Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Act 2023

This section applies if an investigating Commissioner or review panel is satisfied that a document or thing produced to the Commissioner or panel under section 24F is not required (or is no longer required) for the purposes of the performance of the Commissioner’s or panel’s functions.

The Commissioner or panel must take reasonable steps to return the document or thing to the person from whom it was received, or to the owner if that person is not entitled to possess it.

However, the Commissioner or panel does not have to take those steps if:

possession of the document or thing by the person could constitute an offence; or

the document or thing may otherwise be retained, destroyed or disposed of under a law of the Commonwealth or a State or a Territory, or a court/tribunal order; or

the document or thing is forfeited or forfeitable to the Commonwealth or is the subject of a dispute as to ownership.