79Safety investigations

79 Safety investigations (1) The Minister may order an investigation into any of the following matters: (a) a boating accident that has been reported under section 77 or that the Minister believes may have happened; (b) a situation that has the potential to cause a boating accident; (c) alleged incompetence or misconduct of a person operating a power boat who is required to hold a licence or permit under section 27 to operate the boat; (d) a boat that has been detained under section 111 in relation to an offence against section 38 (Operating unsafe boats). (2) The purposes of a safety investigation are— (a) to decide the circumstances of, or in relation to, a boating accident or other matters that affect safety on a lake; and (b) to make recommendations to prevent similar boating accidents or other matters happening again. (3) A safety investigation may be carried out whether or not it relates to a matter that— (a) is being investigated, or has been investigated, under another Commonwealth or territory law; or (b) is or may be subject to criminal or civil proceedings. (4) If the Minister orders a safety investigation into a matter mentioned in subsection (1) (c), the Minister may notify the State or the Commonwealth authority that granted the licence or permit of the investigation.