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Work Health and Safety Act 2011
155Powers of regulator to obtain information
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155 Powers of regulator to obtain information
(1) This section applies if the regulator has reasonable grounds to believe
that a person is capable of giving information, providing documents
or giving evidence—
(a) in relation to a possible contravention of this Act; or
(b) that will assist the regulator to monitor or enforce compliance
with this Act.
The regulator Part 8
Powers of regulator to obtain information Division 8.2
(2) The regulator may, by written notice served on the person, require the
person to do 1 or more of the following:
(a) to give the regulator, in writing signed by the person (or in the
case of a body corporate, by a competent officer of the body
corporate) and within the time and in the manner specified in the
notice, that information of which the person has knowledge;
(b) to produce to the regulator, in accordance with the notice, those
documents;
(c) to appear before a person appointed by the regulator on a day,
and at a time and place, specified in the notice (being a day, time
and place that are reasonable in the circumstances) and give
either orally or in writing that evidence and produce those
documents.
Note For how documents may be served, see the Legislation Act, pt 19.5.
(2A) The notice may be served in any way that a notice may be issued or
given under section 209 (Issue and giving of notice).
(3) The notice must—
(a) state that the requirement is made under this section; and
(b) contain a statement to the effect that it is an offence to refuse or
fail to comply with the requirement without reasonable excuse;
and
(c) if the notice requires the person to provide information or
documents or answer questions—
(i) contain a statement about the effect of—
(A) section 172 (Abrogation of privilege against
self-incrimination); and
(B) section 269 (Act does not affect legal professional
privilege); and
(ii) state that the person may attend with a legal practitioner.
(4) The regulator must not make a requirement under subsection (2) (c)
unless the regulator has taken all reasonable steps to obtain the
information under subsection (2) (a) and (b) and has been unable to
do so.
(5) A person must not, without reasonable excuse, refuse or fail to
comply with a requirement under this section.
(6) Subsection (5) places an evidential burden on the accused to show a
(7) Section 172 (with any necessary changes) applies to a requirement
under this section.
(8) A notice may be served on a person under this section even though—
(a) the person is outside the ACT; or
(b) the notice relates to information, documents or evidence—
(i) outside the ACT; or
(ii) relating to a matter happening outside the ACT.
Appointment of inspectors Division 9.1