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Wednesday, 10 November 1982
Page: 3041


Mr JACOBI(1.9 a.m.) —I raise some points with the Acting Attorney- General (Mr N.A. Brown) and then I will leave it at that. We ought to think about these things. We ran into trouble in regard to the Costigan Royal Commission in regard to section 16 of the Income Tax Assessment Act. If the Government intends to slot this legislation into operation I suggest it thinks about the Acts which contain exactly the same restrictive provisions which would apply to any commission. The National Health Act, the Australian Federal Police Act, the Health Insurance Act and the Social Services Act-I have not gone through the whole list-each contain secrecy provisions. I think it would be most advantageous for any commission that is set up to be asked: 'What are you going to do on each of those occasions?' For instance, I can envisage the Commission looking at medical frauds and social security frauds, quite apart from tax evasion. I think the Government really ought to consider what it will do with all these Acts which contain secrecy provisions.