Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2021C00498:section:19
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2021C00498
Segment Type: section
Provision Reference: s 19
Character Range: 18325–20022

19  How a Commission is informed
 (1) A Commission is not bound by the rules of evidence and may be informed on any matter in any manner it thinks fit.

Previous official inquiries and investigations
 (2) In considering an allegation, a Commission must consider the outcome of any previous official inquiry or official investigation into the allegation so far as the Commission thinks it necessary or desirable to do so.
 (3) The Commission is not (subject to subsection (4)) precluded by:
 (a) any other Australian law; or
 (b) any privileges of either House of the Parliament;
from obtaining access to the records of evidence given at, or findings made as a result of, such an inquiry or investigation.
 (4) Subsection (3) is not intended to limit or otherwise affect the operation of section 16 of the Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987.

Official inquiries and investigations
 (5) Without limiting the meaning of official inquiry, that expression includes:
 (a) a Royal Commission within the meaning of the Royal Commissions Act 1902; and
 (b) a Royal Commission of a State or a Territory; and
 (c) a commission of inquiry of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.
 (6) Without limiting the meaning of official investigation, that expression includes:
 (a) an investigation into a complaint about a Judge within the meaning of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976; and
 (c) an investigation into a complaint about a Judge within the meaning of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021; and
 (d) the consideration of a matter by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; and
 (e) an investigation by the Australian Federal Police.