Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Metropolitan Fire Brigades Act 1958 - SECT 42

Inspection of documents

42. Inspection of documents



(1) The manager, secretary, agent or any other person having the custody of
the documents of any municipal council or of any body corporate or
unincorporate must allow any officer appointed by the Board to exercise the
powers specified in subsection (2) for the purpose of-

   (a)  verifying any return or declaration made under this Act; or





   (aa) reconciling amounts paid by a body to the Board as contributions with
        amounts specified in invoices issued by that body for insurance of
        property against fire as being payable for a fire service contribution
        (however described); or

   (b)  determining whether the body corporate or unincorporate is carrying on
        the business of insurance against fire; or

   (c)  ascertaining the details of any contract of insurance held by that
        body corporate or unincorporate and determining whether the body is
        liable to pay a contribution to the Board under this Act; or

   (d)  in the case of a municipal council, verifying any information provided
        by or contained in the documents or papers provided by the municipal
        council or its officers under section 38(c).





(2) An officer appointed by the Board has power for the purposes of subsection
(1)-

   (a)  to inspect any documents of the municipal council or body corporate or
        unincorporate during normal business hours; and

   (b)  to make copies and take extracts from the documents; and

   (c)  to require the manager, secretary, agent or other person to answer any
        questions or provide any information in relation to the inspection.

(3) A manager, secretary, agent or other person who does not comply with any
requirement under this section is guilty of an offence and liable to a penalty
of not more than 60 penalty units.

(4) A person must not, without reasonable excuse, hinder or obstruct an
officer appointed by the Board who is exercising a power under subsection (2).

Penalty: 120 penalty units.