60Additional obligations of authorised officers

#### 60 Additional obligations of authorised officers (1) If: (a) an individual discloses, or proposes to disclose, information to an authorised officer of an agency; and (b) the authorised officer has reasonable grounds to believe that: (i) the information concerns, or could concern, disclosable conduct; and (ii) the individual may be unaware of the consequences of making the disclosure; the authorised officer must: (c) inform the individual that the disclosure could be treated as an internal disclosure for the purposes of this Act; and (d) explain what this Act requires in order for the disclosure to be an internal disclosure; and (da) advise the individual about the circumstances (if any) in which a public interest disclosure must be referred to an agency, or other person or body, under another law of the Commonwealth; and (e) advise the individual of any orders or directions of which the authorised officer is aware that are designated publication restrictions that may affect disclosure of the information. Duty to protect public officials against reprisals (2) An authorised officer of an agency must take reasonable steps to protect public officials who belong to the agency against reprisals that have been, or may be, taken in relation to public interest disclosures that the authorised officer suspects on reasonable grounds: (a) have been made or given to the officer; or (b) may have been made or given to the officer; or (c) are proposed to be made or given to the officer; or (d) could be made or given to the officer.