Local Government Act 2020

The Chief Executive Officer must ensure that personal interests returns are kept in accordance with the Public Records Act 1973.

The Chief Executive Officer must ensure that only the following persons have access to, or can inspect, a personal interests return—

the Chief Executive Officer or a member of Council staff who is responsible for managing the personal interests returns or preparing the summary of personal interests;

a Municipal Monitor;

the Chief Municipal Inspector or a person authorised by the Chief Municipal Inspector;

a Commission of inquiry;

the person who lodged the personal interests return;

a person who has obtained an order of a court to do so.

A person must not make a record of, divulge or communicate to any person any information in a personal interests return that is gained by or conveyed to them in the course of the discharge of their official duties unless—

the information is information published in a summary of personal interests; or

the information is required by the person for the performance of their official duties under this Act or any other Act, including in relation to a proceeding before a Councillor Conduct Panel, VCAT or a court.