Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017

An Act to provide for the licensing and regulation of providers of labour hire services and related matters

1Short title

This Act may be cited as the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017.

2Commencement

This Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

3Main purposes of Act

(1)The main purposes of this Act are to—

(a)protect workers from exploitation by providers of labour hire services; and

(b)promote the integrity of the labour hire industry.

(2)The main purposes are to be primarily achieved by establishing a licensing scheme to regulate the provision of labour hire services.

4Act binds all persons

(1)This Act binds all persons, including the State.

(2)Nothing in this Act makes the State liable to be prosecuted for an offence.

5Extraterritorial application of Act

This Act applies—

(a)inside Queensland; and

(b)outside Queensland to the full extent of the extraterritorial legislative power of the Parliament.

6Definitions

The dictionary in schedule 1 defines particular words used in this Act.

7Meaning of provider and labour hire services

(1)A person (a provider) provides labour hire services if, in the course of carrying on a business, the person supplies, to another person, a worker to do work.

Examples of providers—

•a contractor who supplies workers to a farmer or fruit grower to pick produce for the farmer or grower

•a group training organisation or principal employer organisation under the Further Education and Training Act 2014 that supplies an apprentice or trainee to an employer

•an employment agency who on-hires temporary administration staff to a business

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), a provider provides labour hire services regardless of—

(a)whether or not the worker is an employee of the provider; and

(b)whether or not a contract is entered into between the worker and the provider, or between the provider and the person to whom the worker is supplied; and

(c)whether the worker is supplied by the provider to another person directly or indirectly through 1 or more agents or intermediaries; and

(d)whether the work done by the worker is under the control of the provider, the person to whom the worker is supplied or another person.

(3)However, a person does not provide labour hire services merely because—

(a)the person is a private employment agent under the Private Employment Agents Act 2005; or

(b)the person is a contractor who enters into a contract to carry out construction work within the meaning of the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004, section 10, and engages subcontractors to carry out the work; or

(c)the person is, or is of a class of person, prescribed by regulation.

(4)A regulation may prescribe a person, or a class of person, under subsection (3)(c) only if the supply of a worker by the person or class of person is not a dominant purpose of the business ordinarily carried on by the person or class of persons.

8Meaning of worker

(1)An individual is a worker for a provider if the individual enters into an arrangement with the provider under which—

(a)the provider may supply, to another person, the individual to do work; and

(b)the provider is obliged to pay the worker, in whole or part, for the work.

(2)However, an individual is not a worker if the individual is, or is of a class of individual, prescribed by regulation.

(3)To remove any doubt, it is declared that a worker includes an apprentice or trainee under a training contract entered into with a provider who is a group training organisation or principal employer organisation under the Further Education and Training Act 2014.

9When a worker is supplied

For this Act, the supply of a worker to do work for a person happens when the worker first starts to do work for the person in relation to the supply.

10Licence required to provide labour hire services

(1)A person must not provide labour hire services unless the person is the holder of a licence.

Maximum penalty—

(a)for an individual—1034 penalty units or 3 years imprisonment; or

(b)for a corporation—3000 penalty units.

(2)A person must not advertise, or in any way hold out, that the person provides or is willing to provide labour hire services, unless the person is the holder of a licence.

Maximum penalty—200 penalty units.

11Person must not enter into arrangements with unlicensed providers

(1)A person must not, without a reasonable excuse, enter into an arrangement with a provider for the provision of labour hire services to the person, unless the provider is the holder of a licence.

Maximum penalty—

(a)for an individual—1034 penalty units or 3 years imprisonment; or

(b)for a corporation—3000 penalty units.

(2)It is a reasonable excuse for the person not to comply if, when the person entered into the arrangement, the provider was shown on the register as the holder of a licence.

12Person must not enter into avoidance arrangements

A person must not enter into an arrangement with another person (an avoidance arrangement) for the supply of a worker if the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, the arrangement is designed to circumvent or avoid an obligation imposed by this Act, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Note—

See also section 90.

Maximum penalty—

(a)for an individual—1034 penalty units or 3 years imprisonment; or

(b)for a corporation—3000 penalty units.

13Application

(1)Subject to section 14, a person who carries on, or intends to carry on, a business may apply to the chief executive for a licence.

(2)If a person carries on, or intends to carry on, a business with 1 or more other persons, the application must be made jointly by the person and each of the other persons.

(3)The application must—

(a)be in the approved form; and

(b)state the following—

(i)each applicant’s full name and contact details;

(ii)the business name, ABN and address of the business to which the application relates;

(iii)the full name and contact details of 1 or more individuals (each a proposed nominated officer) who satisfy the requirements mentioned in section 33(1);

(iv)if the applicant is a corporation—the name and ACN or ARBN of the corporation and the names of the directors or members of its governing body;

(v)whether the applicant is providing, or intends to provide, accommodation or any other service to workers in connection with the provision of labour hire services;

Example of other services—

meals, transport

(vi)whether, within 5 years before the application is made, any disciplinary action has been taken against the applicant by a regulatory body under a relevant law; and

(c)be accompanied by—

(i)the application fee prescribed by regulation; and

(ii)the information, prescribed by regulation, about whether the business to which the application relates is financially viable; and

(iii)the information, prescribed by regulation, about whether each applicant has, for the 5 years before the application is made, complied with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, and is able to comply with those Acts; and

(iv)any other information, prescribed by regulation, the chief executive reasonably requires to decide whether each applicant and the persons mentioned in section 15(a) are fit and proper persons to provide labour hire services.

(4)If a regulation under section 33(2) prescribes the number of nominated officers for a licence, the application must, for subsection (3)(b)(iii), state the name and contact details of at least the prescribed number of proposed nominated officers.

14Persons who can not apply

(1)A person who was the holder of a licence that has been cancelled can not apply for a licence for 2 years after the cancellation.

(2)However, a corporation that was the holder of a licence that has been cancelled, and any related body corporate of the corporation, can not apply for a licence unless the chief executive is satisfied that, because of a genuine sale, the requirements mentioned in subsection (5) are satisfied for the corporation.

(3)If a person applies for a licence and the chief executive decides to refuse to grant the licence, the person can not apply for another licence—

(a)for 3 months after the day the chief executive gives the person the information notice about the decision; or

(b)if the person applies for a review of or appeals the decision and the decision is confirmed—for 3 months after the day the decision is confirmed.

(4)However, subsection (3) does not apply to a corporation if the chief executive is satisfied that, because of a genuine sale, the requirements mentioned in subsection (5) are satisfied for the corporation.

(5)For subsections (2) and (4), the requirements, in relation to the corporation’s cancelled licence or refused application, are that—

(a)no person who was a shareholder of, or held a beneficial interest in, the corporation when the cancellation was made or the refused application was made, is a shareholder of, or holds a beneficial interest in, the corporation when the application mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) is made; and

(b)no person who was in a position to control or influence the affairs of the corporation when the cancellation or refused application was made is in a position to control or influence the affairs of the corporation when the application mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) is made.

(6)In this section—

related body corporate see the Corporations Act, section 9.

15Criteria for grant

The chief executive may grant an application for a licence only if the chief executive is satisfied—

(a)each of the following persons are fit and proper persons to provide labour hire services—

(i)each applicant;

(ii)if a proposed nominated officer for the application is a person other than an applicant—the proposed nominated officer;

(iii)if an applicant is a corporation—the corporation and each person who is an executive officer of the corporation; and

(b)the business to which the application relates is financially viable.

16Decision on application

(1)After considering an application for a licence and any other information obtained in relation to the application, the chief executive may decide to—

(a)grant the licence; or

(b)refuse to grant the licence.

Note—

The chief executive may obtain information about an application for a licence under part 5.

(2)If the chief executive decides to grant the licence, the chief executive must give the applicant—

(a)the licence; and

(b)if the licence is subject to a condition under section 29(1)—an information notice for the decision to impose the condition.

(3)If the chief executive decides to refuse to grant the licence, the chief executive must give the applicant an information notice for the decision.

17Term

(1)A licence is granted for the term of up to 1 year stated in the licence.

(2)A licence comes into force on the day stated in the licence.

(3)A licence stops being in force if—

(a)it is surrendered or cancelled; or

(b)subject to section 18(3), it expires without being renewed.

18Applying for renewal

(1)A licensee may apply to the chief executive for the renewal of the licensee’s licence before the licence expires.

(2)The application must—

(a)be in the approved form; and

(b)be accompanied by the renewal fee prescribed by regulation.

(3)If an application is made for the renewal of a licence and the chief executive has not, before the licence expires, made a decision about whether to renew the licence, the licence is taken to continue in force until the day—

(a)the chief executive decides the application; or

(b)the licensee withdraws the application.

19Applying for restoration of expired licence

(1)If a person’s licence expires, the person may apply for restoration of the licence.

(2)The application must—

(a)be in the approved form; and

(b)be made within 28 days after the licence expires; and

(c)be accompanied by the restoration fee prescribed by regulation.

(3)If an application is made for restoration of a licence, the licence is taken to be in force from the time the licence expired until the day—

(a)the chief executive decides the application; or

(b)the applicant withdraws the application.

20Decision on renewal or restoration

(1)After considering the application and any other information obtained in relation to the application, the chief executive may—

(a)grant the renewal or restoration of the licence, with or without conditions; or

(b)refuse to grant the renewal or restoration of the licence.

Note—

The chief executive may obtain information about an application for renewal or restoration of a licence under part 5.

(2)The chief executive may grant the renewal or restoration only if the chief executive is satisfied each of the following persons is a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services—

(a)each applicant;

(b)if a nominated officer is a person other than an applicant—the nominated officer;

(c)if an applicant is a corporation—the corporation and each person who is an executive officer of the corporation.

(3)If the chief executive decides to refuse to grant the renewal or restoration, or grants the renewal or restoration with conditions under section 29(1), the chief executive must give the applicant an information notice for the decision.

21Term of renewed or restored licence

(1)A renewed licence is in force for the period of up to 1 year stated in the licence, starting on the day it would have expired if it were not renewed under this division.

(2)A restored licence—

(a)is taken to have been in force from the day after the licence would otherwise have expired; and

(b)continues in force for the period of up to 1 year stated in the licence, starting on the day mentioned in paragraph (a).

22Suspension

(1)The chief executive may suspend a licence by giving the licensee an information notice for the suspension if the chief executive—

(a)is satisfied the licensee has failed to comply with section 31; or

(b)reasonably considers—

(i)the licensee has given materially incorrect or misleading information in a report under section 31; or

(ii)the licence was obtained, renewed or restored because of materially incorrect or misleading information; or

(iii)the licensee, or an employee or representative of the licensee, has contravened a condition of the licence; or

(iv)the licensee, or an employee or representative of the licensee, has contravened or is contravening a relevant law; or

(v)the licensee is no longer a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services; or

(vi)the business to which the licence relates is no longer financially viable.

(2)The suspension—

(a)takes effect on the day stated in the information notice; and

(b)continues for the period of not more than 90 days stated in the information notice.

(3)The day stated in the information notice under subsection (2)(a) must be after the notice is given to the licensee.

23Show cause notice before cancellation

(1)This section applies if the chief executive is proposing to cancel a licence under section 24.

(2)The chief executive must give the licensee a notice stating—

(a)that the chief executive proposes to cancel the licensee’s licence; and

(b)the reasons for the proposed cancellation; and

(c)that the licensee may, within 14 days after the notice is given, give the chief executive a written response to the proposed cancellation.

(3)The chief executive must consider the licensee’s response, if any, before deciding whether to cancel the licence.

24Cancellation

(1)After complying with section 23, the chief executive may cancel the licensee’s licence by giving the licensee an information notice for the cancellation, if the chief executive is satisfied—

(a)the licensee, or an employee or representative of the licensee, has contravened a condition of the licence; or

(b)the licensee, or an employee or representative of the licensee, has contravened a relevant law, whether or not the licensee, employee or representative has been convicted of an offence for the contravention; or

(c)the licensee is no longer a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services; or

(d)if the licensee is an individual—the licensee is an insolvent under administration; or

(e)if the licensee is a corporation—the licensee has been wound up or deregistered under the Corporations Act.

(2)The cancellation takes effect on the day stated in the information notice.

s 24 amd 2023 No. 23 s 247 sch 1 s 2(2)

25Return of suspended or cancelled licence

(1)If the chief executive suspends or cancels a licensee’s licence, the licensee must return the licence to the chief executive within 14 days after receiving the information notice for the suspension or cancellation, unless the licensee has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

(2)If a licence returned to the chief executive is still current at the end of a period of suspension, the chief executive must return the licence to the licensee.

26Surrender

(1)A licensee may surrender the licensee’s licence by giving the chief executive notice of the surrender and returning the licence.

(2)A licence surrendered under this section stops having effect on the day it is surrendered.

27Fit and proper persons

(1)In deciding whether a person is a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services, the chief executive must have regard to the following matters—

(a)the person’s character, including, for example, the person’s honesty, integrity and professionalism;

(b)whether the person—

(i)has a history of compliance with relevant laws; or

(ii)is able to demonstrate an ability to comply with relevant laws;

(c)whether the person has previously held a licence that has been cancelled or suspended, or for which conditions have been imposed under section 29(1);

(d)whether the person has been convicted of an offence against a relevant law or another law that affects the person’s suitability to provide labour hire services;

(e)if the person is an individual—whether the person has been an insolvent under administration;

(f)whether a corporation has been placed into administration, receivership or liquidation while the person was an executive officer of the corporation;

(g)whether the person has been disqualified from managing corporations under the Corporations Act;

(h)whether the person is under the control of, or substantially influenced by, another person whom the chief executive considers is not a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services.

(2)The chief executive may also have regard to any other matter the chief executive considers relevant in deciding whether the person is a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services.

Note—

If, at any time while a licence is in force, the chief executive decides the licensee is no longer a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services, the chief executive may take action to suspend or cancel the licence under division 3.

s 27 amd 2023 No. 23 s 247 sch 1 s 2(2)

28Condition—compliance with relevant laws

It is a condition of a licence that the licensee must comply with all relevant laws applying to the licensee.

29Conditions may be imposed

(1)The chief executive may impose, vary or revoke conditions on a licence for the reasons, and in the circumstances, the chief executive considers appropriate.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), a condition may—

(a)require a licensee to hold insurance of a stated kind and in a stated amount; or

(b)require a licensee to lodge with the chief executive a security that complies with stated requirements; or

(c)require a licensee to give the chief executive stated information, or allow the chief executive to inspect the premises at which the licensee carries on business, at stated reasonable intervals.

(3)The chief executive may—

(a)impose a condition when the licence is granted by stating the condition on the licence; and

(b)subject to section 30, impose, vary or revoke conditions on a licence after it is granted by notice given to the licensee.

(4)However, nothing in this section authorises the chief executive to impose a condition that is inconsistent with this Act.

30Show cause notice before imposing or varying a condition

(1)Before imposing or varying a condition on a licence other than when it is granted, the chief executive must give the licensee a notice stating—

(a)that the chief executive proposes to impose or vary the condition; and

(b)the reasons for the proposed condition or variation; and

(c)that the licensee may, within 14 days after the notice is given, give the chief executive a written response to the proposed condition or variation.

(2)The chief executive must consider the licensee’s response, if any, before deciding whether to impose or vary the condition.

(3)If the chief executive decides to impose or vary the condition, the chief executive must give the licensee an information notice for the decision.

31Obligation to report to chief executive

(1)A licensee must give the chief executive a report that complies with this section within 28 days after a reporting period for the licensee ends.

Maximum penalty—200 penalty units.

(2)The report must include the following information—

(a)the licensee’s full name and contact details;

(b)the business name, ABN and address of the business that is the subject of the licence;

(c)the full name and contact details of each of the nominated officers for the licence;

(d)the number of workers (the relevant workers), supplied by the licensee to another person, who do work for the other person during the reporting period;

(e)a description of the arrangements entered into between the licensee and the relevant workers;

Examples of arrangements—

an employment relationship, including whether the relationship is casual or permanent, contractual arrangements, apprenticeship or traineeship arrangements

(f)details of the type of work carried out by the relevant workers, including the industry in which the work was carried out;

(g)the locations in Queensland where work was carried out by the relevant workers;

(h)if the licensee provided accommodation to the relevant workers in connection with the provision of labour hire services—

(i)the address of the accommodation; and

(ii)whether the relevant workers paid a fee for the accommodation; and

(iii)the number of relevant workers that used the accommodation;

(i)if the licensee is aware that accommodation was provided by another person to the relevant workers, to the best of the licensee’s knowledge—

(i)who provided the accommodation; and

(ii)the address of the accommodation; and

(iii)whether the relevant workers paid a fee for the accommodation; and

(iv)the number of relevant workers that used the accommodation;

(j)whether any other services were provided to the relevant workers by the licensee or, to the best of the licensee’s knowledge, by a person to whom a relevant worker was supplied;

Examples of other services—

meals, transport

(k)information about the licensee’s compliance with relevant laws for the reporting period;

(l)disclosure of any disciplinary action or enforcement action taken, or started, against the licensee by a regulatory body under a relevant law during the reporting period;

(m)to the best of the licensee’s knowledge, the number of notifiable incidents involving a relevant worker notified under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, section 38;

(n)to the best of the licensee’s knowledge, the number of applications for compensation made by a relevant worker under the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003;

(o)any other matter prescribed by regulation under section 32.

(3)In this section—

reporting period, for a licensee, means—

(a)the period of 6 months starting on the day the licensee’s licence is granted; and

(b)the period of 6 months starting immediately after the day the reporting period for the previous report the licensee was required to give under this section ended.

32Prescribed matters for reports

A regulation may prescribe the following matters in relation to a report under section 31—

(a)the details about a matter mentioned in section 31(2) that must be included in the report;

Examples—

•the number of workers the licensee has supplied who are of a non-English speaking background

•the number of workers the licensee has supplied who hold particular types of visas under the Migration Act 1958 (Cwlth)

•the information required about the licensee’s compliance with a relevant law

(b)how information about the licensee’s compliance with relevant laws mentioned in section 31(2)(k) is to be provided.

33Requirements for nominated officers

(1)A nominated officer, for a licence, must be an individual who—

(a)is responsible for the day-to-day carrying on, or takes part in the management, of the business to which the licence relates; and

(b)satisfies any other requirements prescribed by regulation.

(2)A regulation may prescribe the number of nominated officers required for a licence.

34Nominated officer must be reasonably available

A licensee must ensure each of the nominated officers for the licence is reasonably available to be contacted by the chief executive or a member of the public during business hours.

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

35Application to change nominated officer

(1)A licensee may apply in the approved form to the chief executive to—

(a)remove a nominated officer for the licensee’s licence from office; and

(b)appoint another individual (the proposed appointee) as a nominated officer for the licence.

(2)The application must be accompanied by enough information about the proposed appointee to enable the chief executive to decide whether the proposed appointee is—

(a)a person who satisfies the requirements mentioned in section 33(1); and

(b)a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services.

(3)The chief executive may approve the application only if the chief executive is satisfied the proposed appointee is a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services.

(4)If the chief executive approves the application, the chief executive must record the details of the change to the licensee’s nominated officer in the register.

(5)If the chief executive refuses the application, the chief executive must give the licensee an information notice for the decision.

36Licensee may substitute nominated officer for limited period

(1)A licensee may appoint an individual who satisfies the requirements mentioned in section 33(1) as a substitute nominated officer for the licensee’s licence for a period of not more than 30 days if—

(a)a nominated officer for the licence will be absent from the licensee’s business; and

(b)the person consents to the appointment.

(2)The licensee must ensure—

(a)an appointment under subsection (1) and the person’s consent to the appointment are in writing and state the period of appointment; and

(b)the appointment and consent are—

(i)kept at the premises where the person will be responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of the business; and

(ii)made available for immediate inspection by an inspector who asks to see them.

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

(3)The appointed person is taken to be a nominated officer for the licence for the period of the appointment.

37Licensee may apply to extend appointment of substitute nominated officer

(1)If a nominated officer for a licence will be absent from the licensee’s business for a period of more than 30 days, the licensee must either—

(a)apply, in the approved form, to the chief executive for the appointment or the extension of the appointment of a person as a substitute nominated officer; or

(b)apply under section 35 to remove the absent nominated officer and appoint another individual as nominated officer for the licence.

(2)For an application under subsection (1)(a), section 35(2) to (5) applies as if a reference in that section to an application were a reference to an application under subsection (1).

38Production of licence

A licensee must, if asked by an inspector, worker or another person with whom the licensee is dealing, produce a copy of the licensee’s licence for inspection by the inspector, worker or other person.

Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.

39Licensees must not transfer licence etc.

A licensee must not transfer, sell, dispose of, lend or hire out the licensee’s licence to another person.

Maximum penalty—200 penalty units or 1 years imprisonment.

40Licensees to notify chief executive of particular changes in circumstances

(1)A licensee must give the chief executive notice of a prescribed change in circumstances of the licensee within 14 days after the change.

Maximum penalty—200 penalty units.

(2)If the licensee is a corporation, the licensee must give the chief executive notice of a prescribed change in circumstances of an executive officer of the corporation within 14 days after becoming aware of the change.

Maximum penalty—200 penalty units.

(3)In this section—

prescribed change, in circumstances, means a change prescribed by regulation relating to—

(a)a matter the chief executive must consider in deciding whether a person is a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services; or

(b)details about a licence shown on the register; or

(c)for a licensee—accommodation for workers supplied to another person by the licensee.

41Chief executive may require information about applications

(1)This section applies to each of the following—

(a)an applicant for a licence;

(b)an applicant for renewal or restoration of a licence.

(2)The chief executive may, by notice given to the applicant, require the applicant to give the chief executive, within a stated reasonable period, information the chief executive reasonably requires to decide the application.

(3)The applicant is taken to have withdrawn the application if, within the stated period, the applicant fails to comply with the requirement.

42Chief executive may enter applicants’ place of business for particular purposes

(1)This section applies to the following—

(a)an applicant for a licence;

(b)an applicant for renewal or restoration of a licence.

(2)Subject to subsection (3), the chief executive may enter and inspect the applicant’s place of business for the purpose of ascertaining whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services.

(3)The entry must be made—

(a)at a time the applicant’s business is being carried on; or

(b)with the consent of the applicant.

(4)For this section, a place of business does not include a part of the place where a person resides.

43Chief executive may require licensees to give information

(1)The chief executive may, by notice given to a licensee, require the licensee to give the chief executive, within a reasonable period of at least 21 days stated in the notice, information the chief executive reasonably requires to decide whether—

(a)the licensee is, or continues to be, a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services; or

(b)the licensee’s business is financially viable.

(2)The chief executive may, in the notice, require the licensee to verify the further information by statutory declaration.

(3)The licensee must comply with the notice, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

(4)It is not a reasonable excuse for the licensee not to comply with the notice on the basis that complying with the notice might tend to incriminate the licensee or expose the licensee to a penalty.

Note—

See, however, section 101.

(5)The chief executive may—

(a)give information obtained under this section to an auditor under section 104(3)(d); and

(b)ask the auditor to give the chief executive advice about a matter mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b).

Example—

The chief executive may ask an auditor to provide advice about financial information given to the chief executive by a licensee.

44Inquiries about whether persons are fit and proper and financially viable

(1)The chief executive may make inquiries about a person for deciding—

(a)if the person is an applicant or licensee—whether the person is a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services; or

(b)if the person is a licensee—whether the business to which the person’s licence relates is financially viable.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the chief executive may ask the commissioner to give the chief executive the following written information about the person—

(a)a report about the person’s criminal history;

(b)a brief description of the nature of the offence or alleged offence giving rise to a conviction or charge mentioned in the person’s criminal history.

(3)The commissioner must comply with the request.

(4)The commissioner’s obligation to comply with the request applies only to information in the commissioner’s possession or to which the commissioner has access.

(5)In this section—

commissioner means the commissioner of the police service.

45Use of criminal history report and information

(1)This section applies to the chief executive in considering information about a person obtained under section 44.

(2)The information may be used only for making a decision mentioned in section 44(1).

(3)However, the chief executive may not rely on information about a charge mentioned in the person’s criminal history for making a decision—

(a)to suspend a licence under section 22; or

(b)about whether the person is, or continues to be, a fit and proper person to provide labour hire services.

46Confidentiality of criminal history information

(1)This section applies to a person who possesses a report or information given to the chief executive about a person that includes information about a person’s criminal history (criminal history information).

(2)The person must not, directly or indirectly, disclose the criminal history information to any other person unless the disclosure is permitted under subsection (3).

Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.

(3)The person is permitted to disclose the criminal history information to another person—

(a)to the extent necessary to perform the person’s functions under this Act; or

(b)to the extent the disclosure is otherwise required or permitted by law; or

(c)if the disclosure is in a form that does not identify the person to whom the information relates.

(4)The chief executive must ensure a document containing criminal history information is destroyed as soon as practicable after it is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was given.

47Functions

An inspector’s functions are—

(a)to monitor compliance with this Act; and

(b)to investigate and, when necessary, take action to deal with alleged contraventions of this Act; and

(c)to inform providers and workers of their rights and obligations under this Act.

48Appointment

The chief executive may, by instrument, appoint an appropriately qualified public service employee as an inspector.

49Appointment conditions and limit on powers

(1)An inspector holds office on any conditions stated in—

(a)the inspector’s instrument of appointment; or

(b)a signed notice given to the inspector; or

(c)a regulation.

(2)The instrument of appointment, a signed notice given to the inspector or a regulation may limit the inspector’s powers.

(3)In this section—

signed notice means a notice signed by the chief executive.

50When office ends

(1)The office of a person as an inspector ends if any of the following happens—

(a)the term of office stated in a condition of office ends;

(b)under another condition of office, the office ends;

(c)the inspector’s resignation under section 51 takes effect.

(2)Subsection (1) does not limit the ways the office of a person as an inspector ends.

(3)In this section—

condition of office means a condition under which the inspector holds office.

51Resignation

An inspector may resign by signed notice given to the chief executive.

52Identity cards

(1)The chief executive must give each inspector an identity card.

(2)The identity card must—

(a)contain a recent photo of the inspector; and

(b)contain a copy of the inspector’s signature; and

(c)identify the person as an inspector under this Act; and

(d)state an expiry date for the card.

(3)This section does not prevent the chief executive from giving a single identity card to a person for this Act and other purposes.

53Production and display of identity card

(1)In exercising a power under this part in relation to a person in the person’s presence, an inspector must—

(a)produce the inspector’s identity card for the person’s inspection before exercising the power; or

(b)have the identity card displayed so it is clearly visible to the person when exercising the power.

(2)However, if it is not practicable to comply with subsection (1), the inspector must produce the identity card for the person’s inspection at the first reasonable opportunity.

(3)For subsection (1), an inspector does not exercise a power in relation to a person only because the inspector has entered a place as mentioned in section 55(1)(b) or (d).

54Return of identity card

If the office of a person as an inspector ends, the person must return the identity card to the chief executive as soon as practicable after the office ends.

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

55General power to enter places

(1)An inspector may enter a place if—

(a)an occupier at the place consents under subdivision 2 to the entry, and section 59 has been complied with for the occupier; or

(b)it is a public place and the entry is made when the place is open to the public; or

(c)the entry is authorised under a warrant and, if there is an occupier of the place, section 66 has been complied with for the occupier; or

(d)it is a workplace and, when the entry is made—

(i)the workplace is open for carrying on business; or

(ii)work is being carried out at the workplace; or

(iii)the workplace is required to be open for inspection under a condition of a licence.

(2)If the power to enter arose only because an occupier of the place consented to the entry, the power is subject to any conditions of the consent and ceases if the consent is withdrawn.

(3)If the power to enter is under a warrant, the power is subject to the terms of the warrant.

(4)An entry may be made under subsection (1)(d) with or without the consent of an occupier.

56Limitation on entry powers

Despite anything else in this division, the powers of an inspector under this division in relation to entering a place are not exercisable in relation to any part of a place where a person resides except—

(a)with the consent of the occupier, if section 59 has been complied with for the occupier; or

(b)under the authority of a warrant and, if there is an occupier of the place, section 66 has been complied with for the occupier; or

(c)for the purpose only of gaining access to a place suspected to be a workplace, but only—

(i)if the inspector reasonably believes that no reasonable alternative access is available; and

(ii)at a reasonable time having regard to the times at which the inspector believes work is being carried out at the place to which access is sought.

57Application of subdivision

This subdivision applies if an inspector intends to ask an occupier of a place to consent to the inspector entering the place under section 55(1)(a).

58Incidental entry to ask for access

For the purpose of asking the occupier for the consent, an inspector may, without the occupier’s consent or a warrant—

(a)enter land around premises at the place to an extent that is reasonable to contact the occupier; or

(b)enter part of the place the inspector reasonably considers members of the public ordinarily are allowed to enter when they wish to contact an occupier of the place.

59Matters inspector must tell occupier

Before asking for the consent, the inspector must give a reasonable explanation to the occupier—

(a)about the purpose of the entry, including the powers intended to be exercised; and

(b)that the occupier is not required to consent; and

(c)that the consent may be given subject to conditions and may be withdrawn at any time.

60Consent acknowledgement

(1)If the consent is given, the inspector may ask the occupier to sign an acknowledgement of the consent.

(2)The acknowledgement must state—

(a)the purpose of the entry, including the powers to be exercised; and

(b)the following has been explained to the occupier—

(i)the purpose of the entry, including the powers intended to be exercised;

(ii)that the occupier is not required to consent;

(iii)that the consent may be given subject to conditions and may be withdrawn at any time; and

(c)the occupier gives the inspector or another inspector consent to enter the place and exercise the powers; and

(d)the time and day the consent was given; and

(e)any conditions of the consent.

(3)If the occupier signs the acknowledgement, the inspector must immediately give a copy to the occupier.

(4)Subsection (5) applies if—

(a)an issue arises in a proceeding about whether the occupier consented to the entry; and

(b)a signed acknowledgement complying with subsection (2) for the entry is not produced in evidence.

(5)The onus of proof is on the person relying on the lawfulness of the entry to prove the occupier consented.

61Application for warrant

(1)An inspector may apply to a magistrate for a warrant for a place.

(2)The inspector must prepare a written application that states the grounds on which the warrant is sought.

(3)The written application must be sworn.

(4)The magistrate may refuse to consider the application until the inspector gives the magistrate all the information the magistrate requires about the application in the way the magistrate requires.

Note—

The magistrate may require additional information supporting the written application to be given by statutory declaration.

62Issue of warrant

(1)The magistrate may issue the warrant for the place only if the magistrate is satisfied there are reasonable grounds for suspecting there is at the place, or will be at the place within the next 7 days, a particular thing or activity that may provide evidence of an offence against this Act.

(2)The warrant must state—

(a)the place to which the warrant applies; and

(b)that a stated inspector or any inspector may with necessary and reasonable help and force—

(i)enter the place and any other place necessary for entry to the place; and

(ii)exercise the inspector’s powers; and

(c)particulars of the offence that the magistrate considers appropriate; and

(d)the name of the person suspected of having committed the offence unless the name is unknown or the magistrate considers