Div 3Technical Regulator

Division 3—Technical Regulator 7—Technical Regulator (1) There is to be a Technical Regulator. (2) The Technical Regulator is to be appointed by the Minister and is an agency of the Crown. (3) The office of Technical Regulator may be held in conjunction with a position in the Public Service. (4) The Minister may assign an employee in the Public Service to act as the Technical Regulator— (a) during a vacancy in the office of Technical Regulator; or (b) when the Technical Regulator is absent from, or unable to discharge, official duties. 8—Functions of Technical Regulator The Technical Regulator has the following functions: (a) the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical standards in the electricity supply industry; and (b) the monitoring and regulation of safety and technical standards with respect to electrical installations; and (c) the administration of the provisions of this Act relating to the clearance of vegetation from powerlines; and (ca) the monitoring and investigation of major interruptions to the electricity supply in the State and the provision of reports relating to such interruptions in accordance with any requirements prescribed by the regulations; and (d) any other functions prescribed by regulation or assigned to the Technical Regulator by or under this or any other Act. 9—Delegation (1) The Technical Regulator may delegate powers to a person or body of persons that is, in the Technical Regulator's opinion, competent to exercise the relevant powers. (2) A delegation under this section— (a) must be in writing; and (b) may be conditional or unconditional; and (c) is revocable at will; and (d) does not prevent the delegator from acting in any matter. 10—Technical Regulator's power to require information (1) The Technical Regulator may, by written notice, require a person to give the Technical Regulator, within a time stated in the notice (which must be reasonable), information in the person's possession that the Technical Regulator reasonably requires for the performance of the Technical Regulator's functions (whether under this Act or any other Act). (2) A person required to give information under this section must provide the information within the time stated in the notice. (3) Subject to subsection (4), a natural person is not required to give information under this section if the information would tend to incriminate the person of an offence. (4) If a natural person is required to give information under this section relating to the safety of electricity infrastructure, an electrical installation or electrical equipment, and the information would tend to incriminate the person of an offence, the person must nevertheless give the information, but the information so given will not be admissible in evidence against the person in proceedings for an offence (other than an offence relating to the making of a false or misleading statement or declaration). 11—Obligation to preserve confidentiality (1) The Technical Regulator must preserve the confidentiality of information gained by the Technical Regulator under this Act (including information gained by an authorised officer under Part 7) that— (a) could affect the competitive position of an electricity entity or other person; or (b) is commercially sensitive for some other reason. (1a) Despite subsection (1), the Technical Regulator may disclose confidential information in the following circumstances: (a) as reasonably required in connection with the administration or enforcement of this Act (including to the Minister, the Commission and persons assisting the Commission) or as otherwise related to the performance of the Technical Regulator's functions (whether under this Act or any other Act); (b) to a person concerned in the administration or enforcement of another law of the State, or a law of the Commonwealth or another State or a Territory of the Commonwealth, for purposes related to the administration or operation of that other law; (c) to a government agency or instrumentality of this State, the Commonwealth or another State or Territory of the Commonwealth for purposes related to the performance of its functions (or to a person acting on behalf of such a government agency or instrumentality); (d) with the consent of the person who gave the information or to whom the information relates; (e) as required by a court or tribunal constituted by law; (f) as authorised by the Minister. (2) Information classified by the Technical Regulator as confidential is not liable to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 1991. 14—Annual report (1) The Technical Regulator must, within three months after the end of each financial year, deliver to the Minister a report on the Technical Regulator's operations under this Act during that financial year. (3) The Minister must cause a copy of the report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament within 12 sitting days after his or her receipt of the report.