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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-04-03 Daily Xml
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STATUTES AMENDMENT (CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE) BILL

Committee Stage

In committee.

(Continued from 29 March 2012.)

Clause 4.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

Page 3, lines 5 and 6 [clause 4, inserted section 66A]—Delete 'under this Part, the Authority or the Supreme Court' and substitute:

before the Authority under this Part

My understanding is that in our previous discussion we agreed that the first amendment would be treated as a test, and I expect that that will be the progress.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The government is prepared to have this first amendment as a test amendment, even though there are a range of different amendments. Nevertheless, the government will be opposing all of them, so I think it is in our interests that we use this first amendment as a test amendment.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: I indicate that the Greens will be supporting this amendment.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY: I will not be supporting the amendment.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: I will be supporting the amendment.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Family First will not support the amendment.

The committee divided on the amendment:

AYES (11)
Bressington, A. Dawkins, J.S.L. Franks, T.A.
Lee, J.S. Lensink, J.M.A. Lucas, R.I.
Parnell, M. Ridgway, D.W. Stephens, T.J.
Vincent, K.L. Wade, S.G. (teller)
NOES (10)
Brokenshire, R.L. Darley, J.A. Finnigan, B.V.
Gago, G.E. (teller) Gazzola, J.M. Hood, D.G.E.
Hunter, I.K. Kandelaars, G.A. Wortley, R.P.
Zollo, C.

Majority of 1 for the ayes.

Amendment thus carried.

The CHAIR: I think the rest of the amendments to clause 4 from the Hon. Mr Wade are consequential.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I take it from the fact that the government is happy to proceed with the amendments that the government is not willing in the context of the Legislative Council debate to discuss alternative amendments. I would just like to briefly reiterate the opposition's willingness to receive alternative amendments. If I could just quote from my contribution:

...I would put the question to the government in a different way. Is it conceivable that there would be a set of safeguards that the government, the police and the Police Association could find acceptable? If that is the case, I believe it is worth continuing work on this bill because it is certainly the opposition's strong view that, in terms of balancing the interests, it would be useful to have more clearly enumerated safeguards in the legislation.

When I used the word 'safeguards' in that context, I was referring to safeguards recording, reporting and review. I accept the government's decision not to seek, shall we say, agreed amendments in the context of the Legislative Council debate, but I would indicate from the opposition's point of view that, just as other deadlock conferences have been constructive in finding ways forward towards agreed positions, if that is where we are headed, the opposition is open to that.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I thank the member for the statements that he has made. We have had ample opportunity to try to resolve the differences, and my understanding is that there have been many attempts to do so and we have reached an impasse. I think it is important at this point in time that we simply progress the bill as it is and do the best we can. If there is an opportunity to resolve differences at deadlock, then we would obviously be grateful for that.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Just ever so briefly, I appreciate the minister's comments. I would stress that the opposition has made numerous steps in response to government submissions, and I acknowledge the minister's comments, because we also would be constructive in a deadlock conference context. I move amendments [Wade-3] 3 and 4:

Page 3—

Lines 8 and 9 [clause 4, inserted section 66A(a)]—Delete:

'information classified by the Commissioner of Police as' and substitute:

classified

Lines 13 and 14 [clause 4, inserted section 66A(b)]—Delete:

information that is so classified by the Commissioner of Police' and substitute:

classified criminal intelligence

Amendments carried; clause as amended passed.

Clause 5.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move amendment [Wade-3] 5:

Page 3, line 19—Delete all words in this line and substitute:

Section 69(2), (3) and (4)—delete subsections (2), (3) and (4) and substitute:

(2) Classified criminal intelligence provided by the Commissioner of Police for the purposes of this Act may not be disclosed to any person other than the Authority, the Commissioner, the Minister, a court or a person to whom the Commissioner of Police authorises its disclosure.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Just for the record, the government made a preliminary address on clause 1 that outlined our position in respect of all of these amendments. I do not believe there is any further need for the government to speak on each individual clause. We are opposing all of them and I have already outlined the reasons for that previously.

Amendment carried; clause as amended passed.

New clause 5A.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

New Part, page 3, after line 19—After clause 5 insert:

Part 2A—Amendment of Evidence Act 1929

5A—Insertion of Part 7 Division 11

After section 67J insert:

Division 11—Classified criminal intelligence

67K—Interpretation

In this Division—

classified criminal intelligence means information determined by the Commissioner of Police to be classified criminal intelligence under Part 9A of the Police Act 1998;

Crown authority means—

(a) in the case of criminal proceedings—the Director of Public Prosecutions, a delegate of the Director of Public Prosecutions, a police officer, or any other person acting in a public official capacity, who is responsible for commencing or conducting a prosecution; and

(b) in the case of any other proceedings—a person who holds an office or position in the employment of the State, or an instrumentality or agency of the State, who is acting in a public official capacity in the proceedings.

67L—Procedure where classified criminal intelligence to be relied on

(1) If, in any proceedings before a court, a Crown authority intends to adduce, or otherwise rely on, classified criminal intelligence, the Crown authority must give notice of that intention to the court at the earliest opportunity (and in accordance with any relevant rules of court).

(2) If notice is given to a court under subsection (1), the court must, in such manner as the court thinks fit, undertake an inquiry to determine—

(a) whether the information is properly determined by the Commissioner of Police to be classified criminal intelligence; and

(b) if the court finds that the information is properly determined by the Commissioner of Police to be classified criminal intelligence—whether the information is sufficiently reliable and of such probative value that it is in the interests of justice to allow the Crown authority to adduce or rely on it; and

(c) if the court finds that the Crown authority should be able to adduce or rely on the information—the steps that should be taken to maintain the confidentiality of the information whilst ensuring, as far as reasonably possible, that other parties to the proceedings are not unduly prejudiced by the lack of disclosure.

67M—Powers of court in dealing with classified criminal intelligence

(1) Without limiting the powers of a court in dealing with classified criminal intelligence, a court (whether in the course of an inquiry under section 67L(2) or in any proceedings to which such inquiry relates) may do any of the following in relation to classified criminal intelligence:

(a) receive any evidence or request submissions from any parties to the proceedings;

(b) consider, and endorse or reject, any agreement between the parties to the proceedings in relation to the disclosure or management of the classified criminal intelligence;

(c) exclude persons from the court while any evidence is received or submissions made;

(d) make orders suppressing any evidence or submissions from publication;

(e) make orders providing for any evidence or submissions to be deleted from a version of the official record of the proceedings provided to a party to the proceedings or to a member of the public.

(2) Subsection (1) has effect despite any other provision of this, or any other, Act.

67N—Withdrawal of information from proceedings

If, on an inquiry under section 67L(2) or in any proceedings to which such inquiry relates, the court determines that the confidentiality of classified criminal intelligence is not to be maintained (whether because, in the opinion of the court, the Commissioner of Police erred in so classifying the information or for any other reason), the Crown authority must be informed of the proposed determination and given the opportunity to withdraw the information from the proceedings.

New clause inserted.

Clauses 6 and 7.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

Page 3, lines 21 to 39—Delete clauses 6 and 7 and substitute:

6—Amendment of section 5—Interpretation

(1) Section 5(1)—after the definition of class H firearms insert:

classified criminal intelligence means information determined by the Commissioner of Police to be classified criminal intelligence under Part 9A of the Police Act 1998;

(2) Section 5(1), definition of criminal intelligence—delete the definition

7—Amendment of section 6—The Registrar

Section 6(4)—delete subsection (4)

7A—Amendment of section 10—Procedure

Section 10(3)—delete 'information provided to the committee by the Registrar that is classified by the Registrar as' and substitute 'classified'

7B—Amendment of section 10B—Firearms prohibition order issued by Registrar

Section 10B(5)—delete 'information that is classified by the Registrar as' and substitute 'classified'

7C—Amendment of section 12—Application for firearms licence

Section 12(7a)(b)—delete 'information that is classified by the Registrar as' and substitute 'classified'

7D—Amendment of section 20—Cancellation, variation and suspension of licence

Section 20(3a)—delete 'information that is classified by the Registrar as' and substitute 'classified'

7E—Amendment of section 26B—Review by Firearms Review Committee

Section 26B(3)—delete 'information that is classified by the Registrar as' and substitute 'classified'

7F—Amendment of section 26C—Right of appeal to District Court

(1) Section 26C(3)—delete 'information that is classified by the Registrar as' and substitute 'classified'

(2) Section 26C(5) to (10)—delete subsections (5) to (10) (inclusive)

Amendment carried; clauses as amended passed.

New clause 7G.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

New Part, page 4, before line 1—Insert:

Part 3A—Amendment of Freedom of Information Act 1991

7G—Amendment of Schedule 1—Exempt documents

(1) Schedule 1, clause 4(3a)—delete 'information classified by the Commissioner of Police, in accordance with the provisions of any other Act, as' and substitute 'classified'

(2) Schedule 1, clause 4—after subclause (4) insert:

(5) In this clause—

classified criminal intelligence means information determined by the Commissioner of Police to be classified criminal intelligence under Part 9A of the Police Act 1998.

New clause inserted.

Clause 8.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

Page 4, lines 2 to 8—Delete clause 8 and substitute:

8—Amendment of section 3—Interpretation

(1) Section 3(1)—after the definition of certificate insert:

classified criminal intelligence means information determined by the Commissioner of Police to be classified criminal intelligence under Part 9A of the Police Act 1998;

(2) Section 3(1), definition of criminal intelligence—delete the definition

8A—Amendment of heading to Part 2 Division 4

Heading to Part 2 Division 4—Delete 'Criminal' and substitute:

Classified criminal

8B—Amendment of section 12—Classified criminal intelligence

(1) Section 12(1)—delete 'by the Commissioner of Police as'

(2) Section 12(2)(b)—delete 'information that is classified by the Commissioner of Police as' and substitute:

classified

(3) Section 12(3)(a) and (b)—delete 'information classified by the Commissioner of Police as' wherever occurring and substitute in each case:

classified

(4) Section 12(4)—delete 'information that is classified by the Commissioner of Police as' and substitute:

classified

(5) Section 12(5)—delete subsection (5)

8C—Amendment of section 70A—Procedure in relation to classified criminal intelligence

(1) Section 70A—delete 'under this Part, the Court or the Authority' and substitute:

before the Authority under this Part

(2) Section 70A(a) and (b)—delete 'information classified by the Commissioner of Police as' wherever occurring and substitute in each case:

classified

Amendment carried; clause as amended passed.

New clauses 8D-8F.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

New Part, page 4, before line 9—Insert:

Part 4A—Amendment of Hydroponics Industry Control Act 2009

8D—Amendment of section 3—Interpretation

(1) Section 3—after the definition of authorised officer insert:

classified criminal intelligence means information determined by the Commissioner of Police to be classified criminal intelligence under Part 9A of the Police Act 1998;

(2) Section 3, definition of criminal intelligence—delete the definition

8E—Substitution of sections 6 and 7

Sections 6 and 7—delete the sections and substitute:

6—Delegation

Despite section 19 of the Police Act 1998, the Commissioner may not delegate a function or power of the Commissioner under this Act except to a senior police officer.

7—Classified criminal intelligence

If the Commissioner—

(a) refuses an application for a licence or an approval or for a renewal of a licence, or varies or revokes a condition, or imposes a new condition, of a licence or approval, or revokes or proposes to revoke a licence or approval under this Act; and

(b) the decision to do so is made because of classified criminal intelligence,

the Commissioner is not required to provide any grounds or reasons for the decision other than that to grant the application would be contrary to the public interest, or that it would be contrary to the public interest if the licence or approval were to continue in force without variation or new condition imposed, or that it would be contrary to the public interest if the person were to be or continue to be licensed or approved.

8F—Amendment of section 37—Review of operation of Act

Section 37(2)—delete 'by the Commissioner as'

New clauses inserted.

New clause 8G.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

New clause, page 4, after line 9—Insert:

8G—Amendment of section 4—Interpretation

(1) Section 4—after the definition of beneficiary insert:

classified criminal intelligence means information determined by the Commissioner of Police to be classified criminal intelligence under Part 9A of the Police Act 1998;

(2) Section 4, definition of criminal intelligence—delete the definition

New clause inserted.

Clause 9.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

Page 4, lines 10 to 23—Delete the clause and substitute:

9—Substitution of Part 2 Division 6

Part 2 Division 6—delete the Division and substitute:

Division 6—Classified criminal intelligence

28A—Classified criminal intelligence

(1) Classified criminal intelligence provided by the Commissioner of Police for the purposes of this Act may not be disclosed to any person other than the Commissioner, the Minister, a court or a person to whom the Commissioner of Police authorises its disclosure.

(2) If a licensing authority—

(a) refuses an application for a licence, the transfer of a licence or an approval, or takes disciplinary action against a person, or revokes or proposes to revoke an approval under Part 4 Division 10A; and

(b) the decision to do so is made because of classified criminal intelligence,

the licensing authority is not required to provide any grounds or reasons for the decision other than that to grant the application would be contrary to the public interest, or that it would be contrary to the public interest if the person were to be or continue to be licensed or approved, or that it would be contrary to the public interest if the approval were to continue in force.

(3) If the Commissioner proposes to impose a licence condition to improve public order and safety or to issue a public order and safety notice in respect of a licence and the decision to do so is made because of classified criminal intelligence, the Commissioner is not required to provide any grounds or reasons for the decision other than that it would be contrary to the public interest if the condition were not imposed or the notice were not issued.

(4) If the Commissioner of Police lodges an objection to an application under Part 4 because of classified criminal intelligence—

(a) the Commissioner of Police is not required to serve a copy of the notice of objection on the applicant; and

(b) the licensing authority must, at least 7 days before the day appointed for the hearing of the application, advise the applicant in writing that the Commissioner of Police has objected to the application on the ground that to grant the application would be contrary to the public interest.

(5) If the Commissioner or the Commissioner of Police lodges a complaint under Part 8 in respect of a person because of classified criminal intelligence, the complaint need only state that it would be contrary to the public interest if the person were to be or continue to be licensed or approved.

(6) If the Commissioner of Police bars a person from entering or remaining on licensed premises by order under Part 9 Division 3 because of classified criminal intelligence, the order need only state that it would be contrary to the public interest if the person were not so barred.

9A—Amendment of section 128A—Report to Minister on barring orders

Section 128A(1)(b)—delete 'information classified by the Commissioner of Police as' and substitute 'classified'

Amendment carried; clause as amended passed.

New clauses 9B and 9C.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

New Part, page 4, before line 24—Insert:

Part 5A—Amendment of Police Act 1998

9B—Amendment of section 19—Delegation

Section 19—after subsection (1) insert:

(1a) The Commissioner may not, however, delegate the function of determining whether information is classified criminal intelligence under Part 9A except to a Deputy Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner of Police.

9C—Insertion of Part 9A

After section 63 insert:

Part 9A—Classified criminal intelligence

63A—Interpretation

In this Part—

classified criminal intelligence means information determined by the Commissioner of Police to be classified criminal intelligence under section 63B;

judicial officer means a person appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court or the District Court or a person appointed as judge of another State or Territory or of the Commonwealth.

63B—Commissioner may determine that information is classified criminal intelligence

The Commissioner may determine that information relating to actual or suspected criminal activity (whether in this State or elsewhere) is classified criminal intelligence if—

(a) disclosure of the information could reasonably be expected to—

(i) prejudice criminal investigations; or

(ii) enable the discovery of the existence or identity of a confidential source of information relevant to law enforcement; or

(iii) endanger a person's life or physical safety; and

(b) having assessed the information (including, where relevant, against appropriate internationally recognised police intelligence classification systems), the Commissioner is satisfied that the information is sufficiently reliable.

63C—Record keeping requirements

(1) The Commissioner must ensure that records are kept in relation to the use of classified criminal intelligence.

(2) The Commissioner must ensure that records kept under this section would enable the following information to be determined for each period in relation to which a review is conducted under section 63D:

(a) the number of occasions on which classified criminal intelligence was used for the purposes of an Act during the period and, for each such occasion, the Act in relation to which it was so used;

(b) the number of occasions on which classified criminal intelligence was used in the course of proceedings in a court during the period;

(c) the number of persons directly affected by the uses referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) (for example, as persons subject to decisions under Acts or as parties to proceedings in a court).

63D—Independent review

(1) The Minister must, before 1 July in each year, appoint a retired judicial officer to conduct a review on the use and management of classified criminal intelligence during the period of 12 months preceding that 1 July.

(2) Without limiting the matters to be addressed by the review, the review must include an examination of—

(a) the processes used by SA Police during the relevant period to ensure that information found to be unreliable is recorded as such by SA Police; and

(b) audit systems used by SA Police in relation to such record keeping.

(3) The Commissioner must ensure that a person appointed to conduct a review is provided with such information as he or she may require for the purpose of conducting the review.

(4) A person conducting a review has, in so doing, the powers of a commission of inquiry under the Royal Commissions Act 1917 (and any obligations under an Act to maintain the confidentiality of information do not apply with respect to the provision of such information to the person conducting the review).

(5) A person conducting a review must maintain the confidentiality of information provided to the person that is classified criminal intelligence.

(6) A report on a review must be presented to the Minister on or before 30 September in each year.

(7) The Minister must, within 12 sitting days after receipt of a report under this section, cause copies of the report to be laid before each House of Parliament.

New clauses inserted.

Clause 10.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

Page 4, lines 26 to 32—Delete clause 10 and substitute:

10—Amendment of section 3—Interpretation

(1) Section 3—after the definition of approved psychological assessment insert:

classified criminal intelligence means information determined by the Commissioner of Police to be classified criminal intelligence under Part 9A of the Police Act 1998;

(2) Section 3, definition of criminal intelligence—delete the definition

10A—Amendment of section 5B—Classified criminal intelligence

(1) Section 5B(1)—delete 'by the Commissioner of Police as'

(2) Section 5B(2)(b)—delete 'information that is classified by the Commissioner of Police as' and substitute:

classified

(3) Section 5B(3)—delete 'information that is classified by the Commissioner of Police as' and substitute:

classified

(4) Section 5B(4)—delete 'information that is classified by the Commissioner of Police as' and substitute:

classified

(5) Section 5B(5) and (6)—delete subsections (5) and (6)

Amendment carried; clause as amended passed.

New clauses 10B-10M.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

New Parts, page 5, before line 1—Insert:

Part 6A—Amendment of Serious and Organised Crime (Control) Act 2008

10B—Amendment of section 3—Interpretation

(1) Section 3—after the definition of authorisation order insert:

classified criminal intelligence means information determined by the Commissioner of Police to be classified criminal intelligence under Part 9A of the Police Act 1998;

(2) Section 3, definition of criminal intelligence—delete the definition

10C—Substitution of section 7

Section 7—delete the section and substitute:

7—Delegation

The Commissioner may not delegate any function or power of the Commissioner under this Act except to a senior police officer.

10D—Amendment of section 13—Disclosure of reasons and classified criminal intelligence

Section 13(2)—delete 'by the Commissioner as'

10E—Amendment of section 15—Form of control order

(1) Section 15(1)(d)—delete 'subject to subsection (2)—'

(2) Section 15(2), (3) and (4)—delete subsections (2), (3) and (4)

10F—Repeal of section 21

Section 21—delete the section

10G—Amendment of section 29—Disclosure of reasons and classified criminal intelligence

(1) Section 29(2)—delete 'properly classified by the Commissioner as criminal intelligence (whether or not the information was so classified' and substitute:

classified criminal intelligence (whether or not the information was classified criminal intelligence

(2) Section 29(3) and (4)—delete subsections (3) and (4)

10H—Amendment of section 37—Annual review and report as to exercise of powers

Section 37(3)—delete 'by the Commissioner as'

10I—Amendment of section 38—Review of operation of Act

Section 38(2)—delete 'by the Commissioner as'

Part 6B—Amendment of Serious and Organised Crime (Unexplained Wealth) Act 2009

10J—Amendment of section 3—Interpretation

(1) Section 3(1)—after the definition of benefit insert:

classified criminal intelligence means information determined by the Commissioner of Police to be classified criminal intelligence under Part 9A of the Police Act 1998;

(2) Section 3(1), definition of criminal intelligence—delete the definition

10K—Amendment of section 6—Classified criminal intelligence

(1) Section 6(1)—delete 'by the Commissioner of Police as'

(2) Section 6(2) and (3)—delete subsections (2) and (3)

10L—Amendment of section 34—Annual review and report as to exercise of powers

Section 34(3)—delete 'by the Commissioner of Police as'

10M—Amendment of section 35—Review of operation of Act

Section 35(2)—delete 'by the Commissioner of Police as'

New clauses inserted.

Clauses 11 and 12 passed.

Clause 13.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

Page 5—

Lines 2 to 9—Delete clause 11

Lines 13 to 25—Delete clause 13 and substitute:

13—Amendment of section 74BC—Content of fortification removal order

(1) Section 74BC(1)(b)—delete 'subject to subsection (2)—'

(2) Section 74BC(2), (3) and (4)—delete subsections (2), (3) and (4)

Amendment carried; clause as amended passed.

Clause 14.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

Page 5, lines 26 to 39—Delete clause 14 and substitute:

14—Amendment of section 74BM—Application of Part

Section 74BM—after subsection (1) insert:

(1a) Nothing in subsection (1) affects the power of a court determining any proceedings under this Part to deal with classified criminal intelligence in accordance with Part 7 Division 11 of the Evidence Act 1929.

Amendment carried; clause as amended passed.

Long title.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I move:

Long title—Delete the long title and substitute:

An Act to amend the Casino Act 1997; the Evidence Act 1929; the Firearms Act 1977; the Freedom of Information Act 1991; the Gaming Machines Act 1992; the Hydroponics Industry Control Act 2009; the Liquor Licensing Act 1997; the Police Act 1998; the Security and Investigation Agents Act 1995; the Serious and Organised Crime (Control) Act 2008; the Serious and Organised Crime (Unexplained Wealth) Act 2009; and the Summary Offences Act 1953.

Amendment carried; long title as amended passed.

Bill reported with amendment.

Third Reading

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:50): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.

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