# Persons may be required to answer questions

> act-s257 — as in force on 2026-06-04 — C2026C00232 · Compilation No. 171 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026C00232/latest/text

257 Persons may be required to answer questions
          (1) For the purpose of determining whether a person who is in
              immigration detention under this Act is an unlawful non-citizen, a
              removee or a deportee, an officer may put to that person such
              questions as the officer considers necessary and may move that
              person from place to place.
          (2) Where an officer puts a question to a person in accordance with
              subsection (1) after having informed that person that he or she is
              required to answer the question, that person shall not:
                (a) refuse or fail to answer the question; or
                (b) in answer to the question, make a statement which is false or
                    misleading in a material particular.
               Penalty: Imprisonment for 6 months.
        (2A) An offence against subsection (2) is an offence of strict liability.
               Note:      For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.

          (3) Where subsection (2) is applicable in relation to a question put to a
              person, that person is not excused from answering the question on
              the ground that the answer might tend to incriminate him or her,
              but the answer to the question shall not be used as evidence against
              that person in any proceedings other than proceedings under that
              subsection.