Section 154ECompetition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)

Powers in relation to premises

(1) The inspector or an assistant may do any of the following after entering premises under this Division:

(a) search the premises, and any thing on the premises, for the evidential material;

(b) make copies of the evidential material found on the premises;

(c) operate electronic equipment at the premises to see whether the evidential material is accessible by doing so;

Note: See also Division 5 (which contains provisions relating to the operation of electronic equipment at the premises).

(d) remove the evidential material from the premises with the consent of the owner of the material;

Note: See also subsection (2).

(e) secure the evidential material, pending the obtaining of a search warrant to seize it;

(f) take equipment and material onto the premises, and use it, for any of the above purposes.

Obtaining consent to remove evidential material

(2) Before obtaining the consent of a person to remove evidential material from premises under paragraph (1)(d), the inspector or an assistant must inform the person of the purpose for which the material is required and that the person may refuse consent. A consent of a person is not effective for the purposes of that paragraph unless the consent is voluntary.

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 22 May 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au. Verify the current text against the official source before relying on it.

Related sections

Research how courts apply s 154E

BriefBridge searches Australian caselaw by meaning — every answer cited to the paragraph.

Try BriefBridge free