Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Act 2026 (1 of 2026)

Schedule 2   Firearms amendments

Part 2   Firearms background checks

Division 3   Spent etc. convictions

Crimes Act 1914

36   Before Subdivision C of Division 6 of Part VIIC

Insert:

85ZZJB Exclusions - ACC

(1) Divisions 2 and 3 do not apply in relation to:

(a) the disclosure of information to or by the ACC, or an ACC officer, if the disclosure is made for the purposes of the performance of the ACC's function covered by paragraph 7A(da) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002; or

(b) filing or recording information that comes into the possession of the ACC, or an ACC officer, if the filing or recording is done for the purposes of the performance of the ACC's function covered by paragraph 7A(da) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002; or

(c) the use by the ACC, or an ACC officer, of information for the purposes of the performance of the ACC's function covered by paragraph 7A(da) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002.

Note 1: The ACC's function covered by paragraph 7A(da) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 relates to criminal intelligence assessments.

Note 2: The ACC is also covered by section 85ZZJ (see the definition of law enforcement agency in section 85ZL).

(2) In this section:

ACC officer means:

(a) a member of the staff of the ACC; or

(b) the Chief Executive Officer of the ACC.

Subdivision BB - Use and disclosure of spent etc. conviction information by ASIO, ACC and other intelligence or security agencies

85ZZJC Use and disclosure of spent etc. conviction information by ASIO, ACC and other intelligence or security agencies

Spent, pardoned and quashed convictions

(1) ASIO or an ASIO officer may use or disclose information, relating to a person's conviction of an offence that is spent, pardoned or quashed, in the performance of the functions, or the exercise of the powers, of ASIO or the officer.

(2) The ACC or an ACC officer may use or disclose information, relating to a person's conviction of an offence that is spent, pardoned or quashed, in the performance of the ACC's function covered by paragraph 7A(da) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002.

Note: The ACC's function covered by paragraph 7A(da) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 relates to criminal intelligence assessments.

(3) An intelligence or security agency may use or disclose information, relating to a person's conviction of an offence that is spent, pardoned or quashed, for the purpose of assessing:

(a) prospective employees or prospective members of the agency; or

(b) persons proposed to be engaged as consultants to, or to perform services for, the agency or a member of the agency.

Persons being found guilty of offences but discharged without conviction

(4) ASIO or an ASIO officer may use or disclose information, relating to a person having been charged with and found guilty of an offence but discharged without conviction, in the performance of the functions, or the exercise of the powers, of ASIO or the officer.

(5) The ACC or an ACC officer may use or disclose information, relating to a person having been charged with and found guilty of an offence but discharged without conviction, in the performance of the ACC's function covered by paragraph 7A(da) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002.

Note: The ACC's function covered by paragraph 7A(da) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 relates to criminal intelligence assessments.

(6) An intelligence or security agency may use or disclose information, relating to a person having been charged with and found guilty of an offence but discharged without conviction, for the purpose of assessing:

(a) prospective employees or prospective members of the agency; or

(b) persons proposed to be engaged as consultants to, or to perform services for, the agency or a member of the agency.

Relationship with other laws

(7) Nothing in this section limits any other power of ASIO, the ACC or an intelligence or security agency to use or disclose information:

(a) relating to a person's conviction of an offence that is spent, pardoned or quashed; or

(b) relating to a person having been charged with and found guilty of an offence but discharged without conviction.

Interpretation

(8) This section has effect:

(a) despite subsection 85ZP(3) and Divisions 2 and 3; and

(b) despite any law of a State or Territory.

(9) In this section:

ACC officer means:

(a) a member of the staff of the ACC; or

(b) the Chief Executive Officer of the ACC.

ASIO means the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

ASIO officer means:

(a) the Director-General of Security; or

(b) an ASIO employee (within the meaning of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979); or

(c) an ASIO affiliate (within the meaning of that Act).