Section 79X — Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986: Powers of Commission to gather evidence

(1) For the purposes of a review, the Commission may: (a) summon a person to appear at a hearing of the review to give evidence and to produce such documents (if any) as are referred to in the summons; and (b) require a person appearing at a hearing of the review for the purpose of giving evidence either to take an oath or to make an affirmation; and (c) administer an oath or affirmation to a person so appearing; and (d) adjourn a hearing of the review from time to time. (2) The person who applied for the review under this Division is a competent and compellable witness upon the hearing of the review. (3) The Commission’s power under subsection (1) to take evidence on oath or affirmation: (a) may be exercised on behalf of the Commission by: (i) the presiding member; or (ii) by another person (whether a member or not) authorised by the presiding member; and (b) may be exercised within or outside Australia; and (c) must be exercised subject to any limitations specified by the Commission. (4) If a person is authorised under subparagraph (3)(a)(ii) to take evidence for the purposes of a review, the person has all the powers of the Commission under subsection (1) for the purposes of taking that evidence.