ALRC releases discussion paper on Commonwealth secrecy laws

18/06/2009

The Australian Law Reform Commission today released Discussion Paper 74 Review of Secrecy Laws. ALRC commissioner in charge of the inquiry, Professor Rosalind Croucher, said: “The key focus of the ALRC’s proposed reforms is on achieving much greater clarity for the public servants and others who handle Commonwealth information. This involves creating a new general secrecy offence applicable to Commonwealth officers; substantially consolidating the scattered specific offences, based on a common set of principles; and imposing a rationalised penalty structure. Importantly, we also propose recasting the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct in this area to clarify the duty owed by officers."

Submissions on the ALRC’s proposals are due by 7 August 2009.

View the ALRC media release >

**18 June 2009 **