248Minister may direct investigations

248  Minister may direct investigations  (1) If, in the Minister’s opinion, it is in the public interest in relation to this jurisdiction for a particular matter to which subsection (2) applies to be investigated, he or she may by writing direct ASIC to investigate that matter.  (2) This subsection applies to a matter relating to any of the following:  (a) an alleged or suspected contravention of the Commonwealth credit legislation;  (b) an alleged or suspected contravention of a law of the Commonwealth, or a law of a referring State or a Territory, being a contravention that:  (i) concerns the management, conduct or affairs of a licensee, credit representative or other person who engages, or has engaged, in a credit activity; or  (ii) involves fraud or dishonesty and relates to a credit activity engaged in by a person, or a credit contract, mortgage, guarantee or consumer lease;  (c) a credit activity engaged in by a person.  (3) ASIC must comply with a direction under subsection (1).  (4) A direction under subsection (1) does not prevent ASIC from delegating a function or power.  (5) A direction under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.