SALES TAX PROCEDURE ACT 1934 (Repealed)

SECTION 4A   SECRECY  

4A(1)  [Meaning of ``officer'']  

In this section, ``officer'' means a person -

(a)  who is or has been appointed or employed by the Commonwealth; or

(b)  to whom powers or functions have been delegated by the Commissioner,

and who, by reason of the appointment or employment or in the course of the employment, or by reason of, or in the course of the exercise of powers or the performance of functions under, the delegation, as the case may be, may acquire or has acquired information with respect to the affairs of any other person disclosed or obtained under or for the purposes of this Act.

4A(2)  [Deemed Commonwealth employee]  

For the purposes of this section, a person who, although not appointed or employed by the Commonwealth, performs services for the Commonwealth shall be taken to be employed by the Commonwealth.

4A(3)  [Secrecy offences]  

Subject to sub-section (5), a person who is or has been an officer shall not, except for the purposes of this Act or otherwise than in the performance of the person's duties as an officer, directly or indirectly -

(a)  make a record of any information with respect to the affairs of a second person; or

(b)  divulge or communicate to a second person any information with respect to the affairs of a third person,

being information disclosed or obtained under or for the purposes of this Act and acquired by the person by reason of the person's appointment or employment by the Commonwealth or in the course, of such employment, or by reason of the delegation to the person of powers or functions by the Commissioner, or in the course of the exercise of such powers or the performance of such functions, as the case may be.

Penalty: $10,000 or imprisonment for 2 years, or both.

4A(4)  [Disclosure to courts only pursuant to Act]  

Except where it is necessary to do so for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act, a person who is or has been an officer shall not be required -

(a)  to produce in court any document made or given under or for the purposes of this Act; or

(b)  to divulge or communicate to a court a matter or thing with respect to information disclosed or obtained under or for the purposes of this Act,

being a document or information acquired by the person by reason of the person's appointment or employment by the Commonwealth or in the course of such employment, or by reason of the delegation to the person of powers or functions by the Commissioner, or in the course of the exercise of such powers or the performance of such functions, as the case may be.

4A(5)  [Permissible communications]  

Nothing in sub-section (3) shall be taken to prohibit the Commissioner, a Deputy Commissioner or a person authorised by the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner from communicating any information to a person performing, as an officer, duties arising under an Act administered by the Commissioner for the purpose of enabling the person to perform those duties or to the Comptroller-General of Customs.

4A(6)  [Deemed communication of information]  

For the purposes of sub-section (3), an officer shall be deemed to have communicated information to another person in contravention of that sub-section if the officer communicates that information to any Minister.

4A(7)  [Oath or declaration of secrecy]  

An officer shall, if and when required by the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner to do so, make an oath or declaration, in a manner and form specified by the Commissioner in writing, to maintain secrecy in conformity with the provisions of this section.