14Minister may direct investigations

14 Minister may direct investigations

(1) Where, in the Minister’s opinion, it is in the public interest in respect of this jurisdiction for a particular matter to which subsection (2) applies to be investigated, he or she may by writing direct ASIC to investigate that matter. (2) This subsection applies to a matter relating to any of the following: (a) an alleged or suspected contravention of the corporations legislation (other than the excluded provisions); (b) an alleged or suspected contravention of a law of the Commonwealth, or of a State or Territory in this jurisdiction, being a contravention that: (i) concerns the management or affairs of a body corporate; or (ii) involves fraud or dishonesty and relates to a body corporate or financial products; (c) the affairs, or particular affairs, of a corporation; (d) dealing in financial products; (f) the establishment or conducting of a financial market; (g) the provision of a clearing and settlement facility; (ga) the provision of a derivative trade repository; (j) the giving of advice, analyses or reports about financial products; (k) the provision of compensation arrangements for a financial market. (3) ASIC must comply with a direction under subsection (1). (4) A direction under subsection (1) does not prevent ASIC from delegating a function or power.