Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Act 2023

The PWSS may, in writing, request a parliamentarian to give the PWSS, within a specified period, specified information (including personal information):

that relates to any of the following matters in relation to a person who is or was a MOPS employee employed by, or a designated worker engaged by, the parliamentarian:

the person’s name;

whether the person is or was a MOPS employee or a designated worker;

matters relating to when, and the circumstances in which, the person was employed as a MOPS employee or engaged as a designated worker;

matters relating to when, and the circumstances in which, the person ceased to be employed as a MOPS employee or engaged as a designated worker; or

that relates to work health and safety matters arising in connection with the duties of parliamentarians or MOPS employees; or

that is reasonably necessary for the purposes of providing a service under section 16 (complaint resolution function) to a person who is or was a MOPS employee employed by, or a designated worker engaged by, the parliamentarian.

Paragraph (1)(c) does not apply if the alleged relevant conduct referred to in section 16 was engaged in by the parliamentarian.

The period specified in the request must be reasonable in the circumstances.

The request must include details about the effect of Division 4 of Part 2 (taking action against parliamentarians for certain non‑compliance).

A parliamentarian must comply with a request under subsection (1) within the period specified in the request, and may comply with any other request by the PWSS for information (including personal information), unless doing so would constitute an offence against a law of the Commonwealth.

This subsection constitutes an authorisation for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988 and other laws.

This section does not limit the power of the PWSS to request information from a parliamentarian or any other person.