52Powers as to taking of evidence and production of documents

52 Powers as to taking of evidence and production of documents

(1) The Secretary may, for the purposes of this Act: (a) summon witnesses; (b) receive evidence on oath or affirmation; and (c) require the production of documents. (2) A person who has been summoned to appear before the Secretary shall not, after tender of reasonable expenses, fail to appear in obedience to the summons. (3) A person, whether summoned or not, who appears before the Secretary shall not: (a) refuse to be sworn as a witness or to make an affirmation; (b) fail to answer any question that he is lawfully required to answer; or (c) fail to produce any document that he is lawfully required to produce. (3A) Subsections (2) and (3) are offences of strict liability.

Penalty: $1,000.

(4) The Secretary shall not exercise his powers under paragraph (1)(a) or (c) except with the approval of the Minister.