Section 27 Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018

Section 27 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 is about Enforcement powers of the Commission. It is under Part VI (Enforcement Warrants and Requests for Information) of the Act.

(1) The Commission may, for the purpose of ascertaining whether any undertaking has engaged, is engaging or is likely to engage in conduct constituting or likely to constitute a contravention of this Act, require an authorised officer to –
(a) enter and search any premises; and
(b) inspect and remove from the premises any article, document or extract in the possession or under the control of any person.

(2) Except as otherwise directed by the Commission, an officer authorised by the Commission shall only exercise the powers conferred by subsection (1) with a warrant issued under section 28 of this Act.

(3) The Commission shall, if there are grounds to believe that a violation, civil or criminal, of the provisions of this Act or regulations made under this Act, was, is being or will be committed, take any interim measure, including authorising an authorised officer to exercise powers contained in subsection (1) pending the issuance of a warrant to that effect.

(4) In the circumstance described in subsection (3), the Executive Vice-Chairman shall depose to an affidavit verifying these facts before interim measures can be taken.