Western Australian Consolidated Acts

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT 1979 - SCHEDULE 5

[s. 97VC(4), 97WM]

        [Heading inserted by No. 20 of 2002 s. 5.]

1 .         Powers to obtain information

                An authorised person may — 

            (a)         by notice in writing require the attendance of any person at a place and time specified in the notice;

            (b)         by notice in writing require any person to produce at a place and time specified in the notice any book, document or record that is in the possession or under the control of that person;

            (c)         inspect any book, document or record produced and retain it for such reasonable period as he or she thinks fit, and make copies of it or any of its contents;

            (d)         require any person to take an oath or make an affirmation and may administer an oath or affirmation to any person;

            (e)         require any person to answer any question put to that person;

            (f)         take statements and receive affidavits;

            (g)         enter any relevant workplace.

        [Clause 1 inserted by No. 20 of 2002 s. 5.]

2 .         Obstruction

                A person must not hinder or obstruct an authorised person in the exercise of any power conferred by this Schedule.

        Penalty: $2 000.

        [Clause 2 inserted by No. 20 of 2002 s. 5.]

3 .         False statements

                A person must not make a statement or give an answer to an authorised person if the first-mentioned person knows that the statement or answer is false or misleading in a material particular.

        Penalty: $2 000.

        [Clause 3 inserted by No. 20 of 2002 s. 5.]

4 .         Failure to comply with notice

        (1)         A person must not, without lawful excuse, refuse or fail — 

            (a)         to attend; or

            (b)         to produce a book, document or record,

                as required by a notice under clause 1.

        Penalty: $2 000.

        (2)         A person must not, without lawful excuse, refuse or fail — 

            (a)         to be sworn or make an affirmation; or

            (b)         to answer a question,

                when required to do so under clause 1.

        Penalty: $2 000.

        [Clause 4 inserted by No. 20 of 2002 s. 5.]

5 .         Legal professional privilege

                Nothing in this Schedule prevents a person from refusing to answer a question or produce a book, document or record because the answer would relate to, or the book, document or record contains, information in respect of which the person claims legal professional privilege.

        [Clause 5 inserted by No. 20 of 2002 s. 5.]

6 .         Incriminating answers or documents

        (1)         It is not a lawful excuse for the purposes of clause 4 for a person to refuse to answer a question or produce a book, document or record on the grounds that the answer or the book, document or record might tend to incriminate the person, or make the person liable to a penalty.

        (2)         Despite subclause (1), an answer given or any statement made for the purposes of clause 4 is not, except in proceedings under clause 2, 3 or 4, admissible in evidence in any civil or criminal proceedings against the person giving the answer or making the statement.

        [Clause 6 inserted by No. 20 of 2002 s. 5.]