Victorian Numbered Acts

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AMENDMENT (OFFICE OF THE VICTORIAN INFORMATION COMMISSIONER) ACT 2017 (NO. 20 OF 2017)

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Purposes  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Principal Act  

   PART 2--AMENDMENT OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982

   4.      Definitions  
   5.      Section 6AA substituted  
   6.      Part IA substituted  
   7.      Part IB substituted  
   8.      Section 21 substituted  
   9.      Requests may be refused in certain cases  
   10.     Reasons etc. to be given  
   11.     Cabinet documents  
   12.     Documents containing matter communicated by any other State  
   13.     Documents affecting national security, defence or international relations  
   14.     Law enforcement documents  
   15.     New section 31A inserted  
   16.     Document affecting personal privacy  
   17.     New section 33A inserted  
   18.     Documents related to trade secrets etc.  
   19.     Documents containing material obtained in confidence  
   20.     Heading to Division 1 of Part VI substituted  
   21.     Applications to Information Commissioner for review  
   22.     Time for applying for review  
   23.     Form of application  
   24.     Notice and copies of application for review  
   25.     Parties to review  
   26.     Section 49EA repealed  
   27.     Section 49F substituted  
   28.     Information Commissioner may determine not to accept application or may dismiss review  
   29.     Procedure on review  
   30.     Section 49I substituted  
   31.     Effect of delay by Information Commissioner in relation to requests  
   32.     Preliminary inquiries  
   33.     New sections 49KA and 49KB inserted  
   34.     Referral back to agency or Minister for reconsideration  
   35.     Reconsideration at agency's or Minister's own initiative  
   36.     Procedure after reconsideration under section 49L or 49M  
   37.     Information Commissioner may facilitate a negotiated agreement  
   38.     Referral of matter to a relevant authority  
   39.     Review of decisions under section 25A(5)  
   40.     Decision on review  
   41.     Conciliation by Health Services Commissioner  
   42.     Applications for review by the Tribunal  
   43.     Information Commissioner may be called on to assist Tribunal  
   44.     Time for applying for review  
   45.     Reviews where decisions delayed  
   46.     Procedure where Tribunal determines that there do not exist reasonable grounds for claim under section 29A  
   47.     Notification of reviews regarding documents affecting personal privacy  
   48.     Inspection of exempt documents by Tribunal  
   49.     Disciplinary action  
   50.     Complaints  
   51.     Section 61AB repealed  
   52.     Information Commissioner may accept or decline to deal with complaint  
   53.     Referral of complaint to another body  
   54.     Notice of decision to investigate complaint  
   55.     Section 61E substituted  
   56.     Complaint must be dealt with in private  
   57.     Preliminary inquiries and consultation  
   58.     New sections 61GA and 61GB inserted  
   59.     Conciliation of complaint  
   60.     Procedure for dealing with complaint if conciliation fails  
   61.     Section 61J repealed  
   62.     Section 61K repealed  
   63.     Outcome of complaint  
   64.     Section 61M substituted  
   65.     Section 61N repealed  
   66.     New Parts VIB and VIC inserted  
   67.     Protection against actions for defamation or breach of confidence  
   68.     Section 63A substituted  
   69.     Protection of person making complaint  
   70.     New section 63BA inserted  
   71.     Division 2 of Part VII substituted and new  

           Division 2A--inserted

   72.     Reporting by Information Commissioner  
   73.     Reports to Accountability and Oversight Committee  
   74.     Duty of agency or Minister to comply with requirements of Information Commissioner  
   75.     Regulations  
   76.      New section 72 inserted  
   77.     New Schedule 1 inserted  
           Division 2 of Part VII as in force immediately before the commencement day applies to any review conducted or any dealing with a complaint on or after the commencement day under any other provision of this Act that is continued by this Schedule as if--

   PART 3--AMENDMENT OF PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION ACT 2014

   78.     Purposes  
   79.     Definitions  
   80.     New Part 1A inserted  
   81.     Ministerial approval of information usage arrangement  
   82.     Complaint referred to Commissioner  
   83.     Commissioner may refer complaint  
   84.     Power to obtain information and documents  
   85.     When may VCAT hear a complaint  
   86.     Power to obtain information and documents  
   87.     Sections 80 and 81 repealed  
   88.     New Division 10 of Part 3 inserted  
   89.     Commissioner to develop Victorian protective data security framework  
   90.     Heading to Part 6 substituted  
   91.     Division 1 of Part 6 repealed  

           Division 1--of Part 6 of the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 is repealed.

   92.     Heading to Division 2 of Part 6 substituted  
   93.     Section 103 repealed  
   94.     Section 104 repealed  
   95.     Section 105 repealed  
   96.     Commissioner may require access to data and data systems from public sector body Heads  
   97.     Commissioner may require access to data and data systems from Chief Commissioner of Police  
   98.     Commissioner may request access to crime statistics data  
   99.     Heading to Division 3 of Part 6 substituted  
   100.    Section 114 repealed  
   101.    Section 115 repealed  
   102.    Secrecy  
   103.    Section 122 substituted  
   104.    New section 129 inserted  
   105.    New Schedule 3 inserted  
   106.    Amendment of references to Commissioner for Privacy and Data Protection  

   PART 4--AMENDMENT OF VICTORIAN INSPECTORATE ACT 2011

   107.    Definitions  
   108.    Objects of Act  
   109.    Functions of the Victorian Inspectorate  
   110.    Delegation  
   111.    New Part 5A inserted  
   112.    Complaints  
   113.    Investigation of complaint  
   114.    Own motion investigation  
   115.    Conduct of the investigation  
   116.    Requirement to provide assistance  
   117.    Conduct of inquiry  
   118.    Content and form of witness summons  
   119.    Legal representation of witnesses and other persons  
   120.    Powers of entry, inspection and seizure  
   121.    Privileges and secrecy generally  
   122.    New sections 85A and 85B inserted  
   123.    Recommendations must not include information likely to identify person who makes an assessable disclosure  
   124.    Advice to a complainant  
   125.    Outcome of investigation  
   126.    Matters to be included in annual report  
   127.    Exemption from Freedom of Information Act 1982  

   PART 5--AMENDMENT OF INDEPENDENT BROAD-BASED ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION ACT 2011 AND PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES ACT 2003

           Division 1--Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011

   128.    Definitions  
   129.    Section 194 substituted  

           Division 2--Parliamentary Committees Act 2003

   130.    Definitions  
   131.    Accountability and Oversight Committee  
   132.    New Part 10 inserted  

   PART 6--CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO OTHER ACTS

           Division 1--Health Complaints Act 2016

           Division 2--Amendment of Principal Act

           Division 3--Judicial Commission of Victoria Act 2016

   133.    Judicial Commission of Victoria Act 2016  

           Division 4--Amendments to other Acts

   134.    Consequential amendments to other Acts  

   PART 7--REPEAL OF AMENDING ACT

   135.    Repeal of amending Act  
           SCHEDULE 1
           ENDNOTES