Crime and Corruption Act 2001

The reference committee may authorise the commission to undertake the investigation or conduct the hearing only if the committee is satisfied—

as required under section 55D(1); and

it is in the public interest to authorise the commission to undertake the investigation or conduct the hearing in response to, or to prevent, the threat to public safety.

In considering the public interest, the reference committee may also have regard to the likely effectiveness of an investigation into criminal activity or corruption without the use of powers available to the commission under this division.

In this section—criminal activity means any act or omission that involves the commission of an offence.