Commonwealth Numbered Acts

PRICES SURVEILLANCE ACT 1983 No. 145, 1983 - SECT 18

18. (1) The Minister may, by instrument in writing delivered to the Chairman-

   (a)  require the Authority to hold an inquiry into a specified matter or
        specified matters; or

   (b)  approve the holding by the Authority of an inquiry into a specified
        matter or specified matters.

(2) An instrument under sub-section (1)-

   (a)  shall specify-

        (i)    the description of the goods or services in relation to which
               the inquiry is to be held; and

        (ii)   whether the inquiry is to be held in relation to the supply of
               goods or services of that description by a particular person or
               persons; and

   (b)  may, if the inquiry is to be held in relation to the supply of goods
        or services of that description by a particular person or persons,
        specify the particular person or persons.

(3) Where an instrument under sub-section (1) states that an inquiry is to be
held in relation to the supply of goods or services of a particular
description by a particular person or persons, but does not specify the
particular person or persons, the Authority shall determine the person or
persons in relation to whom the inquiry will be held, and the Chairman shall
give notice in writing of the determination to the Minister.

(4) The Minister may, in an instrument under sub-section (1), give such
directions as he thinks fit as to the holding of the inquiry to which the
instrument relates or the matters to be taken into consideration in that
inquiry.

(5) An instrument under sub-section (1) shall specify the period within which
the inquiry to which the instrument relates is to be completed and a report on
the inquiry submitted, and, subject to sub-section (6), the Authority shall
complete the inquiry and submit such a report within that period.

(6) The Minister may, before the expiration of the period within which the
Authority is required by sub-section (5) or by this sub-section, as the case
may be, to complete an inquiry and to submit its report on the inquiry,
extend, or further extend, as the case requires, that period by instrument in
writing delivered to the Chairman, and, if the Minister does so, the Authority
shall complete the inquiry and submit the report within that period as so
extended, or further extended, as the case may be.