Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Charities Act 1978 - SECT 10

Powers of inspector

10. Powers of inspector



(1) The inspector, for the purposes of conducting an inquiry under section 9,
shall have and may exercise in respect of the summoning and examining of
persons and the production of documents the same powers as are by the
Evidence Act 1958 conferred on a board appointed by the Governor in Council
and the provisions of sections 14 to 16 of the Evidence Act 1958 with such
adaptations as are necessary shall apply accordingly.

(2) Where any documents are produced under subsection (1) the inspector may
take possession of those documents for the period he considers necessary for
the purposes of the inquiry.

(3) A person examined under subsection (1) shall not be excused from answering
a question put to him by the inspector on the ground that the answer might
tend to incriminate him but, where that person claims before answering that
question, that the answer might tend to incriminate him, neither the question
nor the answer is admissible in evidence against him in criminal proceedings
other than proceedings under this section or in relation to a charge of
perjury in respect of the answer.





(4) An inspector may permit a document which is in his possession to be
inspected at all reasonable times by any person who would be entitled to
inspect that document if it were not in his possession.