(1) For the purposes of a preliminary inquiry, the IBAC may request the relevant principal officer of a public body to provide any information that the IBAC requests that is relevant to the preliminary inquiry.
(2) A relevant principal officer who receives a request under subsection (1)—
(a) must comply with the request within a reasonable time, being not less than 7 days after receiving the request; and
(b) subject to subsection (3), is not required to comply with the request if the relevant principal officer advises the IBAC of a reasonable excuse for not doing so.
(3) A relevant principal officer who complies with a request under this section and any person who assists a relevant principal officer in complying with this section has the same protection and immunity as a person appearing as a witness at an examination has under section 149(2).
S. 59E inserted by No. 30/2016 s. 22.