Commonwealth Numbered Acts

AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CORPORATION ACT 1989 No. 64 of 1989 - SECT 59

59. (1) The Auditor-General shall:

   (a)  inspect and audit:

        (i)    the accounts and records of Australia Post's financial
               transactions; and

        (ii)   the records relating to Australia Post's assets and assets in
               Australia Post's custody; and

   (b)  immediately draw the attention of the Minister and the Board to any
        irregularity disclosed by the inspection and audit that, in the
        opinion of the Auditor-General, is of sufficient importance to justify
        doing so.

(2) The Auditor-General may dispense with all or any part of the detailed
inspection and audit of any accounts or records.

(3) The Auditor-General shall, at least once in each financial year, report to
the Minister and the Board the results of the inspection and audit.

(4) An authorised auditor is entitled, at all reasonable times, to full and
free access to all of Australia Post's accounts, records and other documents
that relate directly or indirectly to:

   (a)  the receipt or payment of money by it; or

   (b)  the acquisition, receipt, custody or disposal of assets by it.

(5) An authorised auditor may make copies of, or take extracts from, any
accounts, records or documents referred to in subsection (4).

(6) An authorised auditor may require any person to give such information in
the possession of the person, or to which the person has access, as the
authorised auditor considers necessary for the purposes of the
Auditor-General's functions under this Act.

(7) A person shall not refuse or fail to comply with a requirement under
subsection (6) to the extent that the person is capable of complying with it.
Penalty: $1,000 or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.

(8) A person shall not, in purported compliance with a requirement under
subsection (6), knowingly give information that is false or misleading in a
material particular.
Penalty: $2,000 or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.

(9) A person is not excused from giving information under a requirement under
subsection (6) on the ground that the information may tend to incriminate the
person, but any information given under the requirement is not admissible in
evidence against the person in any criminal proceedings (other than
proceedings for an offence against subsection (7) or (8)).