Labor proposes catch-all secrecy offence targeting officials who expose ‘sensitive information’

Proposal would streamline law and criminalise leak of information by public servants that could compromise ‘effective working of government’

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The federal government is set to streamline secrecy offences under a new catch-all law that will criminalise commonwealth officials leaking information that could compromise the “effective working of government”.

The long-awaited review, released on Tuesday by attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, would also require ministerial consent to prosecute journalists who publish stories in the public interest. The proposal would also remove criminal liability from hundreds of offences.

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