Western Australian Current Acts

OFFSHORE MINERALS ACT 2003 - SECT 378

378 .         Powers exercisable in course of inspection

        (1)         If an inspector may carry out a compliance inspection, the inspector may do anything that is reasonable and necessary to carry out the inspection.

        (2)         Without limiting subsection (1), the inspector may —

            (a)         examine things that are being used for exploration or mining purposes and things that appear to the inspector to be intended to be used for those purposes; and

            (b)         test equipment (for example, by operating it); and

            (c)         examine, and copy, documents; and

            (d)         remove documents; and

            (e)         take photographs and videotapes; and

            (f)         examine, and take samples from the seabed or subsoil; and

            (g)         enter or go onto any land, building or structure; and

            (h)         enter or board any vehicle, vessel or aircraft.

        (3)         If the compliance inspection is being carried out under a warrant under section 382, subsection (2) has effect subject to the restrictions that are specified in the warrant.

        (4)         Subject to subsections (5) and (6), if an inspector removes a document under subsection (2)(d), the inspector may retain the document for as long as is necessary to determine whether the licence holder, the consent holder or the associate has complied with or is complying with —

            (a)         this Act and the regulations; or

            (b)         the Registration Fees Act or regulations made under that Act; or

            (c)         the licence or consent conditions; or

            (d)         a direction under section 387 or 392.

        (5)         Subject to subsection (6), the inspector must not retain the document for more than 60 days.

        (6)         If —

            (a)         proceedings for an offence against a provision of this Act or the regulations are commenced within that period of 60 days; and

            (b)         the document may afford evidence of the commission of the offence,

                the inspector may retain the document until the proceedings are completed.

        (7)         For the purposes of subsection (6) the proceedings for an offence are taken to include any appeal to a court in relation to those proceedings.

        (8)         While an inspector is retaining the document under subsection (4), the inspector must allow a person to inspect the document if the person would have a right to inspect the document if it were not in the inspector’s possession.