Commonwealth Numbered Acts

PRICES SURVEILLANCE ACT 1983 No. 145, 1983 - SECT 31

31. (1) Subject to a direction given to the Authority by the Minister, the
Authority shall hold an inquiry in public.

(2) Where, at an inquiry held in public, a witness objects to giving in public
evidence that the Authority is satisfied is of a confidential nature, the
Authority may take that evidence in private if it considers that it is
desirable to do so.

(3) In an inquiry, the Authority may, if it thinks fit, permit a person
appearing as a witness at the inquiry to give evidence by tendering, and
verifying by oath or affirmation, a written statement and, where evidence is
so given in an inquiry held in public, the Authority shall make available to
the public in such manner as the Authority thinks fit the contents of the
statement other than any matter-

   (a)  that the person who gave the evidence objects to being made public;
        and

   (b)  the evidence of which the Authority is satisfied would have been taken
        in private if that evidence had been given orally and the witness had
        objected to giving it in public.

(4) In an inquiry, the Authority may, if it thinks fit, require or permit a
person desiring to make a submission to the Authority to make the submission
in writing and, where a submission is so made in an inquiry held in public,
the Authority shall make available to the public in such manner as the
Authority thinks fit the contents of the submission.

(5) Subject to sub-section (6), in an inquiry-

   (a)  the procedure to be followed is within the discretion of the member
        presiding at the inquiry; and

   (b)  the Authority is not bound by the rules of evidence.

(6) Sub-section (5) operates subject to this Act and-

   (a)  in any case-subject to any direction given to the Authority by the
        Minister; and

   (b)  in the case of an inquiry at which a member other than the Chairman is
        presiding-subject to any direction given to that member by the
        Chairman.