Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1997 - SECT 306

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  an eligible person or an eligible number-database person discloses information or a document; and

                     (b)  the disclosure is authorised by:

                              (i)  a provision of Division 3 (other than section 279, 285, 285A, 290, 291 or 291A); or

                             (ii)  section 177, 178 or 179 or subsection 180(3) of the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 .

             (2)  If the person is a carrier, carriage service provider or number-database operator, the carrier, provider or operator must:

                     (a)  make a record of the disclosure as soon as practicable after the disclosure and, in any event, within 5 days after the disclosure; and

                     (b)  retain that record for 3 years.

             (3)  If the person is an associate of a carrier, carriage service provider or number-database operator, the person must:

                     (a)  make a record of the disclosure as soon as practicable after the disclosure and, in any event, within 5 days after the disclosure; and

                     (b)  give a copy of that record to the carrier, provider or operator within 5 days after the making of the record.

             (4)  If a copy of a record is given to a carrier, carriage service provider or number-database operator under subsection (3), the carrier, provider or operator must retain that copy for 3 years.

             (5)  A record made under subsection (2) or (3) must set out:

                     (a)  the name of the person who disclosed the information or document concerned; and

                     (b)  the date of the disclosure; and

                     (c)  a statement of the grounds for the disclosure; and

                     (d)  if the disclosure is made on the grounds of an authorisation under the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 :

                              (i)  the name of the person who made the authorisation; and

                             (ii)  the date of the making of the authorisation; and

                     (e)  if paragraph (d) does not apply and the disclosure was at the request of another body or person:

                              (i)  the name of the body or person; and

                             (ii)  the date of the request; and

                      (f)  if the information or document relates to the contents or substance of a communication that was carried by means of a carriage service--particulars of that carriage service.

             (6)  A record, or a copy of a record, may be made, given or retained under this section:

                     (a)  in written form; or

                     (b)  in electronic form.

             (7)  A person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding 300 penalty units.

Note:          See also sections 4AA and 4B of the Crimes Act 1914 .