Freedom of Information Act 1982

PART IV - EXEMPT DOCUMENTS  

Division 2 - Exemptions  

SECTION 37   Documents affecting enforcement of the law and protection of public safety  

37(1)    
A document is an exempt document if its disclosure under this Act would, or could reasonably be expected to:

(a) prejudice the conduct of an investigation of a breach, or possible breach, of the law, or a failure, or possible failure, to comply with a law relating to taxation or prejudice the enforcement or proper administration of the law in a particular instance;

(b) disclose, or enable a person to ascertain, the existence or identity of a confidential source of information, or the non-existence of a confidential source of information, in relation to the enforcement or administration of the law; or

(c) endanger the life or physical safety of any person.

37(2)    
A document is an exempt document if its disclosure under this Act would, or could reasonably be expected to:

(a) prejudice the fair trial of a person or the impartial adjudication of a particular case;

(b) disclose lawful methods or procedures for preventing, detecting, investigating, or dealing with matters arising out of, breaches or evasions of the law the disclosure of which would, or would be reasonably likely to, prejudice the effectiveness of those methods or procedures; or

(c) prejudice the maintenance or enforcement of lawful methods for the protection of public safety.

37(2A)    
For the purposes of paragraph (1) (b), a person is taken to be a confidential source of information in relation to the enforcement or administration of the law if the person is receiving, or has received, protection under a program conducted under the auspices of the Australian Federal Police, or the police force of a State or Territory, for the protection of:

(a) witnesses; or

(b) people who, because of their relationship to, or association with, a witness need, or may need, such protection; or

(c) any other people who, for any other reason, need or may need, such protection.

37(3)    
In this section, ``law'' means law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory.