Michelle Rowland (Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

The Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Repealing Offences) Bill 2026 delivers on the government's commitment to comprehensive secrecy reform. The objective of these reforms is clear: protect information that genuinely needs protecting while removing unnecessary barriers to transparency and public trust. The bill modernises Australia's secrecy laws by removing criminal liability from more than 300 secrecy provisions, ensuring criminal sanctions apply only where essential to protect genuinely sensitive information. It introduces a new targeted offence to address the improper use or communication of Commonwealth information to obtain benefit or causing detriment, closing gaps in the Commonwealth's secrecy framework and strengthening safeguards for press freedom.

I note the member for Clark's second reading amendment. The Albanese government is delivering on our commitment to implement comprehensive reforms to Australia's public sector whistleblowing framework. That's why we commenced a public consultation process last year on exposure draft legislation on a second stage of reforms to the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013. I thank all stakeholders who provided submissions as part of this consultation process. The government has been considering those submissions and will introduce legislation on the second stage of reforms. These reforms will build on the government's significant improvements to whistleblower laws implemented in 2023 and provide a comprehensive response to the 2016 independent review of the Public Interest Disclosure Act by Mr Philip Moss AM.

This bill to reform secrecy laws and the government's considered and methodical approach to whistleblower reform are critical to supporting integrity and the rule of law. For these reasons, the government will be opposing the amendment. Australia's secrecy laws are essential. Without them, sensitive information could be exposed in ways that could damage public trust in government, cause real harm to our national security or put lives at risk. But equally, transparency and accountability are vital features of our democracy. These comprehensive and considered reforms are about getting that balance right. I commend the bill to the House.

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