# Prescribed authorities

> act-s255 — as in force on 2026-06-04 — C2026C00232 · Compilation No. 171 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026C00232/latest/text

255 Prescribed authorities
          (1) The Minister may appoint as a prescribed authority for the
              purposes of section 253 a person who is or has been a Judge of a
              Federal Court or of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory or a
              barrister or solicitor of the High Court or of the Supreme Court of a
              State of not less than 5 years’ standing.
          (2) The Governor-General may arrange with the Governor-in-Council
              of a State for the performance by persons who hold office as
              Police, Stipendiary or Special Magistrates in that State of the
              functions of a prescribed authority under section 253.
          (3) Notice of an arrangement under subsection (2) shall be published
              in the Gazette.
          (4) Where an arrangement under subsection (2) is in force, a person
              who holds an office specified in the arrangement is a prescribed
              authority for the purposes of section 253.
          (5) A person who holds office as a Police, Stipendiary or Special
              Magistrate of a Territory is a prescribed authority for the purposes
              of section 253.
          (6) A prescribed authority shall make a thorough investigation of the
              matter which he or she is required to inquire into, without regard to
              legal forms, and shall not be bound by any rules of evidence but
              may inform himself or herself on any relevant matter in such
              manner as he or she thinks fit.