TOBACCO PLAIN PACKAGING ACT 2011 (NO. 148, 2011) - SECT 103 Withdrawal of an infringement notice

TOBACCO PLAIN PACKAGING ACT 2011 (NO. 148, 2011) - SECT 103

Representations seeking withdrawal of notice

             (1)  A person to whom an infringement notice has been given may make written representations to the Secretary seeking the withdrawal of the notice.

Withdrawal of notice

             (2)  The Secretary may withdraw an infringement notice given to a person (whether or not the person has made written representations seeking the withdrawal).

             (3)  When deciding whether or not to withdraw an infringement notice (the relevant infringement notice ), the Secretary:

                     (a)  must take into account any written representations seeking the withdrawal that were given by the person to the Secretary; and

                     (b)  may take into account the following:

                              (i)  whether a court has previously imposed a penalty on the person for a contravention of an offence or civil penalty provision in this Act;

                             (ii)  the circumstances of the alleged contravention;

                            (iii)  whether the person has paid an amount, stated in an earlier infringement notice, for an offence that is constituted by conduct that is the same, or substantially the same, as the conduct alleged to constitute the offence in the relevant infringement notice;

                            (iv)  any other matter the Secretary considers relevant.

Notice of withdrawal

             (4)  Notice of the withdrawal of the infringement notice must be given to the person. The withdrawal notice must state:

                     (a)  the person's name and address; and

                     (b)  the day the infringement notice was given; and

                     (c)  the identifying number of the infringement notice; and

                     (d)  that the infringement notice is withdrawn; and

                     (e)  that the person may be prosecuted in a court for the alleged contravention, or proceedings for a civil penalty order may be brought in relation to the alleged contravention.

Refund of amount if infringement notice withdrawn

             (5)  If:

                     (a)  the Secretary withdraws the infringement notice; and

                     (b)  the person has already paid the amount stated in the notice;

the Commonwealth must refund to the person an amount equal to the amount paid.