(1) A State authority specified in subsection (4) may disclose to another State authority specified in subsection (4) any information that is, or could reasonably be expected to be, relevant to the performance of a function of the State authority to which the information is disclosed.

(2) If an administrative head referred to in subsection (4), in writing, requests another administrative head referred to in subsection (4) to disclose any information, the administrative head receiving the request is to comply with the request unless the exception in subsection (3) applies.

(3) The Commissioner of Police may decline to disclose information requested under subsection (2) if to do so would be likely to compromise an investigation.

(4) The State authorities specified in this subsection are ¾

(a) the Commissioner of Police (who is the }administrative head~), police officers, and persons employed in the department of the Public Service principally assisting in the administration of the Police Act 1892;

(b) the chief executive officer of the department of the Public Service principally assisting in the administration of the Young Offenders Act 1994 (who is the }administrative head~) and persons employed in that department;

(c) the chief executive officer of the department of the Public Service principally assisting in the administration of the Child Welfare Act 1947 (who is the }administrative head~) and persons employed in that department.

(5) The authority given by this section to disclose information applies even though the disclosure may be contrary to any duty of confidentiality imposed by law or otherwise arising and whether or not the duty of confidentiality arose before this Act commenced but, without limiting the authority given by this section to disclose information, a person to whom confidential information is disclosed under this section is bound by the same duty of confidentiality as applied to the person making the disclosure.

(6) A person making a disclosure under this section incurs no civil or criminal liability as a result of the disclosure, and is not to be regarded for any purpose as being in breach of the duty of confidentiality.