28Public inquiries

28 Public inquiries

28 Public inquiries

(1) Before starting a public inquiry under this division, the Monitor must give notice, by advertisement in the Gazette and other ways the Monitor considers appropriate, of—

(a) the intention to hold the inquiry, and

(b) the subject of the inquiry, and

(c) the place at which the inquiry will start.

(2) If, after starting a public inquiry, the Monitor is satisfied it is in the public interest because of the confidential nature of any evidence or matter or for another reason, the Monitor may do either or both of the following—

(a) direct that the inquiry or a part of the inquiry take place in private and give directions about the persons who may be present,

(b) give directions prohibiting or restricting the publication of evidence given at the inquiry or of matters contained in documents provided for the inquiry.

(3) If evidence is given at a public inquiry by written statement, the Monitor must make available to the public in the way the Monitor considers appropriate the contents of the statement.

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply to the matter the publication of which, in the Monitor’s opinion, would be contrary to the public interest because of its confidential nature or for another reason.

(5) A person must not make a publication in contravention of a direction given under this section.

Maximum penalty for subsection (5)—100 penalty units.