Senate

Explanatory Memorandum

(Circulated by the authority of the Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP)

OUTLINE

This Bill would strengthen the confidentiality of information given to the Independent Review into the workplaces of Parliamentarians and their staff conducted by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, by:

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excluding a right of access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to all documents provided to, or created by, the Independent Review; and

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providing that these records would come into the open access period under the Archives Act 1983 ninety-nine years after the year the record came into existence.

These proposed amendments would not prevent the Independent Review from publishing such information as it considers appropriate.

FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT

The Bill has no financial impact.

STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS

This Bill is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

The full statement of compatibility with human rights is attached to this Explanatory Memorandum.