 193, Sch 1 (10); 1984 No 153, Sch 16; 1990 No 48, Sch 1; 1990 No 79, Sch 1 (6); 1993 No 38, Sch 4; 1993 No 47, Sch 1; 1998 No 123, Sch 2.1 \[1\]; 2003 No 40, Sch 1.34 \[3\] \[4\]; 2004 No 55, Sch 1.15 \[1\] \[2\]; 2005 No 64, Sch 1.23 \[1\] \[2\]; 2009 No 54, Sch 2.33 \[5\]; 2010 No 54, Sch 3.8; 2013 No 65, Sch 3 \[1\]; 2015 No 58, Sch 3.66 \[6\]; 2016 No 61, Schs 6.35 \[19\] \[20\], 7.3 \[4\]; 2019 No 25, Sch 5.27\[3\]. Subst 2022 No 39, Sch 1\[15\]. Am 2022 No 14, Sch 5\[3\] (am 2022 No 39, Sch 3\[1\]) \[10\] (subst 2022 No 39, Sch 3\[2\]) \[11\] (subst 2022 No 39, Sch 3\[2\]) \[11A\] (ins 2022 No 39, Sch 3\[2\]) \[12\] (subst 2022 No 39, Sch 3\[2\]).