15AInspection of documents

15A Inspection of documents

(1) Where it appears to a proper authority that an offence has been, or is likely to be, committed by any person, firm, or company against these Regulations, or that it is desirable for the purpose of these Regulations to inspect the books, documents and goods of any person, firm, or company, the proper authority or an authorized person may:

(a) require any person, firm, or company in the control or possession of whom or which any books, documents or goods belonging to the person, firm, or company are, or are suspected by the proper authority to be, to produce the books, documents or goods for his inspection;

(b) require any person, firm, or company whom or which the proper authority believes to be able to give information or produce books or documents respecting the business or trade of the person, firm, or company to give that information or produce those books or documents;

(c) if accompanied by an officer of the Commonwealth Public Service search any house, premises, or place, used or believed by the proper authority to be used in connexion with the business or trade of the person, firm, or company or in which the proper authority believes there are any books, documents or goods belonging to or respecting the business or trade of, the person, firm or company; and

(d) if thought fit, impound any books, documents or goods belonging to, or respecting the business or trade of, the person, firm, or company.

(2) Any person who obstructs or interferes with any authorized person in the exercise of any power conferred upon him in pursuance of this regulation, and any person, firm, or company who or which refuses or fails to produce any books, documents or goods or to give any information when required to do so in pursuance of this regulation shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Five hundred pounds or imprisonment for one year, or both.

(3) Where a person, firm, or company has given any information to an authorized person, the information so given may be used in evidence against him or it in any proceedings relating to offences against these Regulations, notwithstanding that he or it only gave the information on being required to do so by the authorized person in pursuance of his powers under this regulation.

(4) For the purposes of this regulation:

authorized person means a person authorized in writing by a proper authority, and includes a proper authority.

proper authority means the Controller, the Public Trustee, the Custodian of Expropriated Property appointed under regulation 32 of these Regulations or any delegate to whom the Controller, the Public Trustee or the Custodian of Expropriated Property has delegated his powers and functions under these Regulations.