Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971

This section applies if a person acting in good faith —

gives a report, notification or information to the Commissioner under Part III Division 3B or in the course of, or for the purposes of, an investigation into a reportable allegation or reportable conviction under this Act; or

gives a report, notification or information to the head of a relevant entity under Part III Division 3B; or

gives information to an investigator conducting an investigation under Part III Division 3B.

The report, notification or information may be given despite any other enactment, law or agreement that prohibits or restricts its disclosure.

In giving the information or making the report or notification the person —

does not incur any civil or criminal liability or liability to be punished for a contempt of court; and

is not to be taken to have breached any duty of confidentiality or secrecy imposed by law; and

is not to be taken to have breached any professional ethics or standards or any principles of conduct applicable to the person’s employment or to have engaged in unprofessional conduct.

Civil proceedings cannot be brought against a person in respect of an act referred to in subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) without the leave of the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court must not give leave unless it is satisfied that there is substantial ground for the contention that the person to be proceeded against has acted in bad faith.