Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2024C00616:section:20
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2024C00616
Segment Type: section
Provision Reference: s 20
Character Range: 43923–46536

20  Disclosure or use of identifying information

Disclosure of identifying information
 (1) A person (the first person) commits an offence if:
 (a) another person (the second person) has made a public interest disclosure; and
 (b) the first person discloses information (identifying information) that:
 (i) was obtained by any person in that person's capacity as a public official; and
 (ii) is likely to enable the identification of the second person as a person who has made a public interest disclosure; and
 (c) the disclosure is to a person other than the second person.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 6 months or 30 penalty units, or both.

Use of identifying information
 (2) A person commits an offence if the person uses identifying information.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 6 months or 30 penalty units, or both.

Exceptions
 (3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if one or more of the following applies:
 (a) the disclosure or use of the identifying information is for the purposes of this Act;
 (b) the disclosure or use of the identifying information is in connection with the performance of a function conferred on the Ombudsman by section 5A of the Ombudsman Act 1976;
 (c) the disclosure or use of the identifying information is in connection with the performance of a function conferred on the IGIS by section 8A of the Inspector‑General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986;
 (d) the disclosure or use of the identifying information is for the purposes of:
 (i) a law of the Commonwealth; or
 (ii) a prescribed law of a State or a Territory;
 (e) the person likely to be identified by the identifying information has consented to the disclosure or use of the identifying information, or acted in a way that is inconsistent with keeping that person's identity confidential;
 (f) the identifying information has previously been lawfully published.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to a matter in subsection (3) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code).
 (4) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(a), and without limitation, a person discloses or uses identifying information for the purposes of this Act if the person does so:
 (a) for the purpose of providing assistance in relation to a public interest disclosure; or
 (b) for the purpose of providing legal advice, or other professional assistance, relating to a public interest disclosure, in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph 67(2)(a); or
 (c) in the performance or exercise (or purported performance or exercise) of a function or power conferred by this Act, in the circumstances mentioned in subsection 78(1).