20Powers of investigators

20 Powers of investigators

20 Powers of investigators

(1) An investigator may exercise the powers conferred by this section for the purpose of—

(a) ascertaining whether the provisions of this Act or the regulations are being complied with or have been contravened, or

(b) obtaining evidence, records or information in relation to a matter that constitutes or may constitute a contravention of this Act or the regulations.

(2) An investigator may enter and inspect at any reasonable time any premises that the investigator believes on reasonable grounds are premises—

(a) used for the conduct of any aspect of the business of a person required to be registered under section 10, or

(b) used for the conduct of a business by a person whom the investigator reasonably believes has been supplied with petrol or diesel fuel by a person required to be registered under section 10, or

(c) used for the conduct of a business by a person whom the investigator reasonably believes has supplied a person required to be registered under section 10 with ethanol, biodiesel, petrol or diesel fuel.

(3) While on premises entered under this section, an investigator may do any one or more of the following—

(a) require any person on those premises to produce any records in the possession or under the control of that person relating to the sale or purchase of ethanol, biodiesel, petrol or diesel fuel,

(b) inspect and take copies of, or extracts or notes from, any such records and, if the investigator considers it necessary to do so for the purpose of obtaining evidence, seize any such records,

(c) require any person on those premises to answer questions or otherwise furnish information in relation to the sale or purchase of ethanol, biodiesel, petrol or diesel fuel,

(c1) take for analysis or examination samples of ethanol, biodiesel, petrol or diesel fuel,

(d) require the owner or occupier of those premises to provide the investigator with such assistance and facilities as is or are reasonably necessary to enable the investigator to exercise the functions of an investigator under this section.

(4) An investigator is not entitled to enter a part of premises used for residential purposes, except with the consent of the occupier of the part.