230Special inquiries

#### 230 Special inquiries 230 Special inquiries > > (1) The Minister may direct that an inquiry be conducted into any matter relating to the security, good order, control or management of a correctional complex or correctional centre. > > > (2) The inquiry is to be conducted by a Visiting Judge, or by such other person as the Minister may appoint. > > > (3) For the purpose of conducting such an inquiry— > > > > > (a) the person appointed to conduct the inquiry has and may exercise the powers, authorities, protections and immunities conferred on a commissioner by Division 1 of Part 2 of the [Royal Commissions Act 1923](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1923-029), and > > > > > (b) the provisions of that Act (except for section 13 and Division 2 of Part 2) apply, with any necessary adaptations— > > > > > > > (i) to and in respect of the inquiry, and > > > > > > > (ii) to or in respect of any witness or person summoned by or appearing before the person so appointed. > > > (4) It is a reasonable excuse for the purposes of section 11 (2) (a) of the [Royal Commissions Act 1923](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1923-029), as applied by subsection (3) of this section, for a natural person— > > > > > (a) to refuse or fail to answer a question put to the person at an inquiry, or > > > > > (b) to refuse or fail to produce a document or other thing that the person is required to produce at an inquiry, > > > > that the answer to the question, or the production of the document or other thing, tends to incriminate the person. > > > (5) The person appointed to conduct the inquiry— > > > > > (a) is not bound by the rules of evidence, but may inform himself or herself on any matter in such manner as the person thinks appropriate, and > > > > > (b) may, in respect of a matter not dealt with by or under this Act, give directions as to the procedure to be followed at or in connection with the inquiry. > > > (6) The Minister must refer any report received by the Minister arising from an inquiry under this section to the Inspector of Custodial Services for comment. > > **s 230:** Am 2001 No 121, Sch 2.73 \[16\]; 2010 No 48, Sch 2 \[50\]; 2012 No 55, Sch 3.3 \[2\]; 2016 No 47, Sch 1 \[11\]; 2025 No 61, Sch 2.24\[4\].