43Powers as to taking of evidence and production of documents

43 Powers as to taking of evidence and production of documents

(1) The Secretary or a Regional Director 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 or a Regional Director 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 or a Regional Director 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: $100.

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