Local Government Act 2019

(a) the person intentionally gives information to another person (the local government officer); and

(b) the information is misleading and the person has knowledge of that circumstance; and

(c) the local government officer is acting in an official capacity and the person has knowledge of that circumstance.

Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years.

(a) the person intentionally gives a document to the local government officer; and

(b) the document contains misleading information and the person has knowledge of that circumstance; and

(c) the local government officer is acting in an official capacity and the person has knowledge of that circumstance.

Maximum penalty: 400 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years.

(3) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (2) if the person, when giving the document:

(a) draws the misleading aspect of the document to the local government officer's attention; and

(b) to the extent to which the person can reasonably do so – gives the local government officer the information necessary to remedy the misleading aspect of the document.

local government officer means:

(a) a member of an audit committee, a council, a council committee or a local authority; or

misleading information means information that is misleading in a material particular or because of the omission of a material particular.

staff member includes:

(a) a person who is not a member of the staff of, but works for, or provides services to, the council or local government subsidiary on a contract basis; or

(b) a person who works for the council or local government subsidiary under an arrangement with a labour hire agency; or

(c) a person (other than a member of the council, a local authority or a council committee) acting under powers of the council conferred by delegation.