177EPower of Secretary to require answers

177E Power of Secretary to require answers

177E Power of Secretary to require answers

(1) The Secretary may direct a person to answer questions about a matter if the Secretary—

(a) reasonably suspects the person to have knowledge of the matter, and

(b) reasonably requires information about the matter for an authorised purpose.

(2) The direction may require the answers to be—

(a) written, or

(b) given verbally—

(i) in person, or

(ii) by audio link or audio visual link.

(3) The Secretary may direct a body corporate to nominate an individual to answer questions on behalf of the body corporate.

(4) The nomination must be—

(a) in writing, and

(b) given to the Secretary within the time required in the direction.

(5) The individual must be a director or other officer of the body corporate.

(6) Answers given by the individual bind the body corporate.

(7) The Secretary may direct the person or nominated individual to attend at a specified place and time to answer questions if—

(a) the answers must be given verbally, and

(b) attendance at the place is reasonably required for the questions to be properly put and answered.

(8) The place and time must be reasonable in the circumstances.

(9) A direction under this section must be in writing.

(10) A person must not fail to comply with a direction under this section.

Maximum penalty for subsection (10)—

(a) for an individual—

(i) 20 penalty units, and

(ii) for a continuing offence—2 penalty units for each day the offence continues, or

(b) otherwise—