[no bill text published] Immunity and disclosure requirements for intelligence information given to Royal Commissions
Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026
1st House
2nd House
Law
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
People cannot use secrecy laws as an excuse to refuse giving intelligence or operationally sensitive information to a prescribed Royal Commission.
People are immune from secrecy law penalties if they provide relevant intelligence information following established arrangements.
Information given under these arrangements cannot be used as evidence against the person in court.
Legal practitioners and their clients are immune from secrecy laws when sharing intelligence information for legal advice or representation.
A person has a legal defence against prosecution for handling secret information if they did so to give it to a Royal Commission.
Royal Commissions can use and share intelligence information to perform their duties; they must follow established arrangements.
The Department Secretary must publish all intelligence and operationally sensitive information arrangements.
The Antisemitism and Social Cohesion Royal Commission is subject to these rules.