Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982

Where the Minister or an inspector has reason to believe that a person is capable of giving information or producing documents relating to petroleum exploration operations, operations for the recovery of petroleum or operations connected with the construction or operation of a pipeline in the adjacent area, the Minister may, by instrument in writing served on that person, require that person—

to furnish to the Minister in writing, within the period and in the manner specified in the instrument, any such information; or

to attend before the Minister or a person specified in the instrument, at such time and place as is so specified and there to answer questions relating to those operations and to produce such documents relating to those operations as are so specified.

A person is not excused from furnishing information, answering a question or producing a document when required to do so under this section on the ground that the information so furnished, the answer to the question or the production of the document might tend to incriminate the person or make the person liable to a penalty, but the information so furnished or the person’s answer to the question is not admissible in evidence against the person in proceedings other than proceedings for an offence against section 117.