172RApplication of Crimes Act and Evidence Act

172R  Application of Crimes Act and Evidence Act

 (1) For the purposes of Part III of the Crimes Act 1914, an examination under this Division is a judicial proceeding.

 (2) Part 2.2, sections 69, 70, 71 and 147 and Division 2 of Part 4.6 of the Evidence Act 1995 apply to an examination under this Division in the same way that they apply to a proceeding to which that Act applies under section 4 of that Act.

Part 2—Information gathering power

Division 1—Main amendments

6  After section 49A

49B  Notice to obtain information or documents in certain circumstances

 (1) This section applies if a person has information or a document that may assist the AUSTRAC CEO with:

 (a) obtaining or analysing information to support efforts to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, proliferation financing or other serious crimes; or

 (b) identifying trends, patterns, threats or vulnerabilities associated with money laundering, terrorism financing, proliferation financing or other serious crimes;

for the purposes of the performance of functions of the AUSTRAC CEO.

Requirements

 (2) The AUSTRAC CEO may, by written notice given to the person, require the person:

 (a) to give to the AUSTRAC CEO, within the period and in the manner specified in the notice, any such information; or

 (b) to produce to the AUSTRAC CEO, within the period and in the manner specified in the notice, any such documents.

 (3) The AUSTRAC CEO must not give a notice under subsection (2) to a person unless the AUSTRAC CEO reasonably believes that the person has knowledge of the information, or possession or control of the document, that is specified in the notice.

Content of notice

 (4) The period specified in the notice in accordance with paragraph (2)(a) or (b) must be at least 14 days after the notice is given unless:

 (a) the AUSTRAC CEO considers that specifying a shorter period is necessary; and

 (b) the shorter period specified is reasonable in the circumstances.

 (5) A notice under subsection (2) must set out the effect of the following provisions:

 (a) subsection (7);

 (b) section 136;

 (c) section 137.

Note 1: Section 136 is about giving false or misleading information.

Note 2: Section 137 is about producing false or misleading documents.

Compliance

 (6) A person must comply with a notice under subsection (2).

Civil penalty provisions

 (7) Subsection (6) is a civil penalty provision.