Section 161 — Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989: Obtaining of information and evidence

(1) The Registrar may, where it is reasonably necessary for the purposes of this Act, by written notice, require a person: (a) to give to the Registrar, within a reasonable period (being a period of not less than 7 days),

and in a reasonable manner, specified in the notice, such information as the Registrar requires; and (b) to attend before the Registrar, or before an officer authorised by the Registrar for the purpose, at a reasonable time and place specified in the notice, and then and there answer questions; and (c) to produce to the Registrar, at a reasonable time and place specified in the notice, any documents in the custody or under the control of the person. (2) The regulations must prescribe scales of expenses to be allowed to persons required to attend under this section. (3) A person who refuses or fails to comply with a requirement made under subsection (1) commits an offence punishable on conviction by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 6 months. (3A) Subsection (3) applies only to the extent to which the person is capable of complying with the requirement. (3B) Subsection (3) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse. (3C) Subsection (3) is an offence of strict liability. (4) It is a reasonable excuse for a person to refuse or fail to comply with a requirement under subsection (1) if complying with the requirement may tend to incriminate the person. (6) This section does not apply in relation to a person: (a) in respect of whom an international maintenance arrangement applies; and (b) who is a resident of a reciprocating jurisdiction.