Version No. 008
Inquiries Act 2014
No. 67 of 2014
Version incorporating amendments as at
26 February 2025
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
Part 1—Preliminary
1Purpose and overview
2Commencement
3Definitions
4Act binds the Crown
Part 2—Royal Commissions
Division 1—Establishment of Royal Commissions
5Establishment of Royal Commission by letters patent
6Publication of letters patent
7Concurrent Royal Commissions
8Relationship with the Royal prerogative
Division 2—Arrangements to facilitate Royal Commissions
9Staffing and services
10Certain public sector values do not apply to Royal Commission staff
11Expenses and financial obligations of Royal Commission
Division 3—Conduct of inquiries by Royal Commissions
12Manner of inquiry of Royal Commission
13Commissioners may act separately
14Evidence
15Participation in Royal Commission inquiries
16Practice directions, statements and notes
Division 4—Powers of Royal Commissions for production of documents and other things and obtaining evidence
17Power to compel production of documents and other things or attendance of witness
18Variation or revocation of notice to produce or notice to attend
19Service of notice to produce or notice to attend
20Witness already in custody
21Power to take evidence on oath or affirmation
22Powers in relation to documents and other things
23Failure to comply with notice or requirement
Division 5—Control of proceedings and publication of information and evidence
24Access to Royal Commission proceedings
25Power to expel persons who disrupt proceedings
26Restriction on publication of information relating to Royal Commission inquiries
Division 6—Entry, search and seizure powers of Royal Commissions
27Authorised officers
28Search warrant
29Procedure for executing search warrant
30Copies or receipts to be given for documents or other things
31Return of documents and other things
Division 7—Application of privileges and statutory secrecy to Royal Commissions
32Legal professional privilege does not apply
33Privilege against self-incrimination does not apply
34Statutory secrecy and confidentiality provisions
Division 8—Reports of Royal Commissions
35Report of Royal Commission
36Adverse findings
37Tabling of Royal Commission report
Division 9—Protection from legal liability
38Compellability of commissioners
39Protection of participants
Division 10—Royal Commissions and courts
40Admissibility of answers, information, documents and other things
41Referral of questions of law to Supreme Court
Division 11—Assistance for witnesses
42Costs of attending Royal Commission
Division 12—Confidentiality, sharing and use of information
43Confidentiality for Royal Commission officers
44Disclosure or provision of information by commissioners or authorised persons
45Taking advantage of information
Division 13—Offences
46Offence to fail to comply with a notice to produce or attend
47Offence to fail to take oath, make affirmation or answer question
48Offence to contravene exclusion or restriction orders
49Offence to hinder, obstruct or cause serious disruption to proceeding
50Offence to make false or misleading statements or produce false or misleading documents or other things
51Offence of taking detrimental action against workers
52Offence of taking detrimental action against commissioners
Division 14—Yoorrook Justice Commission record orders
52ADefinitions
52BYoorrook Justice Commission may make record closure order
52CYoorrook Justice Commission may make record restriction order
52DYoorrook Justice Commission record order not to be made over certain records
52EAuthor of record
52FAdditional access instructions
52GTransfer not prevented by Yoorrook Justice Commission record order
52HSecretary must comply with Yoorrook Justice Commission record order
52IRecords…