16Obtaining and use of information

16 Obtaining and use of information

(1)  If the Ombudsman has reason to believe that a person is capable of providing information or producing a document relevant to an investigation, the Ombudsman may, by notice in writing provided to the person, require the person to do one or more of the following:

(a) to provide that information to the Ombudsman in writing signed by that person or, in the case of a body corporate, by an officer of the body corporate;

(b) to produce that document to the Ombudsman;

(c) to attend before the Ombudsman or an officer as specified in the notice and provide information by answering questions relevant to the investigation.

(2)  A notice referred to in subsection (1) is to specify the period within which, or the time, day and place at which, the person is required to provide the information or document or attend to answer questions.

(3)  Nothing in subsection (1) authorises the Ombudsman to require the provision of exempt information or that part of a document containing exempt information.

(4)  Where a document is produced in accordance with a requirement under this section, the Ombudsman may take possession of, make copies of, or take extracts from, the document.

(5)  A person must comply with a requirement under subsection (1) .

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.