17Conflicts of interest

17 Conflicts of interest

(1) A Public Interest Advocate must take reasonable steps to avoid any conflict of interest (real or apparent) in connection with the proper performance of his or her functions as a Public Interest Advocate. (2) If the Public Interest Advocate believes that he or she has a conflict of interest (real or apparent) in relation to the subject‑matter of a proposed request by the Director‑General of Security or proposed application by an enforcement agency for a journalist information warrant, the Public Interest Advocate must: (a) in the case of a proposed request by the Director‑General of Security—advise the Director‑General of Security that he or she is unable to prepare a submission in relation to the proposed request; or (b) in the case of a proposed written application by an enforcement agency—advise the applicant that he or she is unable to prepare a submission in relation to the proposed application; or (c) in the case of a proposed oral application by an enforcement agency—advise the applicant that he or she is unable to attend the hearing of the application. (3) To avoid doubt, subregulation (2) does not limit subparagraph 8(1)(b)(ii) or subregulation 8(2).