Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

FAIR WORK ACT 2009 - SECT 482

Rights that may be exercised while on premises

  (1)   While on the premises, the permit holder may do the following:

  (a)   inspect any work, process or object relevant to the suspected contravention;

  (b)   interview any person about the suspected contravention:

  (i)   who agrees to be interviewed; and

  (ii)   whose industrial interests the permit holder's organisation is entitled to represent;

  (c)   require the occupier or an affected employer to allow the permit holder to inspect, and make copies of, any record or document (other than a non - member record or document) that is directly relevant to the suspected contravention and that:

  (i)   is kept on the premises; or

  (ii)   is accessible from a computer that is kept on the premises.

Note 1:   The use or disclosure of information or documents obtained under this section is strictly controlled (see section   504).

Note 2:   The use or disclosure of personal information obtained under this section is regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

  (1A)   However, an occupier or affected employer is not required under paragraph   (1)(c) to allow the permit holder to inspect, or make copies of, a record or document if to do so would contravene a law of the Commonwealth or a law of a State or Territory.

Meaning of affected employer

  (2)   A person is an affected employer , in relation to an entry onto premises under this Subdivision, if:

  (a)   the person employs a member of the permit holder's organisation whose industrial interests the organisation is entitled to represent; and

  (b)   the member performs work on the premises; and

  (c)   the suspected contravention relates to, or affects, the member.

Meaning of non - member record or document

  (2A)   A non - member record or document is a record or document that:

  (a)   relates to the employment of a person who is not a member of the permit holder's organisation; and

  (b)   does not also substantially relate to the employment of a person who is a member of the permit holder's organisation;

but does not include a record or document that relates only to a person or persons who are not members of the permit holder's organisation if the person or persons have consented in writing to the record or document being inspected or copied by the permit holder.

Occupier and affected employer must not contravene requirement

  (3)   An occupier or affected employer must not contravene a requirement under paragraph   (1)(c).

Note:   This subsection is a civil remedy provision (see Part   4 - 1).