19Investigation by accountable authority

19 Investigation by accountable authority

(1) If a supplier makes a complaint under section 18 to the accountable authority of a relevant Commonwealth entity, the accountable authority must: (a) investigate the conduct the subject of the complaint; and (b) prepare a report of the investigation. (2) The accountable authority may discontinue the investigation if: (a) the supplier withdraws the complaint; or (b) the supplier informs the accountable authority that the supplier considers the complaint to be resolved; or (c) in proceedings instituted in a court under this Act in relation to the conduct the subject of the complaint, the court makes either of the following findings: (i) that the conduct was in contravention of the relevant Commonwealth Procurement Rules (so far as those rules relate to a covered procurement); (ii) that the conduct was not in contravention of the relevant Commonwealth Procurement Rules (so far as those rules relate to a covered procurement). (3) If: (a) proceedings are instituted in a court under this Act in relation to the conduct the subject of the complaint; and (b) the continuation of the investigation would be likely to result in prejudice to the proper administration of justice; the accountable authority must discontinue the investigation.