Northern Territory Numbered Acts

INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION ACT 2017 (NO 23 OF 2017)

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

   PART 1--INTRODUCTION

           Division 1-- Preliminary matters

   1.      Short title  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Object of Act  
   4.      Definitions  
   5.      Assembly Committee  
   6.      Act binds Crown  
   7.      Application of Criminal Code  

           Division 2--Important concepts

   8.      Meaning of conduct  
   9.      Meaning of improper conduct  
   10.     Meaning of corrupt conduct  
   11.     Meaning of misconduct  
   12.     Meaning of unsatisfactory conduct  
   13.     Meaning of breach of public trust  
   14.     Meaning of public resources  
   15.     Meaning of anti-democratic conduct  
   16.     Meaning of public body and public officer  

   PART 2--INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION

   17.     Establishment of ICAC  
   18.     Functions  
   19.     Powers  
   20.     ICAC to act in public interest  
   21.     Independence of ICAC  

   PART 3--IDENTIFYING AND DEALING WITH IMPROPER CONDUCT

           Division 1--Mandatory reporting of suspected improper conduct

   22.     ICAC to establish system for mandatory reporting  

           Division 2--Audits and reviews

   23.     Audits and reviews  

           Division 3--Preliminary inquiries

   24.     Preliminary inquiries  

           Division 4--Referrals

   25.     Referral to referral entity  
   26.     Consultation before referral  
   27.     Information to be provided with referral  
   28.     Directions to referral entity  
   29.     Referral entity may disclose information to ICAC  
   30.     Withdrawal or suspension of referral  

           Division 5--Investigations

   31.     Power to investigate  
   32.     Power to require information and items for investigation  
   33.     Power to inspect financial records  
   34.     Power to require person to attend for examination  
   35.     Examination to be held in private  
   36.     Legal or other representation  
   37.     Interpreters  
   38.     Joint investigations  

           Division 6--Public inquiries

   39.     Public inquiries  
   40.     Public inquiries generally to be open to public  
   41.     Power to require attendance  
   42.     Appearance generally  
   43.     Right of response if adverse allegations made  
   44.     Legal or other representation  
   45.     Interpreters  
   46.     Directions for private hearing and non-publication  
   47.     Requirement to inform witness of certain matters  

           Division 7--Reports, public statements and recommendations

   48.     General report  
   49.     Publication of general report made to Speaker  
   50.     Investigation report  
   51.     Brief of evidence  
   52.     Public inquiry report  
   53.     Report to Minister concerning referral  
   54.     Report to Assembly concerning referral  
   55.     Public statements  
   56.     Recommendations  
   57.     Dealing with recommendations  
   58.     Report concerning recommendations  
   59.     Certain reports and public statements not to contain inadmissible material  

           Division 8--Miscellaneous matters

   60.     Rules of evidence do not apply  
   61.     Attendance of persons in custody  
   62.     Order for surrender of passport  
   63.     Injunction to refrain from conduct pending investigation  
   64.     Exclusion of certain injunctive remedies  
   65.     Restriction on access to ICAC premises and protected ICAC information  

   PART 4--GENERAL INFORMATION-GATHERING POWERS OF ICAC

   66.     Power to enter premises of public body or public officer  
   67.     Power to enter other premises  
   68.     Search warrants  
   69.     Obtaining warrant by telephone or other electronic method  
   70.     Entry on Aboriginal land  
   71.     Powers of authorised officers while on or about premises  
   72.     Procedure for retention notices  
   73.     Search of persons  
   74.     Power to require verification and further information from persons providing information to ICAC  
   75.     Power to require information and items from public bodies and public officers  
   76.     Arrangements for access to confidential information  
   77.     Power to direct public body or public officer to refrain from action  

   PART 5--MATTERS OF CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVILEGE

           Division 1--Application of confidentiality and privilege

   78.     Definitions  
   79.     Confidential or privileged information  
   80.     Client legal privilege  
   81.     Privilege against self-incrimination  
   82.     Subsequent use of representations made by witness  
   83.     Parliamentary privilege  

           Division 2--Dealing with privilege claims

   84.     Definitions  
   85.     Meaning of subject of privilege  
   86.     Notice of potentially privileged material  
   87.     Process for dealing with claim of parliamentary privilege  
   88.     Privilege claims generally  
   89.     Application to Supreme Court to determine privilege  
   90.     Determination of privilege claim  

   PART 6--WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION

           Division 1--Important principles and concepts

   91.     Whistleblower protection principles  
   92.     Meaning of protected action  
   93.     Meaning of protected communication  
   94.     Declaration of protected communication  
   95.     Meaning of engage in retaliation  

           Division 2--Responsibilities relating to protected communications

   96.     ICAC to issue directions and guidelines for dealing with voluntary protected communications  
   97.     Nominated recipient  
   98.     Information to be given to protected person  

           Division 3--Protection from liability

   99.     Protection from liability – taking protected action  

           Division 4--Protection from retaliation

   100.    Offence to engage in retaliation  
   101.    Offence to engage in retaliation in course of management  
   102.    Compensation for retaliation  
   103.    Injunctive remedies for retaliation  
   104.    Facilitating access to justice for victims of retaliation  
   105.    Vicarious liability for retaliation  
   106.    Guidelines to minimise retaliation  
   107.    Direction regarding action to protect persons from retaliation  
   108.    Supreme Court may vary or revoke direction  
   109.    Parties and procedure  

           Division 5--ICAC oversight and further protection

   110.    Audits and reviews  
   111.    Recommendations  
   112.    ICAC may arrange protection and require police assistance  

   PART 7--ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

           Division 1--Appointment of ICAC and related matters

   113.    Appointment of ICAC  
   114.    Eligibility for appointment  
   115.    Term of appointment  
   116.    Conditions of appointment  
   117.    Leave of absence  
   118.    Vacancy in office  
   119.    Resignation  
   120.    Suspension and termination of appointment  
   121.    Acting ICAC  
   122.    Oath before taking office  

           Division 2--Staffing and administration

   123.    ICAC staff  
   124.    Staff not subject to external direction  
   125.    Delegation  
   126.    Suitability checks  
   127.    Handling information regarding suitability  
   128.    Annual report  
   129.    Guidelines and practice directions for ICAC staff  
   130.    Website  

           Division 3--Authorised officers

   131.    Appointment of authorised officers  
   132.    Identity card  
   133.    Return of identity card  

           Division 4--Oversight of ICAC

   134.    Appointment of Inspector  
   135.    Functions of Inspector  
   136.    Evaluation of ICAC  
   137.    Report on evaluation  
   138.    Complaints about ICAC  
   139.    Access to ICAC premises and information  
   140.    Further powers of Inspector  
   141.    Confidentiality of information  
   142.    Staff of Inspector  
   143.    Suitability checks  
   144.    Handling information regarding suitability  

           Division 5--Offences

   145.    Unauthorised disclosure of information obtained in course of performing official functions  
   146.    Unauthorised disclosure of information in other circumstances  
   147.    Direction not to disclose certain information  
   148.    Failing to comply with requirement for information or items during investigation  
   149.    Contravening notice to attend, or give evidence at, examination or public inquiry  
   150.    Contravening direction of ICAC at public inquiry  
   151.    Contravening direction regarding whistleblowers  
   152.    Falsely representing to be authorised officer  
   153.    Obstruction of authorised officer  
   154.    Misleading information  

   PART 8--MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

   155.    Protection from liability – acting in official capacity  
   156.    Evidence in criminal proceedings  
   157.    Service  
   158.    Dealing with unclaimed property  
   159.    Regulations  

   PART 9--REPEAL AND TRANSITIONAL MATTERS FOR INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION ACT 2017

           Division 1--Repeal

   160.    Act repealed  

           Division 2--Transitional matters

   161.    Definitions  
   162.    Protection continues for previous disclosures  
   163.    Current investigations  
   164.    Current investigations  
   165.    Relocation of public officers  
   166.    Non-disclosure directions  
   167.    Protection from liability – acting in official capacity  
   168.    Report about implementing recommendations  
   169.    Provisions if Act does not commence at start of financial year  

   PART 10--CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

           Division 1--Information Act

   170.    Act amended  
   171.    Section 49B amended  
   172.    Section 49E inserted  

           Division 2--Interpretation Act

   173.    Act amended  
   174.    Section 17 amended  

           Division 3--Public Sector Employment and Management Act

   175.    Act amended  
   176.    Section 15A replaced  
   177.    Schedule 1 amended  

           Division 4--Repeal of Part

   178.    Repeal of Part  
           SCHEDULE 1
           SCHEDULE 2