Victorian Numbered Acts

SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR ACT 2021 (NO. 50 OF 2021)

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Purposes  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Definitions  
   4.      Meaning of Royal Commission record  
   5.      Act binds the Crown  

   PART 2--OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR

           Division 1--Establishment, functions and powers

   6.      Establishment of Office of the Special Investigator  
   7.      Official seal  
   8.      Constitution of Office of the Special Investigator  
   9.      Functions of Office of the Special Investigator  
   10.     Powers of Office of the Special Investigator  
   11.     Office of the Special Investigator not subject to direction or control  

           Division 2--Special Investigator and OSI officers

   12.     Appointment of Special Investigator  
   13.     Terms and conditions  
   14.     Salary sacrifice  
   15.     Vacancy and resignation  
   16.     Removal of Special Investigator  
   17.     Suspension of Special Investigator  
   18.     Declaration of inability to act  
   19.     Acting appointment  
   20.     Oath or affirmation of office  
   21.     Delegation  
   22.     Staff  
   23.     Consultants  
   24.     Oath and affirmation by staff and consultants  
   25.     Obligation to avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest  
   26.     Immunity of OSI officers  
   27.     Appointment of investigating OSI officers  
   28.     Identity cards  

   PART 3--INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT

           Division 1--Criminal investigations

   29.     Investigations into the commission of offences  
   30.     Power to require person to state name and address  
   31.     Search warrants  
   32.     Search warrant may authorise direction to person to provide assistance with computer or network  
   33.     Further order to provide assistance with computer or network  
   34.     Announcement before entry  
   35.     Details of warrant to be given to occupier  
   36.     Privilege claims in relation to search warrants  
   37.     Arrest warrants—Part 5 offences  
   38.     Warrant to arrest under Criminal Procedure Act 2009  
   39.     Report to Victorian Inspectorate on issue of arrest warrants  
   40.     Brief of evidence may be provided to DPP  
   41.     Commencement of criminal proceedings and prosecution of persons for offences  

           Division 2--Disciplinary investigations

   42.     Investigations into breach of discipline by police officers  
   43.     Power to require information, documents and answers  
   44.     Privilege against self-incrimination abrogated  
   45.     Requirement to report to Victorian Inspectorate after direction given  
   46.     Breach of discipline charges  
   47.     Form of breach of discipline charge  
   48.     Referral of breach of discipline charge to person authorised by Chief Commissioner  
   49.     Inquiry and determination of breach of discipline charge  
   50.     Notification of related investigations and charges  
   51.     Sharing of information and evidence  
   52.     Chief Commissioner to report on breach of discipline charge outcomes  
   53.     Powers of Chief Commissioner, etc. not otherwise limited  

           Division 3--General

   54.     Criminal and disciplinary investigations may be conducted concurrently  
   55.     Investigation when other proceedings on foot  
   56.     Request for information by Victorian Inspectorate  
   57.     Referral of improper conduct to Chief Commissioner  
   58.     Making of public interest disclosures  
   59.     Duty to investigate public interest complaints referred by IBAC  
   60.     Investigation procedures  
   61.     Public interest complainant may request information about investigation  
   62.     Public interest complainant to be informed of investigation outcome  
   63.     Information not to be disclosed to public interest complainant in certain cases  
   64.     Chief Commissioner may be notified of public interest disclosure or complaint  
   65.     Complaints about OSI officers  

   PART 4--INFORMATION--ROYAL COMMISSION RECORDS, IBAC RECORDS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS

           Division 1--Royal Commission records

   66.     Access to Royal Commission records  
   67.     Retention, management and storage of Royal Commission records  
   68.     Information acquired by Royal Commission officers engaged under this Act  

           Division 2--IBAC records

   69.     Provision of IBAC records  
   70.     Notification by the IBAC of Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 protections  
   71.     Retention, management and storage of IBAC records  
   72.     Information acquired by current or former IBAC Officers engaged under this Act  

           Division 3--Protected documents received from IBAC

   73.     Provision of protected document or other thing by IBAC  
   74.     Referral of production requests in relation to proceedings, processes or actions other than criminal proceedings  
   75.     Referral of production and inspection requests in respect of criminal proceedings  
   76.     Compellability of OSI officers as witnesses  

           Division 4--Use of privileged documents

   77.     Application to Supreme Court to determine privilege in respect of document or thing  
   78.     Notice given to Attorney-General in some circumstances—document or thing  
   79.     Determination of privilege claims—document or thing  
   80.     Offence to open sealed or secured document  
   81.     Notification regarding use of Royal Commission records and IBAC records  
   82.     Application to Supreme Court to determine privilege claim in respect of relevant records  
   83.     Notice given to Attorney-General in some circumstances—relevant record  
   84.     Application to Supreme Court to determine whether secrecy provision applies  
   85.     Determination of privilege claims—relevant record  
   86.     Determination of secrecy provision claims  

   PART 5--OFFENCES

   87.     Offence to hinder or obstruct Office of the Special Investigator or OSI officer  
   88.     Statement which is false or misleading  
   89.     Unauthorised use or disclosure of Office of Special Investigator information  
   90.     Offence to cause or threaten harm or detriment to person who assists Office of the Special Investigator or OSI officer  
   91.     Destruction or concealing of evidence  
   92.     Corporate criminal responsibility for offence against section 91  
   93.     Responsible agency for the Crown  
   94.     Proceeding against successors to public bodies  
   95.     Liability of officers of partnerships and unincorporated bodies or associations  
   96.     Maximum fine for body corporate  

   PART 6--GENERAL

   97.     Implementation Monitor reporting  
   98.     Annual report  
   99.     Special reports  
   100.    Tabling of special reports  
   101.    Regulations  
   102.     Access to Royal Commission records—validation  

   PART 7--CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENT OF OTHER ACTS

           Division 1--Amendment of Victorian Inspectorate Act 2011

   103.    Definitions  
   104.    Objects of Act  
   105.    Functions of the Victorian Inspectorate  
   106.    Delegation  
   107.    Disclosure of information by the Victorian Inspectorate  
   108.    Complaints  
   109.    Investigation of complaint  
   110.    Own motion investigation  
   111.    Conduct of investigation  
   112.    Requirement to provide assistance  
   113.    Persons to provide assistance  
   114.    Conduct of inquiry  
   115.    Content and form of witness summons  
   116.    Legal representation of witnesses and other persons  
   117.    Powers of entry, inspection and seizure  
   118.    Act applies equally to attendance in person or by audio visual link or audio link  
   119.    Privileges and secrecy generally  
   120.    New sections 85H and 85I inserted  
   121.    Recommendations must not include information likely to identify person who makes an assessable disclosure  
   122.    Special reports  
   123.    Advice to a complainant  
   124.    Outcome of investigation  
   125.    Matters to be included in annual report  
   126.    Exemption from Freedom of Information Act 1982  
   127.    Regulations—specific matters  

           Division 2--Amendment of Independent Broad-based Anti‑corruption Commission Act 2011

   128.    Definitions  
   129.    Unauthorised disclosures or provision of information  
   130.    Conduct of Chief Commissioner of Police, Deputy Chief Commissioner of Police or Assistant Commissioner of Police  
   131.    Referral of complaint or notification for investigation by another person or body  
   132.    Information to be provided with referral  
   133.    New section 101A inserted  

           Division 3--Amendment of Police Informants Royal Commission Implementation Monitor Act 2021

   134.    Definitions  
   135.    Functions  

           Division 4--Amendment of Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012

   136.    Definitions  
   137.    Persons or bodies to which certain public interest disclosures must be made  
   138.    Notification of disclosure to the IBAC, the Victorian Inspectorate or the Integrity and Oversight Committee  
   139.    Assessment of disclosure and determination by the Victorian Inspectorate  
   140.    Functions and powers of the Victorian Inspectorate  
   141.    Schedule 2—Persons permitted to receive public interest disclosure on behalf of entity  

           Division 5--Amendment of Public Administration Act 2004

   142.    What are special bodies?  
   143.    Persons with functions of public service body Head  

           Division 6--Amendment of Surveillance Devices Act 1999

   144.    Definitions  

           Division 7--Amendment of Witness Protection Act 1991

   145.    Definitions  
   146.    Information not to be disclosed  
   147.    Privilege of matters and things relating to performance of duties in accordance with this Act  

           Division 8--Repeal of this Part

   148.    Repeal of this Part  
           ENDNOTES