COMMENTARY ON SECTIONS Section 17: Protection from defamation actions
34.In order to enable the Commissioner to investigate complaints rigorously, those who provide information to the Commissioner in relation to an investigation need to be protected against defamation claims in relation to that information. Section 17 provides this protection. Unauthorised disclosure by the Commissioner (or those working for the Commissioner), contrary to section 16, would mean that the person making that disclosure would lose this protection.