Modernising Australia’s secrecy laws

The Albanese Labor Government has introduced legislation that will significantly reduce the number of Commonwealth secrecy provisions and improve protections for press freedom.

Australia’s secrecy laws are essential to protect Australia’s national security and Australians’ personal information.

At the same time, transparency and press freedom are vital features of our democracy. A strong and independent media is essential to hold governments to account.

These reforms build on the Government’s strong integrity agenda.

Importantly, they implement recommendations from the Review of Secrecy Provisions undertaken by my department, as well as the Government response to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor’s Secrecy Offences: Review of Part 5.6 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The Government’s legislation is the culmination of years of complex work and will deliver a significant package of reforms designed to ensure that our secrecy offences are fit-for-purpose, necessary and provide appropriate protections for press freedom, which is integral to the functioning of an effective democracy.

The Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Repealing Offences) Bill 2026 will repeal or remove criminal liability from more than 300 secrecy provisions. This represents a reduction of more than a third of Commonwealth secrecy provisions.

The Bill will introduce a targeted secrecy offence to ensure Commonwealth officers and others with confidentiality obligations can be held to account for harm caused by breaching those obligations. This important change will address the issues raised by the alleged PwC breach of confidentiality.

The Bill will also provide additional protections for journalists by requiring ministerial consent for the prosecution of journalists for secrecy offences.

Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General, Hon Michelle Rowland MP:

“The Government’s secrecy reforms deliver significant improvements to the Criminal Code that ensure our laws protect what must remain confidential.

“The Albanese Government believes a strong and independent media is vital to democracy and holding governments to account, which is why this legislation also delivers crucial new protections for public interest journalism.

“Importantly, these reforms deliver meaningful improvements to Australia’s secrecy laws, and build on the Government’s longstanding commitment to transparency and integrity."