Part 3 Effect of State and Territory laws on a requirement to give information or evidence or produce documents
3.1 A person (for example, a participant or prospective participant) may be required, in certain circumstances, to give particular information or evidence, or produce documents, to the Agency or an officer for the purposes of the Act.
3.2 Generally, a requirement under the Act to give information or evidence, or to produce documents, to the Agency is not affected by State or Territory laws. That is, the general rule is that nothing in a State or Territory law excuses a person from complying with the requirement.
Paragraph 3.2 summarises subsection 58(1) of the Act.
3.3 However, by exception to this general rule, a person is not required to give information, produce a document, or give evidence to the Agency for the purposes of the Act if:
(a) the person would be prevented from doing so under a law of a State or Territory; and
Paragraph 3.3(a) summarises paragraph 58(2)(a) of the Act.
(b) the law of the State or the Territory is one of the following laws:
Victoria
Accident Compensation Act 1985, section 61A, subsection 65(3)
Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2008, section 72
Audit Act 1994, sections 12, 20A
Australian Crime Commission (State Provisions) Act 2003, section 44
Child Employment Act 2003, section 46
Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, sections 129-131, 180, 191, 209, 213, 552
Corrections Act 1986, section 36
Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997, section 62
Disability Act 2006, section 128
Emergency Management Act 1986, subsection 21G(2)
Equal Opportunity Act 2010, section 176
Freedom of Information Act 1982, section 63D
Health Services Act 1988, section 63D
Housing Act 1983, section 128
Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011, Divisions 2 and 3 of Part 2; sections 50, 166, 177
Major Crime (Investigative Powers) Act 2004, sections 20, 68
Mental Health Act 1986, sections 35, 63, 117, 120A
Ombudsman Act 1973, sections 16L, 20; Part VA
Police Regulation Act 1958, sections 86ZG, 86ZH
Protected Disclosure Act 2012, sections 52, 53
Terrorism (Community Protection) Act 2003, sections 12, 23
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998, section 34
Victorian Inspectorate Act 2011, Divisions 2 and 3 of Part 2
Witness Protection Act 1991, section 10
New South Wales
Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2007, section 32B
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998, section 29
Crime Commission Act 2012, section 80
Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988, section 111
Ombudsman Act 1974, section 34
Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912, section 48
Police Integrity Commission Act 1996, section 56
Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998, section 67
Royal Commission (Police Service) Act 1994, section 30
State Records Act 1998, section 73
Terrorism (Police Powers) Act 2002, section 26P
Witness Protection Act 1995, sections 24, 32, 33
South Australia
Children's Protection Act 1993, section 13
Health Care Act 2008, section 73
Tasmania
Adoption Act 1975, section 75
Archives Act 1983, section 16
Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997, sections 16, 40, 111A
Commission of Inquiry Act 1995, sections 10, 14
Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2005, section 45
Guardianship and Administration Act 1995, section 86
Health Act 1997, section 4
Health Complaints Act 1995, sections 37, 65
Health Practitioners Tribunal Act 2010, section 54
HIV/AIDS Preventive Measures Act 1993, section 18
Integrity Commission Act 2009, section 94
Magistrate's Court (Children's Division) Act 1998, section 12
Mental Health Act 1996, sections 85, 90
Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity Act 1994, section 15
Ombudsman Act 1978, section 26
Public Health Act 1997, sections 61, 147
Public Interest Disclosures Act 2002, section 23
Relationships Act 2003, section 22
Witness Protection Act 2000, section 13
Youth Justice Act 1997, sections 22, 31, 45
Australian Capital Territory
Australian Crime Commission Act 2003, section 46
Children and Young People Act 2008, sections 846, 847
Drugs of Dependence Act 1989, section 201
Electoral Act 1992, section 63
Epidemiological Studies (Confidentiality) Act 1992, sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Human Rights Commission Act 2005, section 66
Inquiries Act 1991, section 17
Judicial Commission Act 1994, section 28
Legal Aid Act 1997, section 92
Ombudsman Act 1989, section 33
Royal Commissions Act 1991, section 20
Territory Records Act 2002, section 52
Witness Protection Act 1996, section 23.
Note: The list of laws prescribed above is subject to ongoing review and the Minister may amend these Rules to alter the list.
Paragraph 3.3(b) is made for the purposes of paragraph 58(2)(b) of the Act.
3.4 A person is not required to give information or produce a document under Part 1 of Chapter 4 of the Act to the extent that in doing so the person would contravene a Commonwealth law.
Paragraph 3.4 summarises section 59 of the Act.
Part 4 Disclosure of information by the CEO in the public interest
4.1 The Act restricts the circumstances in which information that the Agency has about a person, and certain other information, can be disclosed. However, the CEO may disclose information acquired by a person in the performance of his or her functions or duties or in the exercise of his or her powers under the Act (NDIS information), including information about a person, if the CEO certifies that it is necessary in the public interest to do so in a particular case or class of cases. The NDIS information can in these circumstances be disclosed to such persons and for such purposes as the CEO determines.
Paragraph 4.1 summarises sections 62 and 65 and paragraph 66(1)(a) of the Act.
4.2 This Part sets out guidance for the CEO in the exercise of the power to certify that disclosure is necessary in the public interest—that is, to give a public interest certificate—in particular classes of cases. These Rules are not intended to limit the circumstances in which the CEO may give a public interest certificate under paragraph 66(1)(a) of the Act.
General considerations
4.3 In cases where this Part applies, identified below, the CEO may give a public interest certificate for the disclosure of NDIS information if:
(a) the information cannot reasonably be obtained from a source other than the Agency; and
(b) the person to whom the information will be disclosed has sufficient interest in the information.
4.4 A person has sufficient interest in the NDIS information if:
(a) the CEO is satisfied that, in relation to the purpose of the disclosure, the person has a genuine and legitimate interest in the information; or
(b) the person is a Commonwealth, State or Territory Minister.
4.5 In considering whether to give a public interest certificate under paragraph 4.3 to disclose information about a particular person, the CEO should have regard to whether the person would be likely to be in a position to seek assistance themselves or give notice of their circumstances.
Enforcement of laws
4.6 This Part applies to cases where:
(a) the disclosure is necessary:
(i) for the enforcement of a criminal law; or
(ii) for the enforcement of a law imposing a pecuniary penalty; or
(iii) to prevent an act that may have a significant adverse effect on the public revenue; or
(b) the disclosure relates to an offence or threatened offence:
(i) against an officer of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or
(ii) against Commonwealth, State or Territory property; or
(iii) in premises occupied by the Agency.
Note: An example of the type of information that may be disclosed in these cases is information about the whereabouts of a person suspected of committing an offence or breaching a relevant law.
Mistake of fact
4.7 This Part applies to cases where:
(a) the disclosure is necessary to correct a mistake of fact in relation to the administration of the NDIS; and
(b) either:
(i) the integrity of the NDIS will be at risk if the mistake of fact is not corrected; or
(ii) the mistake of fact relates to a matter that was, or will be, published (whether by, or with or without the consent of, the person to whom the information relates).
Note: An example of the type of information that may be disclosed in these cases is a description of how the Agency has handled a person's requirements under the NDIS.
Ministerial briefing
4.8 This Part applies to cases where the disclosure of the NDIS information is necessary to brief a Commonwealth, State or Territory Minister:
(a) so that the Minister can be advised of complaints or issues raised by or on behalf of a person with the Minister (in writing or orally), and if necessary respond to that person in relation to the complaints or issues; or
(b) in relation to issues raised or proposed to be raised publicly by or on behalf of the person to whom the relevant information relates so that the Minister can respond by correcting a mistake of fact, a misleading perception or impression, or a misleading statement; or
(c) about an error or delay on the part of the Agency; or
(d) about an instance of an anomalous or unusual operation of the Act, regulations made under the Act or the NDIS rules.
Note: An example of the type of information that may be disclosed in these cases is a description of how the Agency has handled a person's requirements under the NDIS.
Missing and deceased persons
4.9 This Part applies to cases where:
(a) the information is about a person who is, or has been reported to be, missing or dead; and
(b) there is no reasonable ground to believe that the person would not want the information disclosed; and
(c) the disclosure is necessary:
(i) to locate a person (including the missing or dead person him or herself, or a relative or beneficiary of the person); or
(ii) to assist a court, a coronial enquiry, a royal commission or commission of inquiry (however described), a Department or other authority of a State or Territory, or an authority responsible for administering a disability support scheme in another country, in relation to its inquiries about the person; or
(iii) in relation to a dead person—to assist a person responsible for the administration of the estate of the dead person in relation to the administration of the estate of the person.
Note: Examples of the types of information that may be disclosed in these cases are information about the whereabouts of a missing person and information regarding whether a person is dead or alive.
Agencies responsible for children
4.10 This Part applies to cases where:
(a) the disclosure is necessary to assist a child welfare agency contact a parent or relative in relation to a child; or
(b) the disclosure is necessary to assist a child welfare agency to carry out its responsibilities relating to the safety, welfare or wellbeing of a child.
4.11 A child welfare agency includes a Commonwealth, State or Territory agency, or a non-government agency or institution, that has responsibilities relating to the safety, welfare or wellbeing of children or that provides care for children (even if it also provides care for adults). Examples include child protection agencies, schools, and public and private health facilities.
Note: Examples of the types of information that may be disclosed in these cases are information about a child's welfare and information about a relevant person's whereabouts.
Paragraphs 4.3 to 4.11 are made for the purposes of paragraph 67(a) of the Act.
