Information gathering powers for the Independent Biosecurity Commissioner
Biosecurity Amendment (Independent Biosecurity Commissioner) Bill 2023
1st House
2nd House
Law
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Independent Biosecurity Commissioner is established as an officer of the Crown to advise on pests and weeds.
The Commissioner can force public service agencies and state owned corporations to hand over documents; this includes personal information.
The Commissioner can force these agencies to provide specific information.
Agency heads and CEOs must comply with these notices unless they have a reasonable excuse.
The Commissioner must follow privacy laws for the personal information collected.
The Minister or Government must respond to the Commissioner's recommendations within 6 months.
The Minister can only remove the Commissioner from office for incompetence, incapacity or misbehaviour.