Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts(1) The investigation powers include the power to:
(a) operate electronic equipment on the premises; and
(b) use a disk, tape or other storage device that:
(i) is on the premises; and
(ii) can be used with the equipment or is associated with it;
if an inspector has reasonable grounds for suspecting that the electronic equipment, disk, tape or other storage device is or contains evidential material.
(2) The investigation powers include the following powers in relation to evidential material found in the exercise of the power under subsection (1):
(a) if entry to the premises is under an investigation warrant--the power to seize the equipment and the disk, tape or other storage device referred to in that subsection;
(b) the power to operate electronic equipment on the premises to put the evidential material in documentary form and remove the documents so produced from the premises;
(c) the power to operate electronic equipment on the premises to transfer the evidential material to a disk, tape or other storage device that:
(i) is brought to the premises for the exercise of the power; or
(ii) is on the premises and the use of which for that purpose has been agreed in writing by the occupier of the premises;
and remove the disk, tape or other storage device from the premises.
(3) An inspector may operate electronic equipment as mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) only if the inspector believes on reasonable grounds that the operation of the equipment can be carried out without damage to the equipment.
Note: For compensation for damage to electronic equipment, see section 69EDE.
(4) An inspector may seize equipment or a disk, tape or other storage device as mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) only if:
(a) it is not practicable to put the evidential material in documentary form as mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) or to transfer the evidential material as mentioned in paragraph (2)(c); or
(b) possession of the equipment or the disk, tape or other storage device by the occupier could constitute an offence against a law of the Commonwealth.