139Facilities for making complaints etc.

#### 139 Facilities for making complaints etc. (1) If a seaman who is a member of the crew of a ship informs the master of the ship that he or she wishes to go ashore: (a) for the purpose of consulting a proper authority in connexion with a matter related to his or her employment on the ship; or (b) for a purpose connected with legal proceedings, or proposed legal proceedings, against the master or a member of the crew of the ship; the master of the ship shall not refuse the seaman leave to go ashore for that purpose at any reasonable time or otherwise prevent him or her from going ashore for that purpose. (2) A seaman shall not obtain leave to go ashore under subsection (1) by means of a false or misleading statement or pretence or for a reason which is frivolous or vexatious. Penalty: 10 penalty units.