Submission to the Review of Secrecy Offences

The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) is currently undertaking a review of secrecy offences in Part 5.6 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).

Current secrecy laws criminalise whistleblowers and journalists and undermine transparency and accountability in our democracy, ultimately harming national security. 

The Human Rights Law Centre in its submission provided 13 recommendations, including:   

  • Repealing lower-level secrecy offences, with administrative sanctions used instead for minor breaches 

  • Penalties to be reduced to levels which are necessary and proportionate 

  • Narrowing and in some cases repealing entirely secrecy offences that apply to third-party, non-Commonwealth officers 

  • Establishing pathways for the national intelligence whistleblowers to disclose information in the public interest

Read the Human Rights Law Centre’s submission to the INSLM review of secrecy offences in Part 5.6 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth) here.

Thomas FengDemocratic Freedoms