Australian Capital Territory
Workplace Privacy Amendment Act 2016
A2016-22
    
Contents
	Page
	1	Name of Act	2
	2	Commencement	2
	3	Legislation amended	2
	4	Additional requirements for tracking devices
New section 17 (2)	2
	5	Section 24	3
	6	Definitions—pt 4
Section 25, definition of unlawful activity	3
	7	Application for covert surveillance authority
Section 26 (1), except notes	3
	8	Section 26 (2) (a)	4
	9	Issuing covert surveillance authority
Section 28 (2) and note	4
	10	Section 28 (4) (a)	5
	11	New section 28 (5) and (6)	6
	12	Conditions on covert surveillance authority
New section 31 (1A)	7
	13	New section 34A	7
	14	Offence—use and disclosure of covert surveillance other than for a relevant purpose
Section 39 (3) (b) and (c)	8
	15	Section 39 (3) (d)	8
	16	Surveillance of workers not at work
New section 42 (2) (d)	8
	17	New part 5A	9
	18	Offences—security of surveillance records
Section 44 (2) (b)	12
	19	Report on covert surveillance to Legislative Assembly
Section 45	12
	20	Dictionary, new definition of regulator	12
	21	Magistrates Court Act 1930
New section 291Q (1) (a) (vi)	12
	22	Work Health and Safety Act 2011
Schedule 2, part 2.1, new section 2.2 (2) (i)	12

Australian Capital Territory
Workplace Privacy Amendment Act 2016
A2016-22

An Act to amend the Workplace Privacy Act 2011, and for other purposes

    

The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as follows:

1	Name of Act
This Act is the Workplace Privacy Amendment Act 2016.
2	Commencement
This Act commences on a day fixed by the Minister by written notice.
Note 1	The naming and commencement provisions automatically commence on the notification day (see Legislation Act, s 75 (1)).
Note 2	A single day or time may be fixed, or different days or times may be fixed, for the commencement of different provisions (see Legislation Act, s 77 (1)).
Note 3	If a provision has not commenced within 6 months beginning on the notification day, it automatically commences on the first day after that period (see Legislation Act, s 79).
3	Legislation amended
This Act amends the Workplace Privacy Act 2011.
Note	This Act also amends the following legislation:
·	Magistrates Court Act 1930 (see s 21)
·	Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (see s 22).
4	Additional requirements for tracking devices
New section 17 (2)
insert
	(2)	However, subsection (1) does not apply if—
	(a)	it is not reasonably practicable to have a notice on the vehicle or other thing; and
	(b)	the employer has taken reasonable steps to notify workers that the vehicle or other thing is being tracked.
5	Section 24
substitute
24	Meaning of covert surveillance
In this Act:
covert surveillance—
	(a)	means surveillance conducted by an employer of a worker—
	(i)	in a workplace without notifying the worker under part 3 (Notified surveillance); or
	(ii)	outside a workplace; but
	(b)	does not include prohibited surveillance.
6	Definitions—pt 4
Section 25, definition of unlawful activity
omit 
territory law or the law of another jurisdiction
substitute 
law in force in the Territory
7	Application for covert surveillance authority
Section 26 (1), except notes
omit everything after 
surveillance of a worker 
substitute
only for the purpose of finding out if the worker is engaged in an unlawful activity—
	(a)	in the workplace; or 
	(b)	outside the workplace but in relation to the worker’s work for the employer.
8	Section 26 (2) (a) 
substitute
	(a)	the reasonable grounds that the employer has for suspecting a worker is involved in an unlawful activity; and
	(aa)	for surveillance of a worker outside a workplace—the reasonable grounds that the employer has for believing a worker is engaged in an unlawful activity; and
9	Issuing covert surveillance authority
Section 28 (2) and note
substitute
	(2)	In considering whether there are reasonable grounds to issue the covert surveillance authority, the Magistrates Court must consider—
	(a)	for surveillance of a worker in a workplace—
	(i)	the seriousness of the suspected unlawful activity; and
	(ii)	whether there are other appropriate ways to find out if the worker is engaged in the unlawful activity; and
	(iii)	whether it is more appropriate for the unlawful activity to be investigated by a law enforcement agency; and
	(iv)	if the proposed surveillance may be conducted in a non‑work area—a worker’s heightened expectation of privacy in the area; and
Note 1	Surveillance is prohibited in some non-work areas (see s 41).
Note 2	Non-work area—see the dictionary.
	(b)	for surveillance of a worker outside a workplace—
	(i)	the seriousness of the unlawful activity in which the worker is reasonably believed to be engaged; and
	(ii)	whether there are other appropriate ways to find out if the worker is engaged in the unlawful activity; and
	(iii)	whether it is more appropriate for the unlawful activity to be investigated by a law enforcement agency; and
	(iv)	whether the unlawful activity is directly related to the worker’s work for the employer; and
	(v)	whether surveillance of the worker will be undertaken in a place in which a person would have a heightened expectation of privacy; and
	(c)	whether, and the extent to which, the proposed surveillance might intrude on the worker’s or someone else’s privacy; and
	(d)	whether the person nominated to be the surveillance supervisor in the application is suitable.
Note	Section 29 deals with appointing a surveillance supervisor.
10	Section 28 (4) (a)
substitute
	(a)	the name of the worker (if practicable) in relation to which the authority is issued; and
	(aa)	the nature of the unlawful activity that the worker is suspected of being, or believed to be, engaged in; and 
11	New section 28 (5) and (6)
insert
	(5)	A covert surveillance authority authorising surveillance outside the workplace—
	(a)	may only authorise surveillance to be undertaken from a public place; and
	(b)	may only authorise surveillance to be undertaken in a place that, if it were in a workplace, would be a prohibited non-work area, if the Magistrates Court is satisfied there are exceptional circumstances justifying the surveillance; and
Examples—par (b)
1	a toilet facility
2	a change room
Note	An example is part of the Act, is not exhaustive and may extend, but does not limit, the meaning of the provision in which it appears (see Legislation Act, s 126 and s 132).
	(c)	must not authorise surveillance to be undertaken of a person in part of a premises that is being used for residential purposes.
Examples—par (c)
1	the interior of a residence		
2	the enclosed yard of a residence	
	(6)	In this section:
public place means a place to which the public or a section of the public has access, whether—
	(a)	by payment, membership of a body or otherwise; or
	(b)	by entitlement or permission.
12	Conditions on covert surveillance authority
New section 31 (1A)
insert
	(1A)	A covert surveillance authority that authorises surveillance outside the workplace is subject to the following conditions:
	(a)	any surveillance of people other than the worker is destroyed or obscured as soon as possible after the record is made;
	(b)	if the surveillance is undertaken by a third party—the third party complies with this Act and any applicable privacy laws.
13	New section 34A
in division 4.2, insert
34A	Review of provisions about covert surveillance outside workplace
	(1)	The Minister must review the operation of this Act, as amended by the Workplace Privacy Amendment Act 2016 (the amending Act), in relation to the operation of provisions about covert surveillance outside a workplace. 
	(2)	The review must be started as soon as practicable 2 years after the commencement of the amending Act.
	(3)	The Minister must present a report of the review to the Legislative Assembly within 6 months after the day the review is started.
	(4)	This section expires 4 years after the day it commences.
14	Offence—use and disclosure of covert surveillance other than for a relevant purpose
Section 39 (3) (b) and (c)
omit
while at work for the employer
substitute
in relation to the worker’s work for the employer
15	Section 39 (3) (d)
omit everything after
unlawful activity
substitute
in relation to the worker’s work for the employer of a kind identified by the covert surveillance record to occur in relation to the work;
16	Surveillance of workers not at work
New section 42 (2) (d)
before the note, insert
	(d)	the surveillance is conducted in accordance with a covert surveillance authority.
17	New part 5A
insert
Part 5A	Enforcement
43A	The regulator
	(1)	The regulator has the following functions: 
	(a)	to advise and make recommendations to the Minister and report on the operation and effectiveness of this Act;
	(b)	to monitor and enforce compliance with this Act;
	(c)	to provide advice and information on workplace privacy to employers and employees under this Act and to the community;
	(d)	to conduct and defend proceedings under this Act before a court or tribunal;
	(e)	any other function given to the regulator by this Act.
Note	A reference to an Act includes a reference to statutory instruments made or in force under the Act, including a regulation and any law or instrument applied, adopted or incorporated by the Act (see Legislation Act, s 104).
	(2)	The regulator has the same powers to obtain information in relation to a possible contravention of this Act or that will assist the regulator to monitor or enforce compliance with this Act that the regulator has under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, section 155 in relation to that Act.
	(3)	In addition, the regulator has all the powers that an inspector has under this Act.
	(4)	The regulator may delegate the regulator’s powers and functions under this Act to another person.
Note	For the making of delegations and the exercise of delegated functions, see the Legislation Act, pt 19.4.
43B	Inspectors
An inspector under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 is an inspector for this Act.
43C	Functions and powers of inspectors
	(1)	An inspector has the following functions and powers under this Act:
	(a)	to provide information and advice about compliance with this Act;
	(b)	to require compliance with this Act through the issuing of notices under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, part 10 (Enforcement measures);
	(c)	to investigate contraventions of this Act and assist in the prosecution of offences.
	(2)	The Work Health and Safety Act 2011, section 161 (Conditions on inspectors’ compliance powers) and section 162 (Inspectors subject to regulator’s directions) apply to an inspector in relation to the exercise of a function or power under this Act.
43D	Securing compliance
	(1)	An inspector may exercise powers the inspector has under the following provisions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for the purpose of securing compliance with this Act:
	(a)	division 9.3 (Powers relating to entry);
	(b)	division 9.5 (Other matters).
	(2)	The following provisions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 apply in relation to any exercise of those functions:
	(a)	division 9.4 (Damage and compensation);
	(b)	division 9.6 (Offences in relation to inspectors).
	(3)	For this section, the provisions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 mentioned in this section apply as if—
	(a)	a reference in those provisions to a workplace were a reference to a workplace under this Act; and
	(b)	any other necessary changes were made.
43E	Enforcement measures
	(1)	The Work Health and Safety Act 2011, part 10 (Enforcement measures) applies for the purpose of enforcing compliance with this Act.
	(2)	For this section, the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, part 10 applies as if—
	(a)	a reference in that part to a workplace were a reference to a workplace under this Act; and
	(b)	a reference to contravening a provision were a reference to  contravening a provision of this Act; and
	(c)	any other necessary changes were made.
Note	A reference to an Act includes a reference to statutory instruments made or in force under the Act, including a regulation and any law or instrument applied, adopted or incorporated by the Act (see Legislation Act, s 104).
18	Offences—security of surveillance records
Section 44 (2) (b)
omit
de-indentify
substitute
de-identify
19	Report on covert surveillance to Legislative Assembly
Section 45
omit
20	Dictionary, new definition of regulator
insert
regulator—see the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, dictionary. 
21	Magistrates Court Act 1930
New section 291Q (1) (a) (vi)
insert
	(vi)	the Workplace Privacy Act 2011;
22	Work Health and Safety Act 2011
Schedule 2, part 2.1, new section 2.2 (2) (i)
before the note, insert
	(i)	the operation of the Workplace Privacy Act 2011.

Endnotes
1	Presentation speech
	Presentation speech made in the Legislative Assembly on 18 February 2016.
2	Notification
	Notified under the Legislation Act on 14 April 2016.
3	Republications of amended laws
	For the latest republication of amended laws, see www.legislation.act.gov.au.

I certify that the above is a true copy of the Workplace Privacy Amendment Bill 2016, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 7 April 2016. 

Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

© Australian Capital Territory 2016