VICTORIAN INSPECTORATE ACT 2011

Table of Provisions

PART 1--PRELIMINARY[1]

• 1 Purpose  
• 2 Commencement  
• 3 Definitions  
• 4 Public interest complaint taken to be complaint  
• 5 Objects of Act  
• 6 Act binds the Crown  
• 7 Investigation of conduct occurring before the commencement of this section  

PART 2--THE VICTORIAN INSPECTORATE

Division 1--Constitution and staff

• 8 Establishment of the Victorian Inspectorate  
• 9 The Victorian Inspectorate is a body corporate  
• 10 Constitution of the Victorian Inspectorate  
• 11 Functions of the Victorian Inspectorate  
• 12 Powers of the Victorian Inspectorate  
• 12A Specific powers in relation to the IBAC  
• 13 Specific powers in relation to the Public Interest Monitors  
• 14 Public Interest Monitor to give information and access despite other laws  
• 15 Delegation  
• 16 Victorian Inspectorate not subject to direction or control  
• 17 Independence of the Inspector  
• 18 Appointment of the Inspector  
• 19 Veto of proposed Inspector  
• 20 Duties, functions and powers of the Inspector  
• 21 Terms and conditions  
• 21A Pension entitlements of Inspector, partner and eligible children  
• 21B Salary sacrifice  
• 21C Appropriation of Consolidated Fund  
• 22 Vacancy and resignation  
• 23 Suspension and removal from office  
• 24 Declaration of inability to act  
• 25 Acting appointment  
• 26 Oath or affirmation of office  
• 27 Delegation  
• 28 Staff  
• 29 Consultants  
• 30 Oath or affirmation by staff and consultants  
• 31 Obligation on persons employed or engaged under section 28 or engaged under section 29  
• 32 Obligation to avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest  

Division 2--Disclosure by Victorian Inspectorate and Victorian Inspectorate Officers

• 33 Unauthorised disclosures or provision of information  
• 34 Special provision applying in respect of function under section 11(2)(g)  
• 35 Special provisions applying in respect of functions under section 11(2)(i) and (j) and Major Crime (Investigative Powers) Act 2004  
• 36 Victorian Inspectorate may provide or disclose information for specified purposes  
• 36A Disclosure of information by the Victorian Inspectorate  
• 37 Restrictions on compelling production or disclosure  

Division 3--Confidentiality notices

• 38 Confidentiality notice  
• 39 Disclosure subject to confidentiality notice  

PART 3--MATTERS TO BE REPORTED TO THE VICTORIAN INSPECTORATE BY THE IBAC

• 40 Coercive questioning  
• 40A Review of notices etc. provided by the IBAC  

PART 4--MATTERS TO BE REPORTED TO THEVICTORIAN INSPECTORATE BY THE AUDITOR‑GENERAL

• 41 Coercive questioning  
• 41A Review of notices etc. provided by the Auditor-General  

PART 5--MATTERS TO BE REPORTED TO THEVICTORIAN INSPECTORATE BY THE OMBUDSMAN

• 42 Coercive questioning  
• 42AA Review of notices etc. provided by the Ombudsman  

PART 5A--MATTERS TO BE REPORTED TO THE VICTORIAN INSPECTORATE BY THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

• 42A Coercive questioning  

PART 5B--MATTERS TO BE REPORTED TO THE VICTORIAN INSPECTORATE BY OTHER PERSONS AND BODIES

• 42B Review of notices etc. provided by the Chief Examiner  
• 42C Review of notices etc. provided by the Information Commissioner  
• 42D Coercive questioning by the Wage Inspectorate Victoria  
• 42E Review of notices etc. provided by the Wage Inspectorate Victoria  

PART 6--INVESTIGATIONS AND INQUIRIES

Division 1--Investigations

• 43 Complaints  
• 43A Form of complaint  
• 44 Investigation of complaint  
• 45 Advice to person who made public interest complaint  
• 46 Own motion investigation  
• 47 Conduct of investigation  
• 48 Requirement to provide assistance  
• 48A Withdrawal of complaint  

Division 1A--Preliminary inquiries

• 48B The Victorian Inspectorate may conduct preliminary inquiry  
• 48C The Victorian Inspectorate may conduct a preliminary inquiry in relation to an own motion investigation  
• 48D Divisions 2 and 3 do not apply  
--Divisions 2 and 3 of this Part do not apply to, or in respect of, a preliminary inquiry.
• 48E Persons to provide assistance  

Division 2--Inquiries

• 49 Power to hold inquiry  
• 50 Conduct of inquiry  
• 51 Examination must be held in private  
• 52 The Victorian Inspectorate may give directions or order  
• 53 Witness summons  
• 54 Content and form of witness summons  
• 55 Witness summons directed to person under 16 years  
• 56 Service of witness summons  
• 57 Supreme Court may order service by other means  
• 57A Witness already held in custody  
• 58 Legal representation of witnesses and other persons  
• 59 Specific provisions relating to witnesses  
• 60 Actions to be taken before questioning of a witness or requiring production of a document or other thing  
• 61 Witness attending examination in relation to investigation of public interest complaint to be informed of confidentiality obligations  
• 62 Power to examine on oath or affirmation  
• 63 Powers of entry, inspection and seizure  
• 64 Offence for summoned witness to fail to attend examination  
• 65 Offence for summoned witness to refuse or fail to answer question  
• 66 Offence for summoned witness to fail to produce document or other thing  
• 67 Offence to fail to take oath or make affirmation  
• 67A Act applies equally to attendance in person or by audio visual link or audio link  

Division 3--Privileges and secrecy provisions applying to inquiries

• 68 Privileges and secrecy generally  
• 69 Journalist privilege does not apply  
• 70 Privilege against self-incrimination abrogated—witness summons  
• 71 Protection of legal practitioners and witnesses  

Division 4--Contempt

• 72 Contempt of the Victorian Inspectorate  
• 73 Charging and arresting a person for contempt  
• 74 Bail pending court appearance for contempt  
• 75 Custody pending court appearance for contempt  
• 76 Supreme Court to deal with contempt  
• 77 Act or omission constituting both an offence and contempt  

PART 7--RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS

Division 1--Recommendations and action on completion of investigation

• 78 Recommendation to IBAC  
• 79 Recommendation for further action in respect of IBAC personnel  
• 80 Recommendation to the Auditor-General  
• 81 Recommendation for further action in respect of VAGO officers  
• 82 Recommendation to the Ombudsman  
• 83 Recommendation for further action in respect of Ombudsman officers  
• 84 Recommendation to the Chief Examiner  
• 85 Recommendation for further action  
• 85A Recommendation to the Information Commissioner  
• 85B Recommendation for further action in respect of officers of the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner  
• 85C Recommendation to the Judicial Commission  
• 85D Recommendations in relation to a Public Interest Monitor  
• 85E Recommendation for further action in respect of a Public Interest Monitor  
• 85F Recommendations in relation to the Wage Inspectorate Victoria  
• 85G Recommendation for further action in respect of Wage Inspectorate Victoria officers  
• 86 Recommendations must not include information likely to identify person who makes an assessable disclosure  
• 86A Recommendations relating to Public Interest Monitor must not include certain information  
• 87 Special reports  
• 88 Advice to a complainant  
• 89 Outcome of investigation  
• 90 Powers of Victorian Inspectorate after investigation  

Division 2--Budget, annual plan and performance audit

• 90A Budget  
• 90B Annual plan  
• 90C Transmission of annual plan to Parliament  
• 90D Independent performance audit  
• 90E Report of independent performance auditor  
• 91 Matters to be included in annual report  

Division 3--Miscellaneous

• 92 Persons who receive reports or information prior to publication  

PART 8--GENERAL

Division 1--Miscellaneous

• 92A Complaints etc. by detained person  
• 93 Immunity  
• 94 Offence to impersonate a Victorian Inspectorate Officer  
• 95 Offence to hinder or obstruct a Victorian Inspectorate Officer  
• 96 Compliance with direction or requirement  
• 97 Statement which is false or misleading  
• 97A Criminal liability of officers of bodies corporate—accessorial liability  
• 97B Maximum fine for body corporate  
• 98 Responsible agency for the Crown  
• 99 Proceedings against successors to public bodies  
• 100 Power to bring proceedings  
• 101 Validity and effect of notices, orders and other documents and deemed service  
• 102 Exemption from Freedom of Information Act 1982  
• 103 Regulations  
• 104 Regulations—specific matters  
• 106 Schedule  
• SCHEDULE
ENDNOTES