CTHIn ForceAct
Telecommunications Act 1997
277Primary disclosure/use offence—eligible number‑database persons
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 277
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Telecommunications Act 1997.
#### 277 Primary disclosure/use offence—eligible number‑database persons
Current eligible number‑database persons
(1) An eligible number‑database person must not disclose or use any information or document that:
(a) relates to:
(i) carriage services supplied, or intended to be supplied, to another person by a carrier or carriage service provider; or
(ii) the affairs or personal particulars (including any unlisted telephone number or any address) of another person; and
(b) comes to the person’s knowledge, or into the person’s possession:
(i) if the person is a number‑database operator—in connection with the person’s business as such an operator; or
(ii) if the person is an employee of a number‑database operator—because the person is employed by the operator in connection with its business as such an operator; or
(iii) if the person is a number‑database contractor—in connection with the person’s business as such a contractor; or
(iv) if the person is an employee of a number‑database contractor—because the person is employed by the contractor in connection with its business as such a contractor.
Former eligible number‑database persons
(2) A person who has been an eligible number‑database person must not disclose or use any information or document that:
(a) relates to a matter mentioned in paragraph (1)(a); and
(b) came to the person’s knowledge, or into the person’s possession:
(i) if the person was a number‑database operator—in connection with the person’s business as such an operator; or
(ii) if the person was an employee of a number‑database operator—because the person was employed by the operator in connection with its business as such an operator; or
(iii) if the person was a number‑database contractor—in connection with the person’s business as such a contractor; or
(iv) if the person was an employee of a number‑database contractor—because the person was employed by the contractor in connection with its business as such a contractor.
Offence
(3) A person who contravenes this section commits an offence punishable on conviction by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
> Note 1: This section is subject to the exceptions in Division 3 of this Part and in Chapter 4 of the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979.
> Note 2: See also sections 4AA and 4B of the Crimes Act 1914.