34—Powers of Auditor-General to obtain information
(1) The
Auditor-General or an authorised officer may, in order to conduct an audit or
review, or make an examination, under this Act—
(a) by
summons, require the appearance of any persons or the production of any
relevant accounts, records or other documents;
(b)
inspect any such accounts, records or other documents and retain them for such
reasonable period as he or she thinks fit, and make copies of them or of any
of their contents;
(c)
require a person who has access to information that is, in the opinion of the
Auditor-General or the authorised officer, relevant to the audit, review or
examination, to provide that information to the Auditor-General or the
authorised officer in writing;
(d)
require a person appearing before him or her to make an oath or affirmation
(which the Auditor-General or authorised officer may administer) to answer
truthfully all questions relating to an audit, review or examination under
this Act and to any accounts, records or other documents that are the subject
of, or are related to, an audit, review or examination under this Act;
(e)
inspect—
(i)
any building or other premises; and
(ii)
any cash or goods situated in or on any building or other
premises; and
(iii)
the operation of any public authority (or any agent,
trustee, partner or other person who carries out the functions of a
public authority) conducted in or on any building or other premises;
(f)
enter any building or other premises for the purpose of exercising the powers
set out in this subsection.
(a) who
has been served with a summons to appear before the Auditor-General or an
authorised officer fails, without reasonable excuse, to appear in obedience to
the summons;
(b) who
has been served with a summons to produce relevant accounts, records or other
documents fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the summons;
(c) who
has been required to provide information to the Auditor-General or an
authorised officer—
(i)
fails, without reasonable excuse, to do so in the form
directed by the Auditor-General or authorised officer; or
(ii)
provides information knowing it to be false or inaccurate
in a material particular;
(d)
refuses to be sworn or to affirm, or refuses or fails to answer truthfully any
relevant question, when required to do so by the Auditor-General or an
authorised officer;
(e)
hinders or obstructs the Auditor-General or an authorised officer in the
exercise of any powers under this section,
the following provisions apply:
(f) the
person is guilty of an offence and is liable to a penalty of $5 000 or
imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months; and
(g) the
Supreme Court may, on the application of the Auditor-General or an
authorised officer, order the person to take such action, or to refrain from
taking such action, as is necessary in the Court's opinion for compliance by
the person with this section.
(3) A person may be
required—
(a) to
answer a question put by the Auditor-General or an authorised officer despite
the fact that the answer to that question might result in, or tend towards,
self-incrimination; or
(b) to
produce any accounts, records or other documents despite the fact that the
production might result in, or tend towards, self-incrimination; or
(c) to
provide information despite the fact that the information might result in, or
tend towards, self-incrimination,
but if that person objects to answering a question the answer is not
admissible against that person in any criminal proceedings (except in
proceedings for perjury or proceedings under this section).
(4) The Supreme Court
need only be satisfied of the facts on which it bases an order under
subsection (2)(g) on the balance of probabilities.
(5) If, in the opinion
of the Auditor-General, a person has contravened, or failed to comply with, a
requirement of this section, the Auditor-General must, if in his or her
opinion the matter is sufficiently serious, prepare a report setting out
details of the contravention or failure and deliver copies of the report to
the Treasurer and to the President of the Legislative Council and the Speaker
of the House of Assembly.