40Inspection of records

40 Inspection of records

(1)  An authorised officer may do all or any of the following to ascertain whether the provisions of the Act are being, or have been, complied with:

(a) enter, at a reasonable time, any premises where records are kept;

(b) require the person who appears to be in charge of the premises to produce for inspection any record held at the premises;

(c) inspect and take notes of, copies of or extracts from any such record;

(d) require the person who appears to be in charge of the premises to answer questions or give explanations;

(e) require the person who appears to be in charge of the premises to explain where records are being held.

(2)  An authorised officer may require that a record be transcribed into clearly written English if the record –

(a) is not in writing; or

(b) is not in English; or

(c) is in such a condition as to make the record unreadable.

(3)  A person must not –

(a) fail to comply with a reasonable requirement of an authorised officer in relation to an inspection; or

(b) wilfully obstruct, hinder or delay an authorised officer; or

(c) threaten or attempt to intimidate an authorised officer; or

(d) give, or agree or offer to give, any gift, reward or other inducement for the authorised officer to do or abstain from doing anything in relation to an inspection; or

(e) knowingly give false or misleading information or documents to an authorised officer; or

(f) conceal any information or record from an authorised officer.

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.