Part 3: Enforcement of consumer protection law Online interface orders and interim online interface orders Section 162: Interim online interface orders
This section gives the court a discretionary power to make an interim online interface order, in response to an application from a public designated enforcer under section 160, where the conditions set out in subsection (1) are met. The court can make an interim online interface order only if the court considers that the strict criteria for making a final online interface order under section 161 would be likely to be met (if the application had been for a final online interface order). This enables the court to take urgent action in respect of infringing online content while ensuring the imposition of potentially intrusive requirements is commensurate with the alleged harm they address.
	The court may make an interim online interface order without a public designated enforcer having given notice of the applications to the respondent if the court considers that appropriate (subsection (2), paragraph (b)). Subsection (2), paragraph (a) and subsection (5) require that where an application for an interim online interface order is made without notice, it must explain why no notice has been given, and in any event, all relevant information supporting the application must be included, to enable the court to decide if the conditions for making an interim online interface order have been met.
	Subsection (3) lists what a person can be required to do through an interim online interface order. The requirements are the same as those that can be imposed under a final online interface order under section 161 (for example, removal of content from an online interface). The meaning of an "online interface" is given by section 161, subsection (5).
	An application for an interim online interface order may be made at any point in time, subject to the exception that the application cannot be made after an application for an online interface order, or an online interface notice, against the same respondent in respect of the same relevant infringement, has been determined or given (subsection (4)).
	Subsections (6) and (7) provide for the variation or discharge of an interim online interface order.