Commentary on Sections Human Rights Commission Section 20: Timing
59.Subsection (1) provides that the Commission may only use the new statutory power to require the provision of information or evidence, or to access places of detention, from 1 August 2007, and as part of investigations into matters arising or situations that exist on or after this date. Subsection (2) provides that the Commission may not require the provision of information recorded before, a document created before, or evidence relating to a time before 1 August 2007. Subsection (4) allows a county court to make an order preventing the Commission from using these new powers to compel evidence, or access places of detention, in contravention of subsection (1) or (2).