133Offence to hinder or obstruct

133 Offence to hinder or obstruct

(1) A person must not, without reasonable excuse, hinder or obstruct, or instruct another person to hinder or obstruct—

(a) an authorised officer or independent investigator who is exercising or attempting to exercise a power under this Act or the regulations; or

(b) a person assisting an authorised officer or independent investigator who is exercising or attempting to exercise a power under this Act or the regulations.

Section 297 provides that this section is a civil penalty provision. The penalty for contravention of this civil penalty provision is set out in the table in section 297.

(2) If an authorised officer or independent investigator considers that a person is hindering or obstructing an exercise or attempted exercise of power under this Act or the regulations, the authorised officer or independent investigator must warn the person—

(a) of the offence in subsection (1); and

(b) that the authorised officer or independent investigator considers that the person's conduct is a hindrance or an obstruction.