69Public officials

#### 69 Public officials (1) For the purposes of this Act: (a) a public official means an individual mentioned in column 1 of an item of the following table; and (b) the public official belongs to the agency mentioned in column 2 of the item. ```html <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-left:0.25pt; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="3" style="width:343.6pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Public officials and the agencies to which they belong</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Item</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Column 1</span></p><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Public official</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Column 2</span></p><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Agency to which the public official belongs</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>An APS employee in a Department.</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>The Department.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>A member of staff of an agency other than a Department (including an APS employee in the agency).</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>The agency.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>A Secretary of a Department.</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>The Department.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>4</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>The principal officer of an agency other than a Department (see section</span><span> </span><span>73).</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>The agency.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><a id="CU_992355"></a><a id="CU_992740"></a><span>7</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An individual who constitutes a prescribed authority.</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The prescribed authority.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>8</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A member of a prescribed authority (other than a court).</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The prescribed authority.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>9</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A director of a Commonwealth company.</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The Commonwealth company.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>10</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A member of the Defence Force, or a cadet, officer or instructor in the Australian Defence Force Cadets.</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The Defence Department.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>11</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An AFP appointee (within the meaning of the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Australian Federal Police Act 1979</span><span>).</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The Australian Federal Police.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>12</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A Parliamentary Service employee (within the meaning of the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Parliamentary Service Act 1999</span><span>).</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The Department in which the Parliamentary service employee is employed.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>13</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An individual who:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) is employed by the Commonwealth otherwise than as an APS employee; and</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) performs duties for an agency.</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>The agency.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:159.75pt"><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><a id="CU_1693171"></a><a id="CU_1693556"></a><span>14</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>A statutory officeholder, other than an individual covered by any of the above items.</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>Whichever of the following agencies is applicable:</span></p><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(a) if the statutory officeholder is a deputy (however described) of the principal officer of an agency—that agency;</span></p></div><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(b) if the statutory officeholder performs the duties of his or her office as duties of his or her employment as an officer of or under an agency—that agency;</span></p></div><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(c) otherwise—the agency ascertained in accordance with the PID rules.</span></p></div></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>15</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>An individual who is a contracted service provider for a Commonwealth contract.</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>Whichever of the following agencies is applicable:</span></p><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(a) if the relevant services are to be, or were to be, provided wholly or principally for the benefit of an agency, or of a party to a contract with an agency—that agency;</span></p></div><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(b) otherwise—the agency ascertained in accordance with the PID rules.</span></p></div></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><a id="CU_1894037"></a><a id="CU_1894422"></a><span>16</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>An individual who:</span></p><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(a) is an officer or employee of a contracted service provider for a Commonwealth contract; and</span></p></div><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(b) provides services for the purposes (whether direct or indirect) of the Commonwealth contract.</span></p></div></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>Whichever of the following agencies is applicable:</span></p><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(a) if the relevant services are to be, or were to be, provided wholly or principally for the benefit of an agency, or of a party to a contract with an agency—that agency;</span></p></div><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(b) otherwise—the agency ascertained in accordance with the PID rules.</span></p></div></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>17</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>An individual (other than a statutory officeholder or an official of a registered industrial organisation) who exercises powers, or performs functions, conferred on the individual by or under a law of the Commonwealth, other than:</span></p><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(a) the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006</span><span>; or</span></p></div><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(b) the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Australian Capital Territory (Self</span><span style="font-style:italic">‑</span><span style="font-style:italic">Government) Act 1988</span><span>; or</span></p></div><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(c) the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Corporations Act 2001</span><span>; or</span></p></div><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(e) the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Northern Territory (Self</span><span style="font-style:italic">‑</span><span style="font-style:italic">Government) Act 1978</span><span>; or</span></p></div><div style="margin-top:3pt; background-color:#ffffff"><p class="Tablea" style="margin-top:0pt"><span>(f) a provision prescribed by the PID rules.</span></p></div></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>The Department administered by the Minister administering that law.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>17A</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>An individual who exercises powers, or performs functions, conferred on the individual under a law in force in Norfolk Island (whether the law is a law of the Commonwealth or a law of the Territory).</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>The Department administered by the Minister administering the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Norfolk Island Act 1979</span><span>.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>18</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>An individual who exercises powers, or performs functions, conferred on the individual under a law in force in the Territory of Christmas Island (whether the law is a law of the Commonwealth or a law of the Territory).</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>The Department administered by the Minister administering the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Christmas Island Act 1958.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>19</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>An individual who exercises powers, or performs functions, conferred on the individual under a law in force in the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands (whether the law is a law of the Commonwealth or a law of the Territory).</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>The Department administered by the Minister administering the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>20</span></p></td><td style="width:173pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>The Registrar, or a Deputy Registrar, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations.</span></p></td><td style="width:124.1pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="background-color:#ffffff"><span>The Department administered by the Minister administering the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table> ``` > Note: A public interest disclosure may be made by a person who is, or has been, a public official within the meaning of this Subdivision (see section 26). (2) A statutory officeholder means an individual (other than an official of a registered industrial organisation) who holds or performs the duties of an office established by or under a law of the Commonwealth, other than: (a) the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006; or (b) the Australian Capital Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1988; or (c) the Corporations Act 2001; or (e) the Northern Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1978. (3) For the purposes of item 2 of the table in subsection (1): (a) a person who is a member of the staff referred to in subsection 31(1) of the Ombudsman Act 1976 is taken to be a member of the staff of the Ombudsman; and (b) a person covered by subsection 32(1) of the Inspector‑General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 is taken to be a member of the staff of the IGIS; and (c) a person (other than the National Anti‑Corruption Commissioner) who is listed in section 266 of the National Anti‑Corruption Commission Act 2022 is taken to be a member of the staff of the National Anti‑Corruption Commission. (4) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the following are not public officials: (a) a judicial officer; (b) a member of a Royal Commission; (c) a member of Parliament; (d) a person employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984.