Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts

INQUIRIES ACT 1991 - NOTES

Note 2     For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:

              •     director-general (see s 163)

              •     Executive

              •     exercise

              •     function

              •     month

              •     under.

"authorised person" means a person declared in writing by the chairperson to be an authorised person for this Act.

"board" means—

        (a)     a board of inquiry appointed under section 5; and

        (b)     in relation to an inquiry—the board of inquiry appointed to conduct that inquiry.

"chairperson" means—

        (a)     the chairperson of a board appointed under section 6 (1) or (3); or

        (b)     for a board constituted by 1 person—that person.

"member" means—

        (a)     for a board constituted by 1 person—that person; or

        (b)     for a board constituted by 2 or more people—each of those people.

"premises" includes—

        (a)     a building or other structure; and

        (b)     an aircraft, vehicle or vessel; and

        (c)     a place, whether or not enclosed or built on.

Endnotes

1     About the endnotes

Amending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the amendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law but are set out in the endnotes.

Not all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are annotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be obtained from the Parliamentary Counsel's Office.

Uncommenced amending laws and expiries are listed in the legislation history and the amendment history. These details are underlined. Uncommenced provisions and amendments are not included in the republished law but are set out in the last endnote.

If all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered provisions gives details of previous and current numbering.

The endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.

2     Abbreviation key

A = Act	NI = Notifiable instrument
AF = Approved form	o = order
am = amended	om = omitted/repealed
amdt = amendment	ord = ordinance
AR = Assembly resolution	orig = original
ch = chapter	par = paragraph/subparagraph
CN = Commencement notice	pres = present
def = definition	prev = previous
DI = Disallowable instrument	(prev...) = previously
dict = dictionary	pt = part
disallowed = disallowed by the Legislative	r = rule/subrule
Assembly	reloc = relocated
div = division	renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired	R[X] = Republication No
Gaz = gazette	RI = reissue
hdg = heading	s = section/subsection
IA = Interpretation Act 1967	sch = schedule
ins = inserted/added	sdiv = subdivision
LA = Legislation Act 2001	SL = Subordinate law
LR = legislation register	sub = substituted
LRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996	underlining = whole or part not commenced
mod = modified/modification	or to be expired

3     Legislation history

Inquiries Act 1991 No 2

notified 1 March 1991 (Gaz 1991 No S7)

s 1, s 2 commenced 1 March 1991 (s 2 (1))

remainder commenced 1 May 1991 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1991 No 16)

as amended by

Acts Revision (Position of Crown) Act 1993 No 44 sch 2

notified 27 August 1993 (Gaz 1993 No S165)

sch 2 commenced 27 August 1993 (s 2)

Judicial Commissions (Consequential Amendments) Act 1994 No 10 s 6

notified 14 March 1994 (Gaz 1994 No S44)

s 3 commenced 14 March 1994 (s 2)

Public Sector Management (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 1994 No 38 sch 1 pt 47

notified 30 June 1994 (Gaz 1994 No S121)

s 1, s 2 commenced 30 June 1994 (s 2 (1))

sch 1 pt 47 commenced 1 July 1994 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1994 No S142)

Inquiries (Amendment) Act 1996 No 19

notified 27 May 1996 (Gaz 1996 No S93)

commenced 27 May 1996 (s 2)

Remuneration Tribunal (Consequential Amendments) Act 1997 No 41 sch 1 (as am by Act 2002 No 49 amdt 3.222)

notified 19 September 1997 (Gaz 1997 No S264)

commenced 24 September 1997 (s 2 as am by Act 2002 No 49 amdt 3.222)

Legal Practitioners (Consequential Amendments) Act 1997 No 96 sch 1

notified 1 December 1997 (Gaz 1997 No S380)

s 1, s 2 commenced 1 December 1997 (s 2 (1))

sch 1 commenced 1 June 1998 (s 2 (2))

Statute Law Revision (Penalties) Act 1998 No 54 sch

notified 27 November 1998 (Gaz 1998 No S207)

s 1, s 2 commenced 27 November 1998 (s 2 (1))

sch commenced 9 December 1998 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1998 No 49)

Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 No 44 pt 190

notified 26 July 2001 (Gaz 2001 No 30)

s 1, s 2 commenced 26 July 2001 (IA s 10B)

pt 190 commenced 12 September 2001 (s 2 and see Gaz 2001 No S65)

Statute Law Amendment Act 2002 (No 2) No 49 amdt 3.222

notified LR 20 December 2002

s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 7 October 1994 (LA s 75 (2))

amdt 3.222 commenced 24 September 1997 (s 2 (3))

Note     This Act only amends the Remuneration Tribunal (Consequential Amendments) Act 1997 No 41.

Inquiries Amendment Act 2003 A2003-52

notified LR 3 December 2003

s 1, s 2 commenced (LA s 75 (1))

remainder commenced 4 December 2003 (s 2)

Criminal Code (Administration of Justice Offences) Amendment Act 2005 A2005-53 sch 1 pt 1.14

notified LR 26 October 2005

s 1, s 2 commenced 26 October 2005 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.14 commenced 23 November 2005 (s 2)

Statute Law Amendment Act 2006 A2006-42 sch 3 pt 3.12

notified LR 26 October 2006

s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 12 November 2005 (LA s 75 (2))

sch 3 pt 3.12 commenced 16 November 2006 (s 2 (1))

Administrative (One ACT Public Service Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2011 A2011-22 sch 1 pt 1.83

notified LR 30 June 2011

s 1, s 2 commenced 30 June 2011 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.83 commenced 1 July 2011 (s 2 (1))

4     Amendment history

Name of Act
s 1     sub A2006-42 amdt 3.59

Dictionary
s 2     om 2001 No 44 amdt 1.2168
    ins A2006-42 amdt 3.60

Notes
s 3     orig s 3
    om A2006-42 amdt 3.60
    def authorised person om A2006-42 amdt 3.60
    def board om A2006-42 amdt 3.60
    def chairperson om A2006-42 amdt 3.60
    def legal practitioner om 1997 No 96 sch 1
    def member om A2006-42 amdt 3.60
    def premises om A2006-42 amdt 3.60
    pres s 3
    (prev s 4) ins A2005-53 amdt 1.71
    renum as s 3 A2006-42 amdt 3.61

Offences against Act—application of Criminal Code etc
s 4     orig s 4
    om 1993 No 44 sch 2
    prev s 4
    renum as s 3
    pres s 4
    (prev s 4A) ins A2005-53 amdt 1.71
    renum as s 4 A2006-42 amdt 3.61

Offences against Act—application of Criminal Code etc
s 4A     renum as s 4

Appointment of board of inquiry
s 5     sub A2006-42 amdt 3.62

Members
s 6     am A2006-42 amdt 3.63, amdt 3.76

Remuneration and allowances
s 8     om 1997 No 41 sch 1

Cessation of office
s 9     am A2006-42 amdt 3.64

Resignation
s 10     om A2006-42 amdt 3.65

Staff
s 12     am 1994 No 38 sch 1 pt 47; A2011-22 amdt 1.256

General
div 3.1 hdg     (prev pt 3 div 1 hdg) renum R4 LA

Presenting reports
s 14A     ins 1996 No 19 s 4
    sub A2003-52 s 4

Chief Minister to explain non-presentation of report
s 14B     ins A2003-52 s 4
    am A2006-42 amdt 3.66

Lawyer assisting boards
s 15 hdg     am A2006-42 amdt 3.75
s 15     am 1997 No 96 sch 1; A2006-42 amdt 3.75

Protection of members etc
s 16     am A2005-53 amdt 1.72; A2006-42 amdt 3.67, amdt 3.75

Nondisclosure of information by members etc
s 17     am 1997 No 96 sch 1; 1998 No 54 sch; A2006-42 amdt 3.68, amdt 3.69, amdt 3.75

Procedure
s 18     sub A2003-52 s 5

Privileges against selfincrimination and exposure to civil penalty
s 19     sub A2005-53 amdt 1.73

Search warrants
s 20     am 1994 No 10 s 6

Hearings
div 3.2 hdg     (prev pt 3 div 2 hdg) renum R4 LA

Power to hold
s 21     am A2006-42 amdt 3.76

Conduct of hearing
s 23     sub A2006-42 amdt 3.70

Presence of people at private hearings
s 24 hdg     am A2006-42 amdt 3.76
s 24     am 1997 No 96 sch 1; A2006-42 amdt 3.75

Examination of witnesses
s 25     am 1997 No 96 sch 1; A2006-42 amdt 3.75

Powers in relation to witnesses etc
s 26     am 1994 No 10 s 6
    sub A2005-53 amdt 1.74
    (4), (5) exp 23 November 2006 (s 26 (5))

Proposed adverse comments in reports
s 26A     ins A2003-52 s 6

Offences
pt 4 hdg     orig pt 4 hdg om A2005-53 amdt 1.75

Failure of witnesses to attend or produce documents
s 27     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.75

Refusal to be sworn or give evidence
s 28     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.75

False evidence
s 29     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.75

Improper dealings with documents
s 30     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.75

Intimidation or dismissal of witnesses
s 31     am 1994 No 10 s 6; 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.75

Preventing witnesses from attending
s 32     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.75

Bribery of witnesses
s 33     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.75

Fraud on witnesses
s 34     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.75

Miscellaneous
pt 4 hdg     orig pt 4 hdg om A2005-53 amdt 1.75
    (prev pt 5 hdg) renum A2005-53 amdt 1.77

Application of Criminal Code, ch 7
s 35     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.75
    ins A2005-53 amdt 1.76

Contempt of board
s 36     am 1998 No 54 sch
    om A2005-53 amdt 1.75
    ins A2005-53 amdt 1.76

Delegation by board
s 37     sub A2006-42 amdt 3.71

Publication of published proceedings, reports and comments protected
s 38     sub A2003-52 s 7
    am A2006-42 amdt 3.72, amdt 3.73

Regulation–making power
s 40     sub 2001 No 44 amdt 1.2169

Miscellaneous
pt 5 hdg     renum as pt 4 hdg

Dictionary
dict     ins A2006-42 amdt 3.74
    am A2011-22 amdt 1.257
    def authorised person ins A2006-42 amdt 3.74
    def board ins A2006-42 amdt 3.74
    def chairperson ins A2006-42 amdt 3.74
    def member ins A2006-42 amdt 3.74
    def premises ins A2006-42 amdt 3.74

5     Earlier republications

Some earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to the publication order.

Since 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in electronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised republications have also been published in printed format. These republications are marked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an authorised republication are identical.

Republication No and date	Effective	Last amendment made by	Republication for
R0A 2 Feb 2006	27 Aug 1993– 13 Mar 1994	A1993-44	amendments by A1993-44
R0B 2 Feb 2006	14 Mar 1994– 30 June 1994	A1994-10	amendments by A1994-10
R1 28 Feb 1995	1 July 1994– 26 May 1996	A1994-38	amendments by A1994-38
R1 (RI) 2 Feb 2006	1 July 1994– 26 May 1996	A1994-38	reissue of printed version
R1A 2 Feb 2006	27 May 1996– 23 Sept 1997	A1996-19	amendments by A1996-19
R1B 2 Feb 2006	24 Sept 1997– 31 May 1998	A1997-41	amendments by A1997-41 and includes retrospective amendments by A2002-49
R2 1 June 1998	1 June 1998– 8 Dec 1998	A1997-96	amendments by A1997-96
R2 (RI) 2 Feb 2006	1 June 1998– 8 Dec 1998	A1997-96	reissue of printed version
R3 28 Feb 1999	9 Dec 1998– 11 Sept 2001	A1998-54	amendments by A1998-54
R3 (RI) 2 Feb 2006	9 Dec 1998– 11 Sept 2001	A1998-54	reissue of printed version and includes retrospective amendments by A2002-49
R4 28 Feb 2002	28 Feb 2002– 3 Dec 2003	A2001-44	amendments by A2001-44
R4 (RI) 10 Feb 2003	28 Feb 2002– 3 Dec 2003	A2002-49	reissue for retrospective amendments by A2002-49
R5 4 Dec 2003	4 Dec 2003– 22 Nov 2005	A2003-52	amendments by A2003-52
R6 23 Nov 2005	23 Nov 2005– 15 Nov 2006	A2005-53	amendments by A2005-53
R7 16 Nov 2006	16 Nov 2006– 23 Nov 2006	A2006-42	amendments by A2006-42
R8 24 Nov 2006	24 Nov 2006– 30 June 2011	A2006-42	commenced expiry

© Australian Capital Territory 2011

Australian Capital Territory

A1991-2

Republication No 9

Effective: 1 July 2011

Republication date: 1 July 2011

Last amendment made by A2011-22





Unauthorised version prepared by ACT Parliamentary Counsel's Office

About this republication

The republished law

This is a republication of the Inquiries Act 1991

(including any amendment made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 1 July 2011

. It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting this republished law to 1 July 2011

.

The legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3 and 4.

Kinds of republications

The Parliamentary Counsel's Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):

              • authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies

              • unauthorised republications.

The status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial amendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication. Editorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.

This republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).

Uncommenced provisions and amendments

If a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol  U  appears immediately before the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law are accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more information, see the home page for this law on the register.

Modifications

If a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the symbol  M  appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying provision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation Act 2001, section 95.

Penalties

At the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $110 for an individual and $550 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).

Australian Capital Territory

Inquiries Act 1991

Endnotes

Australian Capital Territory

Inquiries Act 1991