17Procedure for industry reference investigations

17 Procedure for industry reference investigations (1) If the commission receives an industry reference, the commission must conduct an investigation as authorised by the terms of the reference. (2) For the purpose of conducting an investigation, the commission may— (a) request submissions from the public or any specified person or body; or (b) conduct hearings. (3) Unless the commission otherwise orders, hearings must be open to the public.

(4) In a price regulation investigation, the commission— (a) must, within 1 month after receiving the industry reference, give each relevant person for the investigation written notice of— (i) the information it requires from the person in relation to the investigation; and (ii) the date, decided after consultation with the person, when the person must give the commission the information; and (b) must invite public submissions and conduct public hearings; and (c) is not required to hear submissions from every person attending a public hearing. (5) The commission may, by written notice, require a relevant person to give the commission further stated information during the investigation, by the date decided after consultation with the person stated in the notice. (6) If a relevant person is required to give information to the commission under this section, the person must give the commission the information by the date stated in the notice. (7) On an industry reference, the commission is not to question the amount of a declared fee or the basis on which the fee is worked out. (8) Subject to this Act, the commission may conduct an investigation in any way the commission considers appropriate. (9) In this section: relevant person, for a price regulation investigation, means a person who is the subject of the investigation.