Student Assistance (Public Interest Certificate Guidelines) Determination 2015
Student Assistance Act 1973
I, Scott Morrison, Minister for Social Services make this Determination under paragraph 356(a) of the Student Assistance Act 1973.
Dated: 6 August 2015
Scott Morrison
Minister for Social Services
Contents
Part 1 Preliminary.. 3
1 Name of Determination.. 3
2 Commencement. 3
3 Revocation.. 3
3A Savings provision.. 3
4 Purpose. 3
5 Interpretation.. 3
6 Matters to which Secretary must have regard.. 4
Part 2 Guidelines — public interest certificate (general) 4
7 When public interest certificate may be given.. 4
8 Threat to life, health or welfare. 4
9 Enforcement of laws. 5
9A Proceeds of crime order. 5
10 Mistake of fact. 6
11 Ministerial briefing.. 6
12 Missing and deceased persons. 6
13 School enrolment and attendance. 7
14 School infrastructure. 7
15 Public housing administration.. 7
16 Establishment and operation of the Family Responsibilities Commission.. 8
17 Reparations. 8
18 Child protection agencies. 8
18C Public utilities. 8
19 Matters of relevance to a Department. 9
Part 3 Guidelines — public interest certificate (homeless young person) 10
20 Application.. 10
21 When public interest certificate may be given.. 10
22 Abuse or violence. 11
23 Verification for payment. 11
24 Reconciliation.. 11
25 Assurance. 11
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Determination
This Determination is the Student Assistance (Public Interest Certificate Guidelines) Determination 2015.
2 Commencement
This Determination commences on the day after it is registered.
3 Revocation
The Student Assistance (Public Interest Certificate Guidelines) Determination 2013 is revoked.
3A Savings provision
Despite the revocation in section 3, the Student Assistance (Public Interest Certificate Guidelines) Determination 2013 continues in force in relation to public interest certificates made under and in accordance with that instrument.
4 Purpose
The purpose of this Determination is to set out guidelines for the exercise of the Secretary’s power to give certificates for the purposes of paragraph 355(1)(a) of the Act.
5 Interpretation
(1) In this Determination:
Act means the Student Assistance Act 1973.
Department means a Department administered by a Minister.
Minister means:
(a) a Minister of State administering any part of:
(i) the Act; or
(ii) the social security law; or
(iii) the family assistance law; or
(iv) the Human Services (Centrelink) Act 1997; or
(v) the Human Services (Medicare) Act 1973; or
(b) the Prime Minister.
public interest certificate means a certificate, under paragraph 355(1)(a) of the Act, for the disclosure of relevant information.
relevant information means information about a person (including protected information) acquired by an officer in the performance of his or her functions or duties, or in the exercise of his or her powers, under the Act.
social security law has the meaning given in subsections 3(3) and (4) of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999.
(2) An expression that is used in this Determination that is not defined in this Determination or the Act, and that is used in the social security law, has the same meaning in this Determination as it does in the social security law.
Note The following expressions are defined in the Social Security Act 1991:
· family assistance law;
· family member;
· relationship parent;
· social security payment.
6 Matters to which Secretary must have regard
In giving a public interest certificate, the Secretary must have regard to:
(a) any situation in which the person to whom the information relates is, or may be, subject to physical, psychological or emotional abuse; and
(b) whether the person in such a situation may be unable to give notice of his or her circumstances because of:
(i) age; or
(ii) disability; or
(iii) social, cultural, family or other reasons.
Part 2 Guidelines — public interest certificate (general)
7 When public interest certificate may be given
(1) The Secretary may give a public interest certificate for the disclosure of relevant information under this Part if:
(a) the information cannot reasonably be obtained from a source other than a Department; and
(b) the person to whom the information will be disclosed has sufficient interest in the information; and
(c) the Secretary is satisfied that the disclosure is for at least one of the purposes mentioned in a provision in this Part.
(2) A person has sufficient interest in the relevant information if:
(a) the Secretary is satisfied that, in relation to the purpose of the disclosure, the person has a genuine and legitimate interest in the information; or
(b) the person is a Minister.
8 Threat to life, health or welfare
Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if the disclosure is necessary to prevent, or lessen, a threat to the life, health or welfare of a person.
9 Enforcement of laws
(1) Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if:
(a) the disclosure is necessary:
(i) for the enforcement of a criminal law that relates to an indictable offence punishable by imprisonment of 2 years or more; or
(ii) for the enforcement of a law imposing a pecuniary penalty equivalent to 40 penalty units or more; or
(iii) to prevent an act that may have a significant adverse effect on the public revenue; or
(b) the disclosure relates to an offence or threatened offence:
(i) against a Commonwealth employee; or
(ii) against Commonwealth property; or
(iii) in Department premises.
(2) In this section:
criminal law means:
(a) for Australia — a criminal law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory; and
(b) for a place outside Australia — a criminal law that may be recognised under an extradition arrangement to which Australia is a party.
penalty unit has the same meaning as in section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914.
Note Subsection 4AA (1) of the Crimes Act 1914 provides:
‘In a law of the Commonwealth or a Territory Ordinance, unless the contrary intention appears:
penalty unit means $170.’.
9A Proceeds of crime order
(1) Relevant information may be disclosed to a Commonwealth, State or Territory law enforcement agency for the purpose of this section if the disclosure is necessary for:
(a) the making, or proposed or possible making, of a proceeds of crime order; or
(b) supporting or enforcing a proceeds of crime order.
(2) In this section proceeds of crime order means:
(a) an order under:
(i) Chapter 2 (the confiscation scheme) or Division 1, Part 3-1 of Chapter 3 (examination orders) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002; or
(ii) Part II (confiscation) or III (control of property liable to confiscation) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1987; or
(iii) a State law or Territory law corresponding to a law referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii); or
(iv) Division 3 of Part XIII (recovery of pecuniary penalties for dealings in narcotic goods) of the Customs Act 1901; or
(b) an unexplained wealth order (within the meaning of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002); or
(c) a court order (including a declaration or direction):
(i) under a State law or Territory law; and
(ii) relating to unexplained wealth.
10 Mistake of fact
Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if:
(a) the disclosure is necessary to correct a mistake of fact in relation to the administration of a program of a Department; and
(b) either:
(i) the integrity of the program will be at risk if the mistake of fact is not corrected; or
(ii) the mistake of fact relates to a matter that was, or will be, published (whether by, or with or without the consent of, the person to whom the information relates).
11 Ministerial briefing
Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if the disclosure is necessary:
(a) to brief a Minister so that the Minister can consider complaints or issues raised by or on behalf of a person with the Minister (in writing or orally), and respond to that person in relation to the complaints or issues; or
(b) to brief a Minister for a meeting or forum that the Minister is to attend; or
(c) to brief a Minister in relation to issues raised or proposed to be raised publicly by or on behalf of the person to whom the relevant information relates so that the Minister can respond by correcting a mistake of fact, a misleading perception or impression, or a misleading statement; or
(d) to brief a Minister about an error or delay on the part of a Department; or
(e) to brief a Minister about an instance of an anomalous or unusual operation of the Act, social security law, or family assistance law.
12 Missing and deceased persons
Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if:
(a) the information is about a person who is, or has been reported to be, missing or deceased; and
(b) there is no reasonable ground to believe that the person would not want the information disclosed; and
(c) the disclosure is necessary:
(i) to locate a person (including the missing or deceased person him- or herself, or a relative or beneficiary of the person); or
(ii) to assist a court, coronial inquiry, Royal Commission, department or other authority of a State or Territory, or authority responsible for administering the social security system in another country, in relation to its inquiries about the person; or
(iii) in relation to a deceased person — to assist a person responsible for the administration of the estate of the dead person in relation to the administration of the estate of the deceased person.
13 School enrolment and attendance
Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if the disclosure is necessary to ensure a child who:
(a) is required to be enrolled in a school under a law of a State or Territory is enrolled; or
(b) is required to be attending a school under a law of a State or Territory is attending.
14 School infrastructure
Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if the disclosure is necessary to plan for, meet or monitor infrastructure and resource needs in one or more schools.
15 Public housing administration
Relevant information may be disclosed to a department or any other authority of a State or Territory or an agent or contracted service provider of a department or authority for the purpose of this section if:
(a) the information is about a resident, an applicant to become a tenant, or a tenant of public housing or other State or Territory managed housing; and
(b) the disclosure is necessary to facilitate rent calculation or rent deduction in relation to public housing, or State or Territory managed housing; or
(c) the disclosure is necessary to facilitate the administration of an income confirmation service in relation to public housing or State or Territory managed housing to avoid mistakes, underpayments and overpayments of rent, pensions, benefits and allowances; or
(d) the disclosure is necessary to investigate or take enforcement action in relation to public housing or State or Territory managed housing including to assist with an investigation into either:
(i) the misreporting of income by tenants of public housing or State or Territory managed housing; or
(ii) the unauthorised occupation of public housing or State or Territory managed housing by any person.
16 Establishment and operation of the Family Responsibilities Commission
(1) Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if the disclosure is necessary:
(a) for the establishment of the Family Responsibilities Commission; or
(b) to assist in the performance of the functions, or the exercise of the powers, of the Family Responsibilities Commission.
(2) In this section, Family Responsibilities Commission means the Commission established by section 9 of the Family Responsibilities Commission Act 2008 (Qld).
17 Reparations
Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if the disclosure is necessary to contact a person in respect of compensation or other form of recompense that may be made to that person in a reparation process.
18 Child protection agencies
Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if the disclosure is necessary to assist a child protection agency contact a parent or relative in relation to a child.
18C Public utilities
(1) Where:
(a) a customer of a public utility (the first public utility) has provided consent to that public utility to enable it to confirm the entitlement of the customer to a social security related concession; and
(b) responsibility for the provision of services to the customer by the first public utility has been transferred, in whole or in part, to another public utility (the second public utility); and
(c) as a result of the transfer of responsibility for the provision of services, the customer of the first public utility became a customer of the second public utility; and
(d) where necessary, the second public utility advises the Commonwealth of the contact details of the customer;
relevant information may be disclosed to the second public utility for the purpose of this section if the disclosure is necessary to enable the second public utility to confirm the entitlement of the customer to a social security related concession.
(2) In this section, public utility means a legal entity that provides, or is related to a legal entity that provides, any of the following services to the public:
(a) water;
(b) sewerage;
(c) gas;
(d) electricity; or
(e) telecommunications.
19 Matters of relevance to a Department
(1) Subject to subsection (2), relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if the disclosure is necessary for the purpose of facilitating the progress or resolution of matters of relevance within the portfolio responsibilities of a department that is administering any part of the family assistance law or the social security law.
(2) In this section, a matter of relevance to a department includes a programme or activity that provides assistance or services to a class of people that includes at least some persons receiving student assistance benefits or payments or entitlements under the social security law or the family assistance law.
Part 3 Guidelines — public interest certificate (homeless young person)
20 Application
(1) This Part applies if the relevant information for disclosure relates to a homeless young person.
(2) In this Part:
homeless young person means a person:
(a) who is under 18 years; and
(b) who has sought a student assistance payment or social security payment on the ground of being a homeless person.
parent, in relation to a homeless young person, means:
(a) a natural parent, adoptive parent or relationship parent of the homeless young person with whom the homeless young person normally lived before becoming a homeless young person; or
(b) if a parent referred to in paragraph (a) is a member of a couple and normally lives with the other member of the couple — the other member of the couple; or
(c) any other person (other than the homeless young person’s partner) on whom the homeless young person was wholly or substantially dependent before becoming a homeless young person.
21 When public interest certificate may be given
(1) The Secretary may give a public interest certificate for the disclosure of relevant information under this Part if:
(a) the information cannot reasonably be obtained from a source other than a Department; and
(b) the Secretary is satisfied that the disclosure will not result in harm to the homeless young person; and
(c) the Secretary is satisfied that the disclosure is for at least one of the purposes mentioned in a provision in this Part.
(2) The Secretary may also give a public interest certificate for the disclosure of relevant information under this Part if:
(a) the information cannot reasonably be obtained from a source other than a Department; and
(b) the disclosure will be made to a welfare authority of a State or Territory; and
(c) the homeless young person to whom the relevant information relates is:
(i) in the care of a welfare authority of a State or Territory in accordance with the law of the State or Territory; or
(ii) under 15 years; and
(d) the Secretary is satisfied that the disclosure will not result in harm to the homeless young person.
22 Abuse or violence
Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if:
(a) the information is about a family member of a homeless young person; and
(b) the Secretary is satisfied that the homeless young person or a family member of the homeless young person has been subjected to abuse or violence.
23 Verification for payment
Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if:
(a) the disclosure is necessary to verify a circumstance by which a homeless young person who is under 15 years may qualify for a student assistance payment or a social security payment on the ground of being a homeless person; and
(b) in order to verify the circumstance, a parent, or the parents, of the homeless young person must be asked whether the homeless young person is able to live at the home of his or her parent or parents.
24 Reconciliation
Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if the disclosure will facilitate reconciliation, or possible reconciliation, between a homeless young person and his or her parent or parents.
25 Assurance
Relevant information may be disclosed for the purpose of this section if:
(a) a parent, or the parents, of a homeless young person has sought assurance that the homeless young person has been in contact with a Department; and
(b) the disclosure is necessary to inform the parent or parents whether the homeless young person has been in contact with a Department.
