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Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026
✦ Plain-English Summary
# Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026
## What it does
This bill gives stronger legal protections to people who share information with Royal Commissions, particularly those working in defence and intelligence agencies. It creates new rules in Part 4A of the Royal Commissions Act to shield witnesses and information-providers from certain legal consequences when they cooperate with inquiries.
## Why it matters
Royal Commissions investigate serious issues affecting Australians, but people working in sensitive areas like ASIO, ASIS, and Defence often hesitate to speak openly because they worry about breaking secrecy laws or facing disciplinary action. Stronger protections encourage honest testimony, leading to more thorough investigations and better accountability.
## Key details
- **Who it covers**: The bill specifically defines protections for people in Australian intelligence entities (including ASIO, ASIS, Defence Intelligence, Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation, Australian Signals Directorate, and the Office of National Intelligence) and the Australian Defence Force.
- **When it starts**: The law takes effect the day after receiving Royal Assent (formal approval).
- **What's being changed**: The bill amends three pieces of legislation—the Royal Commissions Act 1902, Royal Commissions Regulations 2019, and Criminal Code Act 1995—to create consistent protections across all these laws.
Official Description
Amends the: Royal Commissions Act 1902 and Criminal Code Act 1995 to provide additional protections for people who provide intelligence or operationally sensitive information to a Royal Commission on a voluntary or compulsory basis where that information is subject to secrecy provisions; and Royal Commission Regulations 2019 to ensure that these protections apply to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
Committee Referrals
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights
Audit History
Last updated on APH
10 Apr 2026
Last checked by Crossbench
today
🗳️No formal division recorded
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