(1) The Chief Executive Officer must ensure that personal interests returns are kept in accordance with the Public Records Act 1973 .
(2) The Chief Executive Officer must ensure that only the following persons have access to, or can inspect, a personal interests return—
(a) the Chief Executive Officer or a member of Council staff who is responsible for managing the personal interests returns or preparing the summary of personal interests;
(b) a Municipal Monitor;
(c) the Chief Municipal Inspector or a person authorised by the Chief Municipal Inspector;
(d) a Commission of inquiry;
(e) the person who lodged the personal interests return;
(f) a person who has obtained an order of a court to do so.
(3) A person must not make a record of, divulge or communicate to any person any information in a personal interests return that is gained by or conveyed to them in the course of the discharge of their official duties unless—
(a) the information is information published in a summary of personal interests; or
(b) the information is required by the person for the performance of their official duties under this Act or any other Act, including in relation to a proceeding before a Councillor Conduct Panel, VCAT or a court.
Penalty: 60 penalty units.
Division 4—Gifts