Environment Protection Act 2017

Subject to anything to the contrary in this or another Act, the Authority may collect, use, disclose or publish any information if the collection, use, disclosure or publication is necessary for the Authority—

to perform its functions under this or another Act; or

to exercise its powers under this Act or another Act.

Without limiting subsection (1), the Authority may, subject to anything to the contrary in this or another Act—

use or disclose information if—

the Authority has reason to suspect that unlawful activity has been, is being or may be engaged in; and

the use or disclosure is a necessary part of the Authority's investigation or reporting of the matter; or

disclose information to any law enforcement agency to enable the Authority to perform any of its functions or powers in collaboration with that agency; or

obtain or receive from a law enforcement agency any information necessary for the exercise of any of the Authority's powers or functions, including but not limited to the exercise of a power or function in collaboration with the agency; or

collect or use information from, or disclose information to, another government agency if the collection, use or disclosure is—

necessary for research or the compiling or analysis of statistics; and

is in the public interest; or

use or disclose information if the Authority reasonably believes that the use or disclosure is necessary to prevent or minimise a serious risk of harm to human health or the environment.

In this section—

a public sector body; or

a council; or

a public sector body of another State, a Territory or the Commonwealth.