South Australian Consolidated Acts

ESSENTIAL SERVICES ACT 1981 - SECT 6

6—Power to require information

        (1)         The Minister may, by notice in writing, require any person who is, in the Minister's opinion, in a position to do so to furnish information specified in the notice, relating to the provision or use of an essential service.

        (2)         A notice under subsection (1) may be given to a person—

            (a)         by personally serving the notice, or a copy of the notice, on the person; or

            (b)         by posting the notice, or a copy of the notice, to the person; or

            (c)         by transmitting by facsimile transmission the notice, or a copy of the notice, to a facsimile number or the facsimile numbers provided by the person (in which case the notice will be taken to have been given to the person at the time of transmission).

        (3)         Any information sought under subsection (1) must be relevant or incidental to—

            (a)         the administration of this Act; or

            (b)         the administration of the Emergency Management Act 2004 ; or

            (c)         the administration of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 ; or

            (ca)         the administration of Part 4A of the Public and Environmental Health Act 1987 ; or

            (d)         a detailed assessment, which may be carried out by the Minister at any time, of the risks of disruption to the provision or use of the essential service to which the notice given under subsection (1) relates.

        (4)         A person required to furnish information under subsection (1) must, within the time allowed in the notice, furnish the information sought in the notice to the best of the person's knowledge, information and belief.

Maximum penalty:

If the offence is committed by a body corporate—$10 000.

If the offence is committed by a natural person—$1 250.

        (5)         A person is not obliged to furnish information under this section if that information would tend to incriminate the person of an offence.

        (6)         The Minister or any other person who acquires confidential information as a result of a requirement under subsection (1) must not disclose the information except—

            (a)         to a body or person who is authorised to engage in—

                  (i)         the administration of this Act; or

                  (ii)         the administration of the Emergency Management Act 2004 ; or

                  (iii)         the administration of the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 ; or

            (iiia)         the administration of Part 4A of the Public and Environmental Health Act 1987 ; or

                  (iv)         a detailed assessment of the risks of disruption to the provision or use of the essential service to which the notice given under subsection (1) relates,

where the disclosure of the information is necessary for the body or person to engage in the administration or assessment; or

            (b)         as otherwise required in the proper performance of official functions or duties; or

            (c)         as authorised by the person to whom the duty of confidentiality is owed; or

            (d)         as required by a court or other lawfully constituted authority; or

            (e)         where the Minister is of the opinion that the disclosure of the information is in the public interest.