Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Sunsetting Provision)

“I rise today to speak in support of the Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Sunsetting Provision) Bill and Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Repealing Offences) Bill. Before I do, I do acknowledge the contribution from the member for Clark. I share his view that the disclosable conduct regime in the Public Interest Disclosure Act, taxation assessments act and the Corporations Act are complex, but they are complex for very good reasons. I would put some of his concerns to rest that the legislation does, in fact, contain robust protections for whistleblowers and robust processes and procedures that organisations in receipt of disclosable conduct submissions must follow. Any reform to those powers and those processes must be done with significant degrees of care and consideration given the consequences and the magnitude of the making of disclosable conduct.”

Australian Labor Party • MP • 13 May 2026

“The bill sits alongside the Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Sunsetting Provision) Bill 2026. That bill extends the sunset date for section 122.4 from 29 June 2026 to 29 December 2026. That is a short extension. It allows the parliament to consider the broader reforms before the existing provision sunsets. That is sensible. There is no point pulling down the temporary structure before the permanent one is ready, and anyone who has spent time on a worksite understands that sequencing matters. Parliament, occasionally, is no different.”

Australian Labor Party • MP • 13 May 2026

“I also want to acknowledge the Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Sunsetting Provision) Bill, the companion piece before us today. Section 122.4 of the Criminal Code currently makes it an offence for a Commonwealth officer, or a person engaged to perform work for a Commonwealth entity, to communicate information in breach of a duty arising elsewhere in Commonwealth law. Without the sunsetting provision bill, that section will lapse before parliament has had the chance to fully consider the broader reforms in the repealing offences bill. This is sensible, responsible legislative management. The limited extension to 29 December 2026 ensures there is no gap in protections for sensitive Commonwealth information while parliament does its job properly. It would be neither prudent nor responsible to allow section 122.4 to sunset prematurely. This bill ensures that does not happen while making clear that the extension is interim. Parliament's task is to pass the repealing offences bill and complete the reform. I am confident we will be able to do exactly that.”

Australian Labor Party • MP • 13 May 2026

“The companion legislation before the House, the Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Sunsetting Provision) Bill 2026, is much narrower in scope but still important. Its purpose is to extend the operation of certain secrecy offences for a further six months, until 29 December 2026, while broader reforms are being implemented. Effectively, it acts as a transitional measure designed to prevent legal gaps or unintended consequences during this transitionary phase. Transitional arrangements are sometimes necessary in complex legislative reform, but Australians are entitled to ask why temporary extensions continue to be required instead of finalising a permanent framework more quickly.”

Liberal National Party • MP • 13 May 2026