Commonwealth Numbered Regulations Commonwealth Numbered RegulationsBy His Excellency's Command
Darren Chester
Minister for Defence Personnel
Contents
Part 1--Preliminary 1
1............ Name............................................................................................................................. 1
2............ Commencement............................................................................................................. 1
3............ Authority....................................................................................................................... 1
4............ Schedules...................................................................................................................... 1
5............ Purpose of this instrument............................................................................................. 1
6............ Purpose of inquiries...................................................................................................... 1
7............ Definitions..................................................................................................................... 2
Part 2--Commissions of Inquiry 4
Division 1--Appointment of Commissions etc. 4
8............ Appointment of Commissions of Inquiry etc................................................................ 4
9............ Appointment of COI assistants..................................................................................... 4
10.......... Appointment of legal practitioners assisting Commissions........................................... 4
11.......... Resignation of COI officials.......................................................................................... 5
12.......... Termination of appointment of COI officials................................................................. 5
13.......... Replacement of COI officials........................................................................................ 5
14.......... Termination of Commissions........................................................................................ 5
15.......... Completion of inquiry................................................................................................... 6
Division 2--Conduct of Commissions 7
16.......... Procedure generally....................................................................................................... 7
17.......... Times and places for conduct of inquiries..................................................................... 7
18.......... Notice to produce documents or things relevant to inquiry............................................ 7
19.......... Notice to attend as a witness to give evidence............................................................... 7
20.......... Evidence to be given on oath or affirmation.................................................................. 8
21.......... Hearings of Commissions............................................................................................. 8
22.......... Removal of certain persons from hearings.................................................................... 8
23.......... Appearance at hearings of Commissions....................................................................... 9
Division 3--Report of Commissions 11
24.......... Report of Commissions............................................................................................... 11
Division 4--Use, disclosure and copying of information and documents 12
25.......... Directions regarding disclosure of evidence................................................................ 12
26.......... Use, disclosure and copying of certain information and documents as an employee of the Commonwealth or member of the Defence Force........................................................................................................ 12
27.......... Minister may authorise use, disclosure and copying of certain information and documents 13
28.......... Minister may use, disclose and copy certain information and documents.................... 13
Division 5--Offences 14
29.......... Failing or refusing to comply with notice to produce documents or things relevant to inquiry 14
30.......... Failing or refusing to comply with notice to attend as a witness to give evidence....... 14
31.......... Refusing to be sworn or to make affirmation.............................................................. 14
32.......... Failing or refusing to answer question........................................................................ 15
33.......... Giving false evidence.................................................................................................. 15
34.......... Contempt etc................................................................................................................ 16
35.......... Taking reprisals........................................................................................................... 16
36.......... Disclosure of information or documents..................................................................... 17
37.......... Disclosure of COI records or COI reports of Commissions etc.................................. 17
Division 6--Other matters 19
38.......... Self-incrimination........................................................................................................ 19
39.......... Protection of COI officials from civil or criminal proceedings etc............................... 19
40.......... Protection of witnesses etc. from civil proceedings..................................................... 19
41.......... Protection of certain publications................................................................................. 19
42.......... COI records and COI reports etc. are exempt documents............................................ 20
43.......... Delegation................................................................................................................... 20
Part 3--Inquiry officers 21
Division 1--Appointment of inquiry officers etc. 21
44.......... Appointment of inquiry officers etc............................................................................. 21
45.......... Appointment of IO assistants...................................................................................... 21
46.......... Resignation of inquiry officials................................................................................... 21
47.......... Termination of appointment of inquiry officials.......................................................... 21
48.......... Replacement of inquiry officials.................................................................................. 22
49.......... Suspension of appointment of inquiry officials........................................................... 22
50.......... Completion of inquiry................................................................................................. 22
Division 2--Conduct of inquiries 23
51.......... Procedure generally..................................................................................................... 23
52.......... Times and places for conduct of inquiries................................................................... 23
53.......... Ordering members of the Defence Force to give evidence or produce documents or things 23
54.......... Manner of taking evidence.......................................................................................... 23
55.......... Inquiries must not be conducted in public................................................................... 23
56.......... Removal of certain persons from proceedings............................................................. 23
Division 3--Report of inquiry officers 25
57.......... Report of inquiry officer.............................................................................................. 25
Division 4--Use, disclosure and copying of information and documents 26
58.......... Use, disclosure and copying of certain information and documents as an employee of the Commonwealth or member of the Defence Force........................................................................................................ 26
59.......... Minister may authorise use, disclosure and copying of certain information and documents 26
60.......... Minister may use, disclose and copy certain information and documents.................... 26
Division 5--Offences 28
61.......... Failing or refusing to comply with an order to attend as a witness before an inquiry officer etc. 28
62.......... Failing or refusing to answer question........................................................................ 28
63.......... Giving false evidence.................................................................................................. 29
64.......... Contempt etc................................................................................................................ 29
65.......... Taking reprisals........................................................................................................... 29
66.......... Disclosure of IO records or IO reports of inquiry officers etc.................................... 30
Division 6--Other matters 31
67.......... Self-incrimination........................................................................................................ 31
68.......... Protection of inquiry officials from civil or criminal proceedings etc.......................... 31
69.......... Protection of witnesses etc. from civil proceedings..................................................... 31
70.......... Protection of publication of IO report.......................................................................... 31
71.......... IO records and IO reports etc. are exempt documents................................................. 31
72.......... Delegation................................................................................................................... 32
Part 4--Annual report 33
73.......... Annual report on operation of this instrument............................................................. 33
Part 5--Transitional, application and saving provisions 34
74.......... Definitions................................................................................................................... 34
75.......... Continuation of incomplete old inquiries..................................................................... 34
76.......... Continued application of certain protection and immunity provisions in old regulations 35
77.......... Saving of directions relating to the disclosure of certain evidence etc.......................... 35
78.......... Continued application of prohibition against disclosure of records or reports of Courts of Inquiry 35
79.......... Continued application of prohibition against disclosure of records or reports of Inquiry Officers 36
80.......... Saving of instruments made under regulation 63 of the old regulations...................... 36
81.......... Continued application of provisions in the old regulations relating to reopening etc. of old inquiries by Courts of Inquiry.................................................................................................................................... 37
82.......... Continued application of provisions in the old regulations relating to reopening etc. of old inquiries by Inquiry Officers.................................................................................................................................... 37
83.......... Last annual report under old regulations...................................................................... 37
84.......... Continued application of provisions in the old regulations relating to IGADF inquiries 38
Schedule 1--Repeals 39
Defence (Inquiry) Regulations 1985 39