The Commissioner, or the Commissioner's delegate, can hold a public inquiry for the purpose of an investigation.
To hold a public inquiry, the Commissioner must announce the inquiry to the general public and specify the time, place, scope and purpose of the inquiry.
The public inquiry will be conducted with as little formality and technicality as required in the circumstances and will be open to the public unless the Commissioner decides otherwise.
The Commissioner, or the Commissioner's delegate, can stop someone from attending the public inquiry or stop information being published about the inquiry.
A person or organisation can apply to the Commissioner, or the Commissioner's delegate, to appear at the public inquiry.
The Commissioner decides whether to allow a person or a representative of an organisation and their legal representative to go to the public inquiry, make a submission to the Commissioner and, with his approval, question witnesses at the inquiry.
If allegations are made about a person or organisation at the public inquiry, the Commissioner must give them a right to reply to the allegations, either at the inquiry or by making a submission.
The Commissioner must make an investigation report on completion of a public inquiry.