Purpose of this Guide
The purpose of this Guide is to provide step by step guidance to the
procedures set out in the National
Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004
(Cth) (the NSI Act) for the disclosure, handling, storage and destruction
of national security information in federal criminal proceedings and
civil proceedings conducted in a Commonwealth, State or Territory
court. This guide is intended to assist judges and magistrates who
may preside in such proceedings.
The National Security Information Act
The object of the National
Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004
is to prevent the disclosure of information in federal criminal proceedings
and civil proceedings where the disclosure is likely to prejudice
national security, except to the extent that preventing the disclosure
would seriously interfere with the administration of justice.
