178Authorisations for access to existing information or documents—enforcement of the criminal law etc.

178 Authorisations for access to existing information or documents—enforcement of the criminal law etc.

(1) Sections 276, 277 and 278 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 do not prevent a disclosure of information or a document if the information or document is covered by an authorisation in force under subsection (2). (2) An authorised officer of an enforcement agency may authorise the disclosure of specified information or specified documents that came into existence before the time the person from whom the disclosure is sought receives notification of the authorisation.

Note: Section 184 deals with notification of authorisations.

(3) The authorised officer must not make the authorisation unless the authorised officer is satisfied that the disclosure is reasonably necessary for: (a) in any case—the enforcement of the criminal law; or (b) in the case of an authorised officer of the ACC—the performance of the ACC’s function covered by paragraph 7A(da) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002.