2010-2011-2012-2013 

 

The Parliament of the 

Commonwealth of Australia 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Interest Disclosure (Consequential 

Amendments) Bill 2013 

 

No.      , 2013 

 

(Public Service and Integrity) 

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to deal with consequential matters 

arising from the enactment of the Public Interest 

Disclosure Act 2013, and for other purposes 

   

   

 

 

i       Public Interest Disclosure (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

Contents 

1 

Short title ........................................................................................... 1

 

2 

Commencement ................................................................................. 1

 

3 

Schedule(s) ........................................................................................ 3

 

Schedule 1--Amendments

 

4

 

Australian Law Reform Commission Act 1996

 

4

 

Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986

 

4

 

Ombudsman Act 1976

 

5

 

Parliamentary Service Act 1999

 

9

 

Public Service Act 1999

 

10

 

Schedule 2--Transitional provisions

 

11

 

 

 

 

Public Interest Disclosure (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013       1 

A Bill for an Act to deal with consequential matters 

1 

arising from the enactment of the Public Interest 

2 

Disclosure Act 2013, and for other purposes 

3 

The Parliament of Australia enacts: 

4 

1  Short title 

5 

 

  This Act may be cited as the Public Interest Disclosure 

6 

(Consequential Amendments) Act 2013. 

7 

2  Commencement 

8 

 

(1)  Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table 

9 

commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with 

10 

column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect 

11 

according to its terms. 

12 

 

13 

   

   

 

 

2            Public Interest Disclosure (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

Commencement information 

Column 1 

Column 2 

Column 3 

Provision(s) 

Commencement 

Date/Details 

1.  Sections 1 to 3 

and anything in 

this Act not 

elsewhere covered 

by this table 

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent. 

 

2.  Schedule 1, 

item 1 

The later of: 

(a) immediately after the commencement of 

Schedule 1 to the Public Service 

Amendment Act 2013; and 

(b) the commencement of section 3 of the 

Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013. 

However, the provision(s) do not commence 

at all if the event mentioned in paragraph (b) 

does not occur. 

 

3.  Schedule 1, 

items 2 to 17 

At the same time as section 3 of the Public 

Interest Disclosure Act 2013 commences. 

 

4.  Schedule 1, 

items 18 to 21 

The later of: 

(a) immediately after the commencement of 

Parts 1 to 11 of Schedule 1 to the 

Parliamentary Service Amendment Act 

2013; and 

(b) the commencement of section 3 of the 

Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013. 

However, the provision(s) do not commence 

at all if the event mentioned in paragraph (b) 

does not occur. 

 

5.  Schedule 1, 

items 22 to 25 

The later of: 

(a) immediately after the commencement of 

Schedule 1 to the Public Service 

Amendment Act 2013; and 

(b) the commencement of section 3 of the 

Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013. 

However, the provision(s) do not commence 

at all if the event mentioned in paragraph (b) 

does not occur. 

 

6.  Schedule 2 

The later of: 

 

   

   

 

 

Public Interest Disclosure (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013            3 

Commencement information 

Column 1 

Column 2 

Column 3 

Provision(s) 

Commencement 

Date/Details 

(a) immediately after the commencement of 

Schedule 1 to the Public Service 

Amendment Act 2013; and 

(b) the commencement of section 3 of the 

Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013. 

However, the provision(s) do not commence 

at all if the event mentioned in paragraph (b) 

does not occur. 

Note:  

This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally 

1 

enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of 

2 

this Act. 

3 

 

(2)  Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. 

4 

Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it 

5 

may be edited, in any published version of this Act. 

6 

3  Schedule(s) 

7 

 

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or 

8 

repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule 

9 

concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect 

10 

according to its terms. 

11 

Schedule 1  Amendments 

   

 

 

4            Public Interest Disclosure (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

Schedule 1

--

Amendments 

1 

   

2 

Australian Law Reform Commission Act 1996 

3 

1  Subsection 26(2A) (note) 

4 

Omit "or 16". 

5 

Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 

6 

2  Subsection 3(1) 

7 

Insert: 

8 

disclosable conduct has the same meaning as in the Public Interest 

9 

Disclosure Act 2013. 

10 

3  After section 8 

11 

Insert: 

12 

8A  Public interest disclosure functions of Inspector-General 

13 

 

(1)  If: 

14 

 

(a)  a disclosure of information has been, or is required to be, 

15 

allocated under section 43 of the Public Interest Disclosure 

16 

Act 2013; and 

17 

 

(b)  some or all of the disclosable conduct with which the 

18 

information is concerned relates (within the meaning of that 

19 

Act) to an intelligence agency; 

20 

to the extent that the conduct so relates, it is taken, for the purposes 

21 

of this Act, to be action that relates to the propriety of particular 

22 

activities of the intelligence agency. 

23 

Note: 

The Inspector-General's functions under section 8 include inquiring 

24 

into the propriety of particular activities of intelligence agencies. 

25 

 

(2)  However, in determining whether the Inspector-General is 

26 

authorised to inquire into the matter under section 8, disregard 

27 

subsection 8(4). 

28 

 

(3)  For the purposes of the application of this Act to the action: 

29 

Amendments  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

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(a)  the conduct is to be treated as if it were action taken by the 

1 

intelligence agency; and 

2 

 

(b)  a public official who belongs (within the meaning of the 

3 

Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013) to the intelligence 

4 

agency is taken to be a member of the intelligence agency; 

5 

and 

6 

 

(c)  the person who disclosed the information is taken, if the 

7 

disclosure is allocated to the Inspector-General, to have made 

8 

a complaint to the Inspector-General in respect of the action. 

9 

 

(4)  However, paragraph (3)(c) does not apply if: 

10 

 

(a)  the person is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, 

11 

and the intelligence agency is ASIS, DIGO or DSD; or 

12 

 

(b)  the intelligence agency is DIO or ONA. 

13 

 

(5)  It is immaterial whether the disclosable conduct occurred before or 

14 

after the commencement of this section. 

15 

4  Subsection 34(1) 

16 

After "powers under this Act", insert "or the Public Interest Disclosure 

17 

Act 2013". 

18 

5  Paragraph 34(5)(c) 

19 

Repeal the paragraph, substitute: 

20 

 

(c)  if the information is obtained by the person because the 

21 

person is performing functions or duties or exercising powers 

22 

under this Act: 

23 

 

(i)  unless subparagraph (ii) applies--for the purposes of 

24 

this Act; or 

25 

 

(ii)  if the information is obtained for the purposes of an 

26 

investigation by the Inspector-General under the Public 

27 

Interest Disclosure Act 2013--for the purposes of that 

28 

Act; and 

29 

Ombudsman Act 1976 

30 

6  Subsection 3(1) 

31 

Insert: 

32 

Schedule 1  Amendments 

   

 

 

6            Public Interest Disclosure (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

Agency Head has the same meaning as in the Public Service Act 

1 

1999. 

2 

APS Code of Conduct means the rules in section 13 of the Public 

3 

Service Act 1999. 

4 

disclosable conduct has the same meaning as in the Public Interest 

5 

Disclosure Act 2013. 

6 

7  Subsection 3(1) (definition of Secretary) 

7 

Repeal the definition, substitute: 

8 

Secretary means: 

9 

 

(a)  in relation to a Department--the person who is the Secretary 

10 

of the Department for the purposes of the Public Service Act 

11 

1999; or 

12 

 

(b)  in relation to a Parliamentary Department--the person who is 

13 

the Secretary of the Parliamentary Department for the 

14 

purposes of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999. 

15 

8  After section 5 

16 

Insert: 

17 

5A  Public interest disclosure functions of Ombudsman 

18 

 

(1)  If: 

19 

 

(a)  a disclosure of information has been, or is required to be, 

20 

allocated under section 43 of the Public Interest Disclosure 

21 

Act 2013; and 

22 

 

(b)  some or all of the disclosable conduct with which the 

23 

information is concerned relates (within the meaning of that 

24 

Act) to an agency (within the meaning of that Act); and 

25 

 

(c)  the agency is neither an intelligence agency (within the 

26 

meaning of that Act) nor the Inspector-General of 

27 

Intelligence and Security; 

28 

to the extent that the conduct so relates, it is taken, for the purposes 

29 

of this Act, to be action that relates to a matter of administration. 

30 

 

(2)  For the purposes of the application of this Act to the action: 

31 

 

(a)  the agency is taken to be a prescribed authority; and 

32 

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Public Interest Disclosure (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013            7 

 

(b)  the action is to be treated as if it were action taken by the 

1 

prescribed authority; and 

2 

 

(c)  a public official who belongs (within the meaning of the 

3 

Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013) to the agency is taken to 

4 

be an officer of the prescribed authority; and 

5 

 

(d)  the person who disclosed the information is taken, if the 

6 

disclosure is allocated to the Ombudsman, to have made a 

7 

complaint to the Ombudsman in respect of the action. 

8 

 

(3)  It is immaterial whether the disclosable conduct occurred before or 

9 

after the commencement of this section. 

10 

9  After subsection 6(10) 

11 

Insert: 

12 

 

(11)  In considering whether to make a decision under subsection (9) 

13 

relating to a complaint that includes an allegation of misconduct by 

14 

an Agency Head, the Ombudsman must consult with the Australian 

15 

Public Service Commissioner. 

16 

 

(11A)  If the Ombudsman forms the opinion: 

17 

 

(a)  that a complaint could have been made under the 

18 

Parliamentary Service Act 1999; and 

19 

 

(b)  that the complaint could be more conveniently or effectively 

20 

dealt with by the Parliamentary Service Commissioner; 

21 

the Ombudsman may decide not to investigate the complaint, or 

22 

not to investigate the complaint further, as the case may be, and to 

23 

transfer the complaint to the Parliamentary Service Commissioner. 

24 

 

(11B)  If the Ombudsman makes a decision under subsection (11A), the 

25 

Ombudsman must: 

26 

 

(a)  transfer the complaint to the Parliamentary Service 

27 

Commissioner as soon as is reasonably practicable; and 

28 

 

(b)  give the Parliamentary Service Commissioner any 

29 

information or documents relating to the complaint that are in 

30 

the possession, or under the control, of the Ombudsman; and 

31 

 

(c)  as soon as is reasonably practicable, give the complainant 

32 

written notice that the complaint has been transferred to the 

33 

Parliamentary Service Commissioner. 

34 

 

(11C)  In considering whether to make a decision under subsection (11A) 

35 

relating to a complaint that includes an allegation of misconduct by 

36 

Schedule 1  Amendments 

   

 

 

8            Public Interest Disclosure (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

the Secretary of a Parliamentary Department, the Ombudsman 

1 

must consult with the Parliamentary Service Commissioner. 

2 

10  Subsection 8(10) 

3 

Omit "becomes of the opinion", substitute "forms the opinion". 

4 

11  Paragraph 8(10)(a) 

5 

Omit "principal officer", substitute "Secretary". 

6 

12  At the end of paragraph 8(10)(a) 

7 

Add "or". 

8 

13  Paragraph 8(10)(b) 

9 

Omit "principal officer" (wherever occurring), substitute "Secretary". 

10 

14  After paragraph 8(10)(b) 

11 

Insert: 

12 

 

; or (ba)  if the person is the Secretary of a Parliamentary 

13 

Department--the Presiding Officer or Presiding Officers 

14 

(within the meaning of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999) 

15 

in relation to the Parliamentary Department; or 

16 

 

(bb)  if the person is an officer of a Parliamentary Department but 

17 

not the Secretary of that Parliamentary Department--the 

18 

Secretary of that Parliamentary Department; or 

19 

15  Paragraphs 8(10)(c) and (d) 

20 

After "prescribed authority", insert "(other than a Parliamentary 

21 

Department)". 

22 

16  After subsection 8(10) 

23 

Insert: 

24 

 

(10A)  Without limiting subsection (10), if the Ombudsman forms the 

25 

opinion, either before or after completing an investigation under 

26 

this Act, that there is evidence that an Agency Head may have 

27 

breached the APS Code of Conduct, the Ombudsman must: 

28 

 

(a)  unless the Agency Head is the Australian Public Service 

29 

Commissioner--bring the evidence to the notice of the 

30 

Australian Public Service Commissioner; or 

31 

Amendments  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

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(b)  if the Agency Head is the Australian Public Service 

1 

Commissioner--bring the evidence to the notice of the Merit 

2 

Protection Commissioner. 

3 

 

(10B)  Without limiting subsection (10), if the Ombudsman forms the 

4 

opinion, either before or after completing an investigation under 

5 

this Act, that there is evidence that the Secretary of a Parliamentary 

6 

Department may have breached the Code of Conduct (within the 

7 

meaning of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999), the Ombudsman 

8 

must bring the evidence to the notice of the Parliamentary Service 

9 

Commissioner. 

10 

 

(10C)  Without limiting subsection (10), if the Ombudsman forms the 

11 

opinion, either before or after completing an investigation under 

12 

this Act, that there is evidence that the Parliamentary Service 

13 

Commissioner may have breached the Code of Conduct (within the 

14 

meaning of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999), the Ombudsman 

15 

must bring the evidence to the notice of the Parliamentary Service 

16 

Merit Protection Commissioner. 

17 

17  Subsection 35(4) 

18 

After "grounds for the", insert "findings,". 

19 

Parliamentary Service Act 1999 

20 

18  Section 16 

21 

Repeal the section. 

22 

19  Subsection 20(4) 

23 

Omit "or 16". 

24 

20  Paragraph 40(1)(c) 

25 

Repeal the paragraph, substitute: 

26 

 

(c)  to inquire, subject to the determinations, into public interest 

27 

disclosures (within the meaning of the Public Interest 

28 

Disclosure Act 2013), to the extent that the disclosures relate 

29 

to alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct; 

30 

21  Paragraph 48(1)(a) 

31 

Repeal the paragraph, substitute: 

32 

Schedule 1  Amendments 

   

 

 

10            Public Interest Disclosure (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

 

(a)  to inquire, subject to the determinations, into public interest 

1 

disclosures (within the meaning of the Public Interest 

2 

Disclosure Act 2013), to the extent that the disclosures relate 

3 

to alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct; 

4 

Public Service Act 1999 

5 

22  Section 16 

6 

Repeal the section. 

7 

23  Section 19 

8 

Omit "or 16". 

9 

24  Paragraph 41(2)(o) 

10 

Repeal the paragraph, substitute: 

11 

 

(o)  to inquire, subject to the regulations, into public interest 

12 

disclosures (within the meaning of the Public Interest 

13 

Disclosure Act 2013), to the extent that the disclosures relate 

14 

to alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct; 

15 

25  Paragraph 50(1)(a) 

16 

Repeal the paragraph, substitute: 

17 

 

(a)  to inquire, subject to the regulations, into public interest 

18 

disclosures (within the meaning of the Public Interest 

19 

Disclosure Act 2013), to the extent that the disclosures relate 

20 

to alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct; 

21 

Transitional provisions  Schedule 2 

   

 

 

Public Interest Disclosure (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013            11 

Schedule 2

--

Transitional provisions 

1 

   

2 

1  Continued application of subsection 16(1) of the 

3 

Parliamentary Service Act 1999 in relation to reports of 

4 

breaches etc. 

5 

After the commencement of this item, subsection 16(1) of the 

6 

Parliamentary Service Act 1999 as in force immediately before that 

7 

commencement continues to apply in relation to any reports of breaches 

8 

(or alleged breaches) of the Code of Conduct that were made before that 

9 

commencement, as if the amendments and repeals made by this Act had 

10 

not been made. 

11 

2  Continued application of the Parliamentary Service Act 

12 

1999 in relation to whistleblower reports 

13 

(1) 

After the commencement of this item: 

14 

 

(a)  the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 as in force immediately 

15 

before that commencement; and 

16 

 

(b)  procedures established under subsection 16(2) of that Act and 

17 

as in force immediately before that commencement; and 

18 

 

(c)  determinations made for the purposes of subsection 16(3) of 

19 

that Act and as in force immediately before that 

20 

commencement; 

21 

continue to apply in relation to any reports of a kind referred to in 

22 

paragraph 16(2)(a) of that Act that were made before that 

23 

commencement, as if the amendments and repeals made by this Act had 

24 

not been made. 

25 

(2) 

After the commencement of this item: 

26 

 

(a)  the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 as in force immediately 

27 

before that commencement; and 

28 

 

(b)  determinations made for the purposes of subsections 16(5) 

29 

and (6) of that Act and as in force immediately before that 

30 

commencement; 

31 

continue to apply in relation to any reports of a kind referred to in 

32 

paragraph 16(5)(a) of that Act that were made before that 

33 

commencement, as if the amendments and repeals made by this Act had 

34 

not been made. 

35 

Schedule 2  Transitional provisions 

   

 

 

12            Public Interest Disclosure (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

3  Continued application of subsection 16(1) of the Public 

1 

Service Act 1999 in relation to reports of breaches etc. 

2 

After the commencement of this item, subsection 16(1) of the Public 

3 

Service Act 1999 as in force immediately before that commencement 

4 

continues to apply in relation to any reports of breaches (or alleged 

5 

breaches) of the Code of Conduct that were made before that 

6 

commencement, as if the amendments and repeals made by this Act had 

7 

not been made. 

8 

4  Continued application of the Public Service Act 1999 in 

9 

relation to whistleblower reports 

10 

(1) 

After the commencement of this item: 

11 

 

(a)  the Public Service Act 1999 as in force immediately before 

12 

that commencement; and 

13 

 

(b)  procedures established under subsection 16(2) of that Act and 

14 

as in force immediately before that commencement; and 

15 

 

(c)  regulations made for the purposes of subsection 16(3) of that 

16 

Act and as in force immediately before that commencement; 

17 

continue to apply in relation to any reports of a kind referred to in 

18 

paragraph 16(2)(a) of that Act that were made before that 

19 

commencement, as if the amendments and repeals made by this Act had 

20 

not been made. 

21 

(2) 

After the commencement of this item: 

22 

 

(a)  the Public Service Act 1999 as in force immediately before 

23 

that commencement; and 

24 

 

(b)  regulations made for the purposes of subsections 16(5) and 

25 

(6) of that Act and as in force immediately before that 

26 

commencement; 

27 

continue to apply in relation to any reports of a kind referred to in 

28 

paragraph 16(5)(a) of that Act that were made before that 

29 

commencement, as if the amendments and repeals made by this Act had 

30 

not been made. 

31