1998‑1999‑2000

The Parliament of the
Commonwealth of Australia

THE SENATE

Presented and read a first time

National Crime Authority Legislation Amendment Bill 2000

No.      , 2000

(Justice and Customs)

A Bill for an Act to amend the National Crime Authority Act 1984 and the Ombudsman Act 1976, and for related purposes

  ISBN:  0642 464278

Contents
1	Short title	1
2	Commencement	1
3	Schedule(s)	2
Schedule 1—National Crime Authority Act 1984	3
Part 1—Amendments relating to reasonable excuse, self‑incrimination and increases in penalties	3
Part 2—Relevant criminal activity	8
Part 3—Terms of appointment	9
Part 4—Definitions	10
Part 5—Police power to interview	11
Part 6—People who may apply for, or issue, search warrants	12
Part 7—Non‑disclosure of information about summons, notices etc.	16
Part 8—Delegation of chairperson’s powers	18
Part 9—Hearings	19
Part 10—Disclosure of information by legal practitioners	20
Part 11—Use of reasonable force to execute warrants	21
Part 12—Access to information by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Crime Authority	22
Part 13—Dissemination of information overseas	24
Part 14—Application of the Criminal Code	25
Part 15—Contempt	26
Part 16—Amendments relating to the operation of the Ombudsman Act 1976	29
Part 17—Hearing officers	30
Part 18—Non‑APS employees	41
Schedule 2—Privacy Act 1988	42
Schedule 3—Ombudsman Act 1976	43
Schedule 4—Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977	47

A Bill for an Act to amend the National Crime Authority Act 1984 and the Ombudsman Act 1976, and for related purposes
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
1  Short title
		This Act may be cited as the National Crime Authority Legislation Amendment Act 2000.
2  Commencement
	(1)	This section and section 1 commence on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.
	(2)	Subject to this section, the remaining provisions of this Act commence on a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation.
	(3)	If a provision of this Act does not commence under subsection (2) within the period of 6 months beginning on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent, it commences on the first day after the end of that period.
3  Schedule(s)
		Subject to section 2, each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—National Crime Authority Act 1984
Part 1—Amendments relating to reasonable excuse, self‑incrimination and increases in penalties
1  Subsection 19A(4)
Omit “, without reasonable excuse,”.
2  Subsection 20(3)
Repeal the subsection.
3  Subsection 20(4)
Omit “, without reasonable excuse,”.
4  Subsection 27(2)
Repeal the subsection, substitute:
	(2)	A person who proposes to make, or has made, an application to the Federal Court under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 for an order of review in respect of a matter arising under this Act may make an application to the Attorney‑General for the provision of assistance under this section in respect of the application to the Federal Court.
5  Subsection 29(3)
Omit “, without reasonable excuse,”.
6  Subsection 29(3) (penalty)
Repeal the penalty.
7  After subsection 29(3)
Insert:
	(3A)	A person who contravenes subsection (3) is guilty of an indictable offence that, subject to this section, is punishable, upon conviction, by a fine not exceeding $20,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years.
	(3B)	Notwithstanding that an offence against subsection (3) is an indictable offence, a court of summary jurisdiction may hear and determine proceedings in respect of such an offence if the court is satisfied that it is proper to do so and the defendant and the prosecutor consent.
	(3C)	Where, in accordance with subsection (3B), a court of summary jurisdiction convicts a person of an offence against subsection (3), the penalty that the court may impose is a fine not exceeding $2,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 1 year.
8  Subsection 29(4)
Omit “30(3) to (10), inclusive,”, substitute “30(3) to (5) and (9)”.
9  Subsection 29(4)
Omit “and so apply as if a reference in those subsections to subsection 30(2) were a reference to subsection (3) of this section”.
10  Subsection 29(5)
Repeal the subsection.
11  Subsections 30(1) and (2)
Omit “, without reasonable excuse”.
Note 1:	The following heading to subsection 30(1) is inserted “Failure to attend”.
Note 2:	The following heading to subsection 30(2) is inserted “Failure to answer questions etc.”.
12  Subsections 30(4) to (11)
Repeal the subsections, substitute:
Use immunity available in some cases if self‑incrimination claimed
	(4)	Subsection (5) limits the use that can be made of any answers given at a hearing before the Authority, or documents or things produced at a hearing before the Authority. That subsection only applies if:
	(a)	a person appearing as a witness at a hearing before the Authority:
	(i)	answers a question that he or she is required to answer by the member presiding at the hearing; or
	(ii)	produces a document or thing that he or she was required to produce by a summons under this Act served on him or her as prescribed; and
	(b)	in the case of the production of a document that is, or forms part of, a record of an existing or past business—the document sets out details of earnings received by the person in respect of his or her employment and does not set out any other information; and
	(c)	before answering the question or producing the document or thing, the person claims that the answer, or the production of the document or thing, might tend to incriminate the person or make the person liable to a penalty.
	(5)	The answer, or the document or thing, is not admissible in evidence against the person in:
	(a)	a criminal proceeding; or
	(b)	a proceeding for the imposition of a penalty;
other than a proceeding in respect of:
	(c)	in the case of an answer—the falsity of the answer; or
	(d)	in the case of the production of a document—the falsity of any statement contained in the document.
Offence for contravention of subsection (1), (2) or (3)
	(6)	A person who contravenes subsection (1), (2) or (3) is guilty of an indictable offence that, subject to this section, is punishable, upon conviction, by a fine not exceeding $20,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years.
	(7)	Notwithstanding that an offence against subsection (1), (2) or (3) is an indictable offence, a court of summary jurisdiction may hear and determine proceedings in respect of such an offence if the court is satisfied that it is proper to do so and the defendant and the prosecutor consent.
	(8)	Where, in accordance with subsection (7), a court of summary jurisdiction convicts a person of an offence against subsection (1), (2) or (3), the penalty that the court may impose is a fine not exceeding $2,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 1 year.
Legal professional privilege
	(9)	Subsection (3) does not affect the law relating to legal professional privilege.
13  Sections 32, 32A, 32B and 32C
Repeal the sections.
14  Subsection 35(1) (penalty)
Repeal the penalty.
15  Subsection 35(2)
Repeal the subsection, substitute:
	(2)	A person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence that, subject to this section, is punishable, upon conviction, by a fine not exceeding $20,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years.
	(3)	Notwithstanding that an offence against subsection (1) is an indictable offence, a court of summary jurisdiction may hear and determine proceedings in respect of such an offence if the court is satisfied that it is proper to do so and the defendant and the prosecutor consent.
	(4)	Where, in accordance with subsection (3), a court of summary jurisdiction convicts a person of an offence against subsection (1), the penalty that the court may impose is a fine not exceeding $2,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 1 year.
16  Subparagraph 61(2)(g)(i)
Repeal the subparagraph.
17  Saving of sections 32, 32A, 32B and 32C in relation to relevant claims
(1)	Despite the repeal of sections 32, 32A, 32B and 32C of the National Crime Authority Act 1984 by item 13, those sections continue to have effect on and after the commencement of that item as if they had not been repealed, in relation to a relevant claim.
(2)	In this item:
relevant claim means a claim, made before the commencement of item 13, that a person is entitled to refuse:
	(a)	to furnish information, or produce a document, pursuant to a notice under section 20 of the National Crime Authority Act 1984; or
	(b)	to produce a document pursuant to a notice under section 29 of that Act; or
	(c)	to answer a question put to him or her, or produce a document that he or she was required to produce, under section 30 of that Act; or
	(d)	to comply with a requirement:
	(i)	to answer a question, or to produce a document, at a hearing before the Authority under a law of a State; or
	(ii)	to produce a document pursuant to a notice under a provision of a law of a State that corresponds to section 29 of that Act;
		to which section 32 of that Act applied, because of section 32B of that Act, before the commencement of item 13.

Part 2—Relevant criminal activity
18  Subsection 4(1) (definition of relevant criminal activity)
Omit “or may be being”, substitute “may be being, or may in future be”.

Part 3—Terms of appointment
19  Subsection 37(1)
Omit “4 years”, substitute “6 years”.
20  Subsection 37(1C)
Omit “4 years”, substitute “6 years”.
21  Subsection 37(1E)
Omit “4 years”, substitute “6 years”.

Part 4—Definitions
22  Subsection 4(1) (definition of document)
Repeal the definition, substitute:
document has the same meaning as in the Evidence Act 1995.
23  Subsection 4(1) (paragraph (d) of the definition of relevant offence)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute:
	(d)	that is of a prescribed kind or involves any of the following:
	(i)	theft;
	(ii)	fraud;
	(iii)	tax evasion;
	(iv)	money laundering;
	(v)	currency violations;
	(vi)	illegal drug dealings;
	(vii)	illegal gambling;
	(viii)	obtaining financial benefit by vice engaged in by others;
	(ix)	extortion;
	(x)	violence;
	(xi)	bribery or corruption of, or by, an officer of the Commonwealth, an officer of a State or an officer of a Territory;
	(xii)	perverting the course of justice;
	(xiii)	bankruptcy and company violations;
	(xiv)	harbouring of criminals;
	(xv)	forging of passports;
	(xvi)	armament dealings;
	(xvii)	illegal importation or exportation of fauna into or out of Australia;
	(xviii)	matters of the same general nature as one or more of the matters listed above;

Part 5—Police power to interview
24  Subsections 12(4) and (5)
Repeal the subsections.

Part 6—People who may apply for, or issue, search warrants
25  Subsection 4(1)
Insert:
eligible person means:
	(a)	a member; or
	(b)	a member of the staff of the Authority who is also a member of:
	(i)	the Australian Federal Police; or
	(ii)	the Police Force of a State.
26  Subsection 4(1)
Insert:
issuing officer means:
	(a)	a Judge of the Federal Court; or
	(b)	a Judge of a court of a State or Territory; or
	(c)	a magistrate.
27  Subsection 22(1)
Omit “A member”, substitute “An eligible person”.
28  Subsection 22(1)
Omit “a Judge of a prescribed court”, substitute “an issuing officer”.
29  Paragraph 22(1)(a)
Omit “the member”, substitute “the eligible person”.
30  Paragraph 22(1)(b)
Omit “the member”, substitute “the eligible person”.
31  Subsection 22(2)
Omit “a Judge of a prescribed court, the Judge”, substitute “an issuing officer, the issuing officer”.
32  Subsection 22(3)
Omit “A Judge”, substitute “An issuing officer”.
33  Subsection 22(3)
Omit “the Judge” (wherever occurring), substitute “the issuing officer”.
34  Subsection 22(4)
Omit “a Judge”, substitute “an issuing officer”.
35  Paragraph 22(8)(b)
Omit “a member”, substitute “an eligible person”.
36  Subparagraph 22(8)(b)(ii)
Omit “the member”, substitute “the eligible person”.
37  Subsection 22(9)
Omit “A member”, substitute “An eligible person”.
38  Subsection 22(9)
Omit “the member”, substitute “the eligible person”.
39  Subsections 22(11) and (12)
Repeal the subsections, substitute:
	(11)	In this section:
thing includes a document.
40  At the end of section 22
Add:
	(14)	A function of issuing a warrant conferred on an issuing officer by this section is conferred on the issuing officer in a personal capacity and not as a court or a member of a court.
	(15)	Without limiting the generality of subsection (14), the issue of a warrant has effect only by virtue of this Act and is not to be taken by implication to be made by a court.
	(16)	An issuing officer performing a function of, or connected with, issuing a warrant under this section has the same protection and immunity as if he or she were performing that function as, or as a member of, a court (being the court of which the issuing officer is a member).
41  Subsection 23(1)
Omit “a member”, substitute “an eligible person”.
42  Subsection 23(1)
Omit “the member”, substitute “the eligible person”.
43  Subsection 23(2)
Omit “member”, substitute “eligible person”.
44  Subsection 23(3)
Omit “a Judge”, substitute “an issuing officer”.
45  Paragraph 23(3)(b)
Omit “member”, substitute “eligible person”.
46  Subsection 23(4)
Omit “Judge” (wherever occurring), substitute “issuing officer”.
47  Subsection 23(5)
Omit “Judge”, substitute “issuing officer”.
48  Subsection 23(6)
Omit “Judge”, substitute “issuing officer”.
49  At the end of section 23
Add:
	(8)	A function of issuing a warrant conferred on an issuing officer by this section is conferred on the issuing officer in a personal capacity and not as a court or a member of a court.
	(9)	Without limiting the generality of subsection (8), the issue of a warrant has effect only by virtue of this Act and is not to be taken by implication to be made by a court.
	(10)	An issuing officer performing a function of, or connected with, issuing a warrant under this section has the same protection and immunity as if he or she were performing that function as, or as a member of, a court (being the court of which the issuing officer is a member).

Part 7—Non‑disclosure of information about summons, notices etc.
50  At the end of section 29A
Add:
	(7)	If:
	(a)	under this section, a notation in relation to the disclosure of information about:
	(i)	a summons issued under section 28; or
	(ii)	a notice issued under section 29; or
	(iii)	any official matter connected with the summons or notice;
		has been made and not cancelled; and
	(b)	apart from this subsection, a credit reporting agency (within the meaning of section 11A of the Privacy Act 1988) would be required, under subsection 18K(5) of the Privacy Act 1988, to make a note about the disclosure of the information;
such a note must not be made until the notation is cancelled.
51  Application
If:
	(a)	under section 29A of the National Crime Authority Act 1984, a notation was made before the commencement of item 50 in relation to the disclosure of information about:
	(i)	a summons issued under section 28 of that Act; or
	(ii)	a notice issued under section 29 of that Act; or
	(iii)	any official matter connected with the summons or notice; and
	(b)	before the commencement of that item, a body made a note about the disclosure of the information about a person in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988; and
	(c)	after the commencement of that item, an individual seeks access to that file in accordance with section 18H of the Privacy Act 1988 before the notation is cancelled;
then the note must be removed before such access is given and neither the note nor any information in the note may be disclosed to the individual when such access is given.

Part 8—Delegation of chairperson’s powers
52  Subsection 4(1)
Insert:
acting SES employee has the same meaning as in the Public Service Act 1999.
53  Subsection 4(1)
Insert:
SES employee has the same meaning as in the Public Service Act 1999.
54  At the end of section 59A
Add:
	(2)	The Chairperson may, by signed instrument, delegate to a member the Chairperson’s power under subsection 25(9A).
	(3)	The Chairperson may, by signed instrument, delegate to a member, the Chairperson’s power under subsection 26(2) to direct that a witness or person be paid in respect of expenses.
	(4)	The Chairperson may, by signed instrument, delegate to a member, or a member of the staff of the Authority who is an SES employee or acting SES employee, the Chairperson’s power under subsection 48(1).

Part 9—Hearings
55  After subsection 25(7)
Insert:
	(7A)	If a person (other than a member or a member of the staff of the Authority) is present at a hearing while another person (the witness) is giving evidence at the hearing, the Authority must:
	(a)	inform the witness that the person is present; and
	(b)	give the witness an opportunity to comment on the presence of the person.
	(7B)	To avoid doubt, a person does not cease to be entitled to be present at a hearing or part of a hearing if:
	(a)	the Authority fails to comply with subsection (7A); or
	(b)	a witness comments adversely on the presence of the person under paragraph (7A)(b).

Part 10—Disclosure of information by legal practitioners
56  Paragraph 29B(2)(e)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute:
	(e)	if the person is a legal practitioner—for the purpose of obtaining the agreement of another person under subsection 30(3) to the legal practitioner answering a question or producing a document at a hearing before the Authority.

Part 11—Use of reasonable force to execute warrants
57  After subsection 22(6)
Insert:
	(6A)	A person executing a warrant issued under this section may only use such reasonable force as is necessary for the execution.
58  After subsection 31(2A)
Insert:
	(2B)	A person executing a warrant under this section may only use such reasonable force as is necessary for the execution.
59  Application
The amendments made by items 57 and 58 apply to a person executing a warrant on or after the commencement of those items, regardless of whether the warrant was issued before, on or after the commencement.

Part 12—Access to information by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Crime Authority
60  At the end of section 55
Add:
	(3)	To avoid doubt, the Committee may examine, and report to both Houses of the Parliament on, information given to it under section 59.
61  After subsection 59(6)
Insert:
	(6A)	Subject to subsection (6B), the Authority:
	(a)	must comply with a request by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Crime Authority for the time being constituted under Part III (the PJC) to give the PJC information relating to an investigation that has been conducted by the Authority; and
	(b)	must when requested by the PJC, and may at such other times as the Authority thinks appropriate, inform the PJC concerning the general conduct of the operations of the Authority.
	(6B)	If the Chairperson considers that disclosure of information to the public could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies, the Authority must not give the PJC the information.
	(6C)	If the Authority does not give the PJC information on the ground that the Chairperson considers that disclosure of the information to the public could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies, the PJC may refer the request to the Minister.
	(6D)	If the PJC refers the request to the Minister, the Minister:
	(a)	must determine in writing whether disclosure of the information could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies; and
	(b)	must provide copies of that determination to the Chairperson and the PJC; and
	(c)	must not disclose his or her reasons for determining the question of whether the information could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies in the way stated in the determination.

Part 13—Dissemination of information overseas
62  Subsection 4(1)
Insert:
foreign law enforcement agency means:
	(a)	a police force (however described) of a foreign country; or
	(b)	any other authority or person responsible for the enforcement of the laws of the foreign country.
63  At the end of section 59
Add:
	(12)	Despite section 11, the Chairperson may give to any foreign law enforcement agency any information that is in the Authority’s possession and is relevant to the activities of that agency if:
	(a)	it appears to the Chairperson to be appropriate to do so; and
	(b)	to do so would not be contrary to a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory that would otherwise apply.

Part 14—Application of the Criminal Code
64  After section 6
Insert:
6A  Application of the Criminal Code
		Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against this Act.
65  Subsections 19A(7) and 20(4A)
Repeal the subsections.

Part 15—Contempt
66  Subsection 4(1)
Insert:
in contempt of the Authority has the meaning given by section 34A.
67  After section 34
Insert:
34A  Contempt of the Authority
		A person is in contempt of the Authority if he or she:
	(a)	obstructs or hinders the Authority or a member in the performance of the functions of the Authority; or
	(b)	disrupts a hearing before the Authority; or
	(c)	when appearing as a witness at a hearing before the Authority:
	(i)	refuses or fails to take an oath or make an affirmation; or
	(ii)	refuses or fails to answer a question;
		when required to do so.
34B  Supreme Court to deal with contempt
	(1)	If the Authority is of the opinion that, during a hearing before the Authority, a person is in contempt of the Authority, the Authority may apply to the relevant Supreme Court for the person to be dealt with in respect of the contempt.
	(2)	The application must be accompanied by an affidavit that sets out:
	(a)	the grounds for making the application; and
	(b)	evidence in support of the application.
	(3)	If, after:
	(a)	considering the affidavit; and
	(b)	hearing or receiving any evidence or statements by or in support of the Authority; and
	(c)	hearing or receiving any evidence or statements by or in support of the person;
the Court finds that the person:
	(d)	was in contempt of the Authority; and
	(e)	did not have a reasonable excuse for being in contempt of the Authority;
the Court may deal with the person as if the acts or omissions involved constituted a contempt of that Court.
	(4)	In this section:
relevant Supreme Court, in relation to a hearing before the Authority, means the Supreme Court of the State or Territory where the hearing is held.
34C  Person in contempt may be detained
	(1)	If the Authority proposes to make an application to a Supreme Court under subsection 34B(1) in respect of a person, it may, during the hearing concerned, direct a member of a law enforcement agency to detain the person for the purpose of bringing the person before the Court for the hearing of the application.
	(2)	If the person is detained under subsection (1):
	(a)	the Authority must apply to the Court as soon as practicable under subsection 34B(1) in respect of the person; and
	(b)	the person must, subject to subsection (3), be brought before the Court as soon as practicable.
	(3)	However, the Court may direct that the person be released from detention on condition that he or she will appear before the Court in relation to the application.
	(4)	The Court may also impose any other condition on the release, for example:
	(a)	that the person surrenders his or her passport;
	(b)	that the person gives an undertaking as to his or her living arrangements;
	(c)	that the person reports as required to a law enforcement agency.
	(5)	The Court may at any time vary or revoke a condition that it has imposed under subsection (4).
34D  Authority may withdraw contempt application
	(1)	The Authority may at any time withdraw an application in relation to a person under subsection 34B(1).
	(2)	If:
	(a)	the Authority does so; and
	(b)	the person is in detention under subsection 34C(1);
the person must be released from detention immediately.
Note:	The heading to section 35 is replaced by the heading “Contempt offences”.
68  At the end of section 35A
Add:
	(2)	If:
	(a)	an application is made to a Supreme Court under subsection 34B(1) in respect of an act or omission by a person; and
	(b)	the person is dealt with by the Court under that section in respect of the act or omission;
the person is not liable to be prosecuted for an offence in respect of that act or omission.
	(3)	If a person is prosecuted for an offence in respect of an act or omission, an application must not be made under subsection 34B(1) in respect of that act or omission.

Part 16—Amendments relating to the operation of the Ombudsman Act 1976
69  At the end of section 36
Add:
	(4)	To avoid doubt, this section does not limit the powers of the Ombudsman under the Ombudsman Act 1976.

Part 17—Hearing officers
70  Subsection 4(1)
Insert:
hearing officer means a person appointed under subsection 25A(1).
71  Paragraph 24(1)(a)
After “before the Authority” (wherever occurring), insert “or a hearing officer”.
72  Paragraph 24(1)(b)
After “give to the Authority”, insert “or the hearing officer”.
73  Paragraph 24(1)(b)
After “produce to the Authority”, insert “or the hearing officer”.
74  Before section 25
Insert:
24A  Hearings
		For the purposes of a special investigation:
	(a)	the Authority may hold hearings of the Authority; and
	(b)	the Chairperson may, in writing, direct a hearing officer to hold hearings.
75  Subsection 25(1)
Repeal the subsection, substitute:
	(1)	This section applies to a hearing held by the Authority.
Note:	The heading to section 25 is replaced by the heading “Hearings of the Authority”.
76  After section 25
Insert:
25A  Hearings by hearing officers
	(1)	Hearing officers are to be appointed by the Governor‑General on the advice of the Minister.
	(2)	Any advice to the Governor‑General with respect to the appointment of a person as a hearing officer must be consistent with a unanimous recommendation of the Inter‑Governmental Committee.
	(3)	A person must not be appointed as a hearing officer unless he or she is enrolled as a legal practitioner, and has been so for not less than 5 years.
	(4)	A hearing officer may regulate the conduct of proceedings at a hearing as he or she thinks fit.
	(5)	At a hearing before a hearing officer:
	(a)	a person giving evidence may be represented by a legal practitioner; and
	(b)	if, by reason of the existence of special circumstances, the hearing officer consents to a person who is not giving evidence being represented by a legal practitioner—the person may be so represented.
	(6)	A hearing before a hearing officer must be held in private and the hearing officer may give directions as to the persons who may be present during the hearing or a part of the hearing.
	(7)	Nothing in a direction given by the hearing officer under subsection (6) prevents the presence, when evidence is being taken at a hearing before the hearing officer, of:
	(a)	a person representing the person giving evidence; or
	(b)	a person representing, in accordance with subsection (5), a person who, by reason of a direction given by the hearing officer under subsection (6), is entitled to be present.
	(8)	If a hearing before a hearing officer is being held, a person (other than a member or a member of the staff of the Authority approved by the Authority) must not be present at the hearing unless the person is entitled to be present by reason of a direction given by the hearing officer under subsection (6) or by reason of subsection (7).
	(9)	At a hearing before a hearing officer for the purposes of a special investigation:
	(a)	counsel assisting the hearing officer generally or in relation to the matter to which the investigation relates; or
	(b)	any person authorised by the hearing officer to appear before the hearing officer at the hearing; or
	(c)	any legal practitioner representing a person at the hearing in accordance with subsection (5);
may, so far as the hearing officer thinks appropriate, examine or cross‑examine any witness on any matter that the hearing officer considers relevant to the special investigation.
	(10)	If a person (other than a member or a member of the staff of the Authority) is present at a hearing before a hearing officer while another person (the witness) is giving evidence at the hearing, the hearing officer must:
	(a)	inform the witness that the person is present; and
	(b)	give the witness an opportunity to comment on the presence of the person.
	(11)	To avoid doubt, a person does not cease to be entitled to be present at a hearing before a hearing officer or part of such a hearing if:
	(a)	the hearing officer fails to comply with subsection (10); or
	(b)	a witness comments adversely on the presence of the person under paragraph (10)(b).
	(12)	A hearing officer may direct that:
	(a)	any evidence given before the hearing officer; or
	(b)	the contents of any document, or a description of any thing, produced to the hearing officer; or
	(c)	any information that might enable a person who has given evidence before the hearing officer to be identified; or
	(d)	the fact that any person has given or may be about to give evidence at a hearing;
must not be published, or must not be published except in such manner, and to such persons, as the hearing officer specifies. The hearing officer must give such a direction if the failure to do so might prejudice the safety or reputation of a person or prejudice the fair trial of a person who has been or may be charged with an offence.
	(13)	Subject to subsection (14), the Chairperson may, in writing, vary or revoke a direction under subsection (12).
	(14)	The Chairperson must not vary or revoke a direction if to do so might prejudice the safety or reputation of a person or prejudice the fair trial of a person who has been or may be charged with an offence.
	(15)	Where:
	(a)	a person has been charged with an offence before a federal court or before a court of a State or Territory; and
	(b)	the court considers that it may be desirable in the interests of justice that particular evidence given before a hearing officer, being evidence in relation to which the hearing officer has given a direction under subsection (12), be made available to the person or to a legal practitioner representing the person;
the court may give to the hearing officer or the Authority a certificate to that effect and, if the court does so, the hearing officer or the Authority, as the case may be, must make the evidence available to the court.
	(16)	Where:
	(a)	the hearing officer or the Authority makes evidence available to a court in accordance with subsection (15); and
	(b)	the court, after examining the evidence, is satisfied that the interests of justice so require;
the court may make the evidence available to the person charged with the offence concerned or to a legal practitioner representing the person.
	(17)	A person who:
	(a)	is present at a hearing in contravention of subsection (8); or
	(b)	makes a publication in contravention of a direction given under subsection (12);
is guilty of an offence punishable, upon summary conviction, by a fine not exceeding $2,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months.
	(18)	At the conclusion of a hearing held by a hearing officer, the hearing officer must give the Authority:
	(a)	a record of the proceedings of the hearing; and
	(b)	any documents or other things given to the hearing officer at, or in connection with, the hearing.
77  Subsections 26(1) and 27(1)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
78  Subsection 27(3)
After “Authority”, insert “or the hearing officer”.
79  Subsections 28(1) and 28(2)
After “before the Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
80  Subsection 28(3)
Omit “Authority at a hearing”, substitute “Authority or a hearing officer at a hearing”.
81  Subsection 28(3)
Omit “Authority intends”, substitute “Authority or the hearing officer intends”.
82  Subsection 28(3)
Omit “Authority from”, substitute “Authority or the hearing officer from”.
83  Subsection 28(4)
After “Authority”, insert “, or the hearing officer who is holding a hearing,”.
84  Subsection 28(5)
Omit “Authority may”, insert “Authority or a hearing officer may”.
85  Paragraph 28(5)(a)
After “a member”, insert “or the hearing officer”.
86  Paragraph 28(5)(a)
After “presiding at the hearing”, insert “or the hearing officer”.
87  Paragraph 28(5)(b)
After “a member,”, insert “the hearing officer”.
88  Paragraph 29(1)(a)
Omit “or a member of the staff of the Authority”, substitute “, a member of the staff of the Authority or a hearing officer”.
89  Subsection 29(2)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
90  At the end of subsection 29(4)
Add “or a hearing officer”.
91  Paragraph 29B(2)(e)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
92  Subsection 29B(7) (paragraph (c) of the definition of official matter)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
93  Subsection 30(1)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
94  At the end of paragraph 30(1)(b)
Add “or the hearing officer, as the case may be”.
95  Subsection 30(2)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
96  At the end of paragraph 30(2)(b)
Add “or the hearing officer”.
97  Paragraph 30(3)(a)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
98  Subsection 30(3)
After “at the hearing”, insert “or the hearing officer”.
99  Subsection 30(3)
Omit “Authority the name”, substitute “Authority or the hearing officer the name”.
100  Subsection 30(4)
After “given at a hearing before the Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
101  Subsection 30(4)
After “produced at a hearing before the Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
102  Paragraph 30(4)(a)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
103  Subparagraph 30(4)(a)(i)
After “at the hearing”, insert “or the hearing officer who is holding the hearing”.
104  Paragraph 31(1)(a)
After “before the Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
105  At the end of paragraph 31(3)(a)
Add “or the hearing officer”.
106  Subsection 33(1)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
107  Section 34
After “a member”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
108  Paragraph 34(a)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
109  Paragraph 34(b)
After “before the Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
110  Section 34
After “the member”, insert “or the hearing officer, as the case may be,”.
111  Paragraph 34A(a)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute:
	(a)	obstructs or hinders:
	(i)	the Authority or a member in the performance of the functions of the Authority; or
	(ii)	a hearing officer in the performance of his or her functions as a hearing officer; or
112  Paragraph 34A(b)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
113  Paragraph 34A(c)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
114  Subsection 34B(1)
Repeal the subsection, substitute:
	(1)	If:
	(a)	during a hearing before the Authority—the Authority; or
	(b)	during a hearing before a hearing officer—the hearing officer;
is of the opinion that, during the hearing, a person is in contempt of the Authority, the Authority or the hearing officer, as the case may be, may apply to the relevant Supreme Court for the person to be dealt with in respect of the contempt.
115  Paragraph 34B(3)(b)
After “Authority”, insert “or the hearing officer”.
116  Subsection 34B(4) (definition of relevant Supreme Court)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
117  Subsection 34C(1)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
118  Subsection 34C(1)
Omit “it may”, substitute “the Authority or the hearing officer may”.
119  Paragraph 34C(2)(a)
After “Authority”, substitute “or the hearing officer, as the case may be,”.
120  Subsection 34D(1)
After “Authority”, insert “, or the hearing officer concerned,”.
121  Paragraph 34D(2)(a)
After “Authority”, insert “or the hearing officer”.
122  Paragraph 35(1)(a)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute:
	(a)	obstruct or hinder:
	(i)	the Authority or a member in the performance of the functions of the Authority; or
	(ii)	a hearing officer in the performance of his or her functions as a hearing officer; or
123  Paragraph 35(1)(b)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
124  Subsection 36(1)
After “member” (wherever occurring), insert “or a hearing officer”.
125  Subsection 36(1)
After “Authority”, insert “or the hearing officer”.
126  Subsection 36(2)
After “Authority” (wherever occurring), insert “or a hearing officer”.
127  Subsection 36(3)
After “Authority”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
128  Subsection 37(1)
Omit “and each of the other members”, substitute “, each of the other members and each of the hearing officers”.
129  Subsection 37(1A)
Omit “and the other members”, substitute “, the other members and hearing officers”.
130  After subsection 37(1D)
Insert:
	(1DA)	A hearing officer may be re‑appointed for one or more periods.
131  Subsection 37(1E)
After “appointment”, insert “or a hearing officer’s first appointment”.
132  Subsection 37(2)
After “member” (wherever occurring), insert “or a hearing officer”.
133  After subsection 37(4)
Insert:
	(5)	A hearing officer holds office on such terms and conditions (if any) in respect of matters not provided for by this Act as are determined by the Governor‑General.
134  Subsection 38(1)
After “member”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
135  Subsection 38(2)
After “member”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
136  Section 41
After “member”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
137  At the end of section 42
Insert:
	(3)	A hearing officer who has a direct or indirect interest in a matter that arises, or that could arise, during the course of a hearing before the hearing officer, must, as soon as possible after the relevant facts have come to his or her attention, disclose the nature of his or her interest to the Chairperson.
	(4)	If a hearing officer makes a disclosure under subsection (3):
	(a)	the Chairperson must cause the disclosure to be recorded in the minutes of the next meeting of the Authority; and
	(b)	the hearing officer must not, unless the Minister otherwise determines, hold hearings, or further hearings, as the case may be, in relation to the matter.
138  Subsection 43(1)
After “member”, insert “or a hearing officer”.
139  After subsection 43(2)
Insert:
	(2A)	If a hearing officer:
	(a)	becomes bankrupt, applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors, compounds with his or her creditors or makes an assignment of his or her remuneration for their benefit; or
	(b)	fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with his or her obligations under section 42;
the Governor‑General must terminate the appointment of that hearing officer.
140  At the end of subsection 51(1)
Add:
	; and (c)	a hearing officer.
141  Subsection 51(3)
Omit “or acting member”, substitute “, acting member or hearing officer”.

Part 18—Non‑APS employees
142  Subsection 47(1)
After “Subject to”, insert “this section and”.
143  At the end of section 47
Add:
	(3)	In addition to the staff referred to in subsection (1), the Chairperson may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, employ, under agreements in writing, such persons as the Chairperson thinks necessary for the purposes of the performance of the functions of the Authority.
	(4)	The terms and conditions of employment of persons employed by the Chairperson under subsection (3) are such as are from time to time determined by the Chairperson.

Schedule 2—Privacy Act 1988
  
1  At the end of subsection 18K(5)
Add:
Note:	A credit reporting agency must not include a note about the disclosure of information in a file if a notation has been made on a summons, or a notice, relating to the disclosure of the information and the notation has not been cancelled (see section 29A of the National Crime Authority Act 1984).

Schedule 3—Ombudsman Act 1976
  
1  Subsection 3(1)
Insert:
law enforcement agency has the same meaning as in the National Crime Authority Act 1984.
2  Subsection 3(1)
Insert:
National Crime Authority means the National Crime Authority established by the National Crime Authority Act 1984.
3  After subsection 3(13)
Insert:
	(13A)	For the purposes of this Act, the National Crime Authority is taken to be a prescribed authority.
4  Paragraph 5(2)(b)
After “Parliament”, insert “other than action taken by a Justice or Judge in his or her capacity as a member of the National Crime Authority”.
5  After section 6
Insert:
6A  Transfer of complaints about National Crime Authority
	(1)	If:
	(a)	the Ombudsman forms the opinion that:
	(i)	a complaint in respect of action taken by the National Crime Authority could have been made to another authority established under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; and
	(ii)	the complaint could be more conveniently or effectively dealt with by the other authority; and
	(b)	the other authority can deal with the complaint if the Ombudsman transfers the complaint to the other authority;
the Ombudsman may decide not to investigate the complaint, or not to investigate the complaint further, as the case may be, and to transfer the complaint to the other authority.
	(2)	If the Ombudsman decides to transfer the complaint, the Ombudsman must:
	(a)	do so as soon as is reasonably practicable; and
	(b)	subject to section 35B, give the other authority any information or documents relating to the complaint that are in the possession, or under the control, of the Ombudsman; and
	(c)	as soon as is reasonably practicable, give the complainant written notice that the complaint has been transferred to the other authority.
6  After section 8A
Insert:
8B  Investigations by other authorities of National Crime Authority actions
	(1)	If an authority established under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory has power to enter into an arrangement with the Ombudsman to investigate action taken by the National Crime Authority, the Ombudsman may enter into such an arrangement with the authority.
	(2)	The Ombudsman may arrange with the authority for the variation or revocation of the arrangement.
	(3)	The arrangement may relate to particular action or actions, to a series of related actions or to actions included in a class of actions.
	(4)	The arrangement, or the variation or revocation of the arrangement, must be in writing.
	(5)	The regulations may make provision for and in relation to the participation by the Ombudsman in the carrying out of an investigation in accordance with an arrangement under this section.
	(6)	Nothing in this section affects the powers and duties of the Ombudsman under any other provision of this Act.
7  At the end of paragraphs 9(3)(a) and (b)
Add “or”.
8  After paragraph 9(3)(d)
Insert:
	or (e)	if the information, documents or records are, or were, in the possession or under the control of the National Crime Authority—by reason that it would prejudice:
	(i)	the safety of a person; or
	(ii)	the fair trial of a person who has been, or may be, charged with an offence; or
	(iii)	the effectiveness of an investigation by the National Crime Authority; or
	(iv)	the operations of a law enforcement agency;
9  Subsection 35(5)
Omit “or (d)”, substitute “, (d) or (e)”.
10  Subsection 35A(1)
Omit “Nothing”, substitute “Subject to section 35B, nothing”.
11  After section 35A
Insert:
35B  Disclosure of NCA information
	(1)	If the Attorney‑General gives the Ombudsman a certificate certifying that the disclosure of certain NCA information by one or more listed disclosure methods specified in the certificate would be contrary to the public interest by reason that it would prejudice:
	(a)	the safety of a person; or
	(b)	the fair trial of a person who has been, or may be, charged with an offence; or
	(c)	the effectiveness of an investigation by the National Crime Authority; or
	(d)	the operations of a law enforcement agency;
the Ombudsman must not so disclose the NCA information.
	(2)	In this section:
listed disclosure method, in relation to information, a document or a record, means:
	(a)	including the information or the contents of the document or record in any report under Division 2 of Part 2; or
	(b)	giving the information, document or record to another person or authority under section 6 or 6A; or
	(c)	giving the information, document or record to an Ombudsman of a State; or
	(d)	giving the information, document or record to an authority with which the Ombudsman has made an arrangement under section 8B; or
	(e)	disclosing, or making a statement that discloses, the information or the contents of the document or record under subsection 35A(1); or
	(f)	disclosing information or the contents of a document or record by any other specified method.
NCA information means information or the contents of a document or a record that is, or was, in the possession or under the control of the National Crime Authority.

Schedule 4—Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977
  
1  At the end of Schedule 1
Add:
	; (zb)	decisions under section 34B or 34C of the National Crime Authority Act 1984.