Western Australia: Finance Brokers Control Act 1975 (WA)

Western Australia Finance Brokers Control Act 1975 Western Australia Finance Brokers Control Act 1975 Contents Part I — Preliminary 1. Short title 2 2. Commencement 2 4. Terms used 2 5. Exceptions to finance broker 4 Part II — The Commissioner Division 1 — General 6. Commissioner 6 7. General functions of Commissioner 6 8. Commissioner may delegate 7 9A. Arrangements with ASIC 7 9B. Information 8 9. Judicial notice 9 Division 2 — Powers of investigation and inquiry 13. Investigation and inquiry by Commissioner 9 14. Police investigations 9 15. Investigators 10 16. Additional investigative powers 10 17. Compliance checks at licensee's business premises 11 Division 2A — Specific investigatory powers 18. Powers 12 18A. Warrant to enter premises 13 18B. Issue of warrant 14 18C. Execution of warrant 15 18D. Seizure 16 18E. Incriminating information, questions, or documents 17 18F. Failure to comply with investigation 17 18G. Obstruction of investigator 19 18H. Information 19 Division 3 — Review of decisions of the Commissioner 23. Application for review 20 Part III — Licensing 24. Application 21 25. Objections 21 26. Finance brokers to be licensed 22 27A. No further grants of licences 22 27. Grant of licence to natural person 22 28. Grant of licence to firm 23 29. Grant of licence to body corporate 24 30. Effect of licence 25 31. Duration of licence 26 32. Applications for renewals 26 33. Refusal to renew 27 34. Conditions on licences 28 34B. Suspension of licence by State Administrative Tribunal 28 35. Bond or guarantee in respect of licence 29 35A. Prescribed person exempt from bond requirements 30 40. Licence not transferable 31 40A. Prohibition against doing business with unlicensed finance brokers 32 41. Use of business name 32 42. Notice to be exhibited 33 Part IV — Controls Division 1 — General 43. Disability of unlicensed person 34 44. Remuneration of finance brokers 34 45. Advertisements by licensees 36 46. Copy of loan documents 37 Division 2 — Trust accounts 47. Terms used 37 48. Trust accounts 37 49. Receipts and accounting to principal 38 50. Duty of finance broker to have trust accounts audited 39 51. Variation of date of audit 41 52. Qualification and approval of auditors 42 53. Appointment of auditor 42 54. Power to give directions for audit of business carried on at more than one place 43 55. Alteration of rights under this Division 43 57. Duties of finance brokers with respect to audit 44 58. Duty of banker with respect to audit 44 59. Contents of auditor's report 44 60. Statement of moneys etc. held by finance broker for or on behalf of other persons 45 61. Auditor's report where finance broker has not complied with Act etc. 46 62. Non‑disclosure by auditors 46 63. Right of persons beneficially interested to obtain information 47 64. Penalty for breach 47 65. Remuneration of auditor 48 66. Finance brokers having no accounts to audit 48 67. Accounts of firm or body corporate or finance broker with branch office 48 68. Power of Commissioner to order audit of trust account 49 69. Finance broker to produce books etc. to auditor 49 70. Cost of audit 49 71. Application of s. 62 50 72. Power of restraining dealing with trust accounts or other accounts 50 Division 3 — Discipline 81. Code of conduct for finance brokers 52 82. Disciplinary proceedings against finance brokers 52 83. Powers on inquiry 52 Part V — Miscellaneous 85. Certificates 54 87. Immunity of officers 54 88. Secrecy 54 89. Liability of directors of body corporate 56 90. Other rights or remedies 56 91. No waiver of rights 56 92. General penalty 56 92A. Infringement notices 56 93. Proceedings 58 94. Forms 59 95. Regulations 59 Schedule — Formula for calculating percentage rate of interest 1. Formula for calculating percentage rate of interest 61 Notes Compilation table 63 Uncommenced provisions table 65 Other notes 66 Defined terms Western Australia Finance Brokers Control Act 1975 An Act to make provision with respect to the licensing, regulation, and supervision of finance brokers, and for related purposes. Part I — Preliminary 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Finance Brokers Control Act 1975. 2. Commencement The provisions of this Act shall come into operation on such day or days as is or are, respectively, fixed by proclamation. [3. Deleted: No. 10 of 1998 s. 76.] 4. Terms used In this Act unless the context otherwise requires — appointed day means the day fixed by the Minister pursuant to section 26(2) 1; approved means approved by the Commissioner; ASIC means the Australian Securities and Investments Commission; auditor means a person appointed under this Act to audit the trust accounts of a finance broker; bank means — (a) an ADI (authorised deposit‑taking institution) as defined in section 5 of the Banking Act 1959 of the Commonwealth; or (b) a bank constituted by a law of a State, a Territory or the Commonwealth; business means the business of a finance broker; Commissioner means the person for the time being designated as the Commissioner under section 6; condition, in relation to a licence or exemption, includes restriction or limitation; department means the department of the Public Service principally assisting the Minister in the administration of this Act; finance broker means a person who — (a) as an intermediary, in the course of business negotiates or arranges loans of money for or on behalf of other persons; or (b) in the course of business, manages loans of money arranged or negotiated by the person for or on behalf of other persons, but does not include the exceptions specified in section 5(1); finance brokers code of conduct means the code prescribed under section 81; investigator means a person designated under section 15 as an investigator and a member of the Police Force undertaking an investigation or inquiry or report under section 14; licence means the licence of a finance broker under this Act; licensed means licensed as a finance broker under this Act; licensee means a person licensed under this Act; motor vehicle has the meaning given in the Road Traffic (Administration) Act 2008 section 4; referral day means the day on which the Credit (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2010 section 5 comes into operation 2; renewal means renewal of a licence; supervisor means a person appointed by the Commissioner as supervisor of the business of a finance broker. [Section 4 amended: No. 56 of 1995 s. 17; No. 26 of 1999 s. 79(2); No. 53 of 2004 s. 4; No. 55 of 2004 s. 341; No. 14 of 2010 s. 38; No. 8 of 2012 s. 105.] 5. Exceptions to finance broker (1) Exceptions to the meaning of finance broker in and for the purposes of this Act are as follows — (a) a bank; and (aa) a corporation that is a friendly society within the meaning of section 16C of the Life Insurance Act 1995 of the Commonwealth; and (ab) an insurance company authorised under any law of the Commonwealth or State to carry on insurance business; and (b) a pastoral company in respect of which the Minister is satisfied that, by reason of an order in force under section 11 of the Banking Act 1959 of the Parliament of the Commonwealth, or that Act as amended from time to time, the clients of the company are adequately safeguarded in respect of the proper application of trust funds received by the company from them or on their behalf; and [(c) deleted] (d) a financial services licensee (within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth), when dealing in securities (within the meaning of section 92 of that Act) that he or she is authorised to deal in by that licence; and (da) a regulated principal (within the meaning of section 1430 of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth), who held a dealers licence under the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth immediately before the commencement of Schedule 1 to the Financial Services Reform Act 2001 of the Commonwealth, when dealing in securities that he or she is authorised to deal in by Part 10.2 Division 1 Subdivision D of that Act; and (e) a body corporate authorised by the law of any State, or of a Territory, of the Commonwealth to take in its own name, a grant of probate or of letters of administration of the estate of a deceased person; and (f) legal practitioners when acting incidentally to the practice of their profession as such; and (g) a person who, in association with a bona fide business of supplying goods or services carried on by him, acts as an intermediary to negotiate or arrange loans for persons who deal with him in the ordinary course of that business and who authorise in writing the application of the loans in payment for the goods or services; and (h) persons and classes of persons exempted from the Act under subsection (2). (2) The Governor may make regulations under this subsection exempting a person or class of persons from the operation of this Act, or specified provisions of this Act. (3) Regulations made under subsection (2) may make an exemption subject to specified terms or conditions. [Section 5 amended: No. 10 of 1982 s. 28; No. 26 of 1999 s. 79(3); No. 12 of 2001 s. 51; No. 21 of 2003 s. 13; No. 65 of 2003 s. 35(2); No. 53 of 2004 s. 5; No. 17 of 2005 s. 27; No. 21 of 2008 s. 664; No. 9 of 2022 s. 424.] Part II — The Commissioner [Heading inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 6.] Division 1 — General 6. Commissioner (1) The Minister is required, by notice published in the Gazette, to designate a person who is an executive officer of the department as the Commissioner for the purposes of this Act. (2) The Commissioner may be referred to by a title specified by the Minister by notice published in the Gazette. (3) In this section — executive officer has the meaning given by section 3(1) of the Public Sector Management Act 1994. (4) The Commissioner — (a) is the licensing and supervisory authority for the purposes of this Act; and (b) has the powers, duties, and functions, conferred, imposed, or prescribed by or under this Act. [Section 6 inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 7.] 7. General functions of Commissioner As a part of the Commissioner's functions under this Act, the Commissioner may — [(a), (b) deleted] (c) make recommendations and submit proposals to the Minister from time to time with respect to regulations to be made under this Act; and [(d) deleted] (e) conduct and promote education and provide advisory services for persons who are licensed under this Act, or involved in the administration of this Act, and for members of the public on — (i) matters relating to the operation of this Act; or (ii) matters relating to the policies of the Commissioner; or (iii) matters relating to the operations of finance brokers; and (f) carry out such other functions as are conferred upon the Commissioner under this Act. [Section 7 inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 7; amended: No. 14 of 2010 s. 39.] 8. Commissioner may delegate (1) The Commissioner may delegate to a person any power or duty of the Commissioner under another provision of this Act, other than an investigative function under section 13. (2) The delegation must be in writing signed by the Commissioner. (3) A person to whom a power or duty is delegated under this section cannot delegate that power or duty. (4) A person exercising or performing a power or duty that has been delegated to the person under this section is to be taken to do so in accordance with the terms of the delegation unless the contrary is shown. (5) A function performed by a delegate of the Commissioner is taken to be performed by the Commissioner. (6) Nothing in this section limits the ability of the Commissioner to perform a function through an officer or agent. [Section 8 inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 7.] 9A. Arrangements with ASIC (1) The Commissioner may make an arrangement with ASIC about the conduct of any investigation under Division 2 or 2A, or the conduct of any proceedings under this Act. (2) In particular, an arrangement may provide — (a) for the performance of functions and the exercise of powers conferred by subsection (3) on ASIC; or (b) for the performance of functions or the exercise of powers of the Commissioner in relation to the conduct of any investigation under Division 2 or 2A, or the conduct of any proceedings under this Act by staff members of ASIC. (3) Subject to subsection (4), ASIC has the functions and powers of the Commissioner in relation to the conduct of any investigation under Division 2 or 2A, or the conduct of any proceedings under this Act. (4) ASIC must not perform a function or exercise a power conferred by subsection (3) except in accordance with an arrangement under this section. [Section 9A inserted: No. 14 of 2010 s. 40.] 9B. Information (1) This section applies to information obtained by the Commissioner in connection with the administration or enforcement of this Act. (2) The Commissioner may — (a) disclose information to which this section applies; or (b) give copies of records which contain information to which this section applies and which are in the Commissioner's possession or under the Commissioner's control, to ASIC for the purpose of the administration or enforcement of the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (Commonwealth). [Section 9B inserted: No. 14 of 2010 s. 40.] 9. Judicial notice All courts, judges, and persons acting judicially shall take judicial notice of the official signature of every person who is for the time being the Commissioner or an investigator and every person who has at any time been the Commissioner, an investigator, Registrar, Deputy Registrar, Assistant Registrar, or inspector of the Board, and of the fact that such person holds or has held such position or office. [Section 9 inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 7.] [10‑12. Deleted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 7.] Division 2 — Powers of investigation and inquiry 13. Investigation and inquiry by Commissioner The Commissioner may, of his own motion, make any investigation or inquiry that the Commissioner considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of — (a) determining any application or any other matter before the Commissioner; and (b) determining whether or not finance brokers are acting in conformity with the conditions, if any, of their licences and are complying with the requirements of this Act or the finance brokers code of conduct; and (ba) determining whether or not any other causes exist that may be considered by the State Administrative Tribunal to render finance brokers unfit to hold their licences; and (c) detecting offences against this Act. [Section 13 amended: No. 56 of 1995 s. 23(1); No. 53 of 2004 s. 8.] 14. Police investigations (1) The Commissioner of Police shall, at the request of the Commissioner, cause his officers to make an investigation or inquiry and report relating to any matter that is the subject of investigation or inquiry pursuant to section 13. (2) The report shall be forwarded to the Commissioner. [Section 14 amended: No. 53 of 2004 s. 9.] 15. Investigators (1) The chief executive officer may designate as investigators for the purposes of this Act as many persons employed in the department as the chief executive officer considers necessary to assist the Commissioner to perform investigative functions under this Act. (2) A reference in section 13 to the Commissioner includes a reference to an investigator. (3) The chief executive officer is to provide each investigator with a document, signed by the chief executive officer, certifying that the person is entitled to exercise the powers of an investigator, and that document is to be produced when demanded by a person in respect of whom the Commissioner or an investigator performs, has performed, or is proposing to perform, any function under this Act, including Division 2A. (4) In this section — investigative function means any of the Commissioner's functions under section 13. [Section 15 inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 10.] 16. Additional investigative powers The Commissioner is, and each investigator is, authorised to exercise the powers of an investigator under Division 2A for the purposes of the performance of any function under section 13. [Section 16 inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 10.] 17. Compliance checks at licensee's business premises (1) For the purposes of determining whether or not a licensee has acted or is acting in conformity with the conditions, if any, of the licence and is or was complying with the requirements of this Act or the finance brokers code of conduct, the Commissioner or an investigator may — (a) during normal business hours, enter premises where the business of the licensee is being carried on, without obtaining a warrant under Division 2A; and (b) exercise the powers in sections 18, 18D and 18H once entry is made. (2) The Commissioner or an investigator may invoke the powers in subsection (1) without an investigation being under way in relation to any particular licensee. (3) A person must not prevent or attempt to prevent the Commissioner or an investigator from entering business premises in the exercise of his or her powers under subsection (1). Penalty: $2 000. (4) A person must not obstruct or impede the Commissioner or an investigator in the exercise of his or her powers under subsection (1). Penalty: $2 000. (5) A person must comply with a requirement to furnish reasonable access to business premises, or to give other reasonable assistance to the Commissioner or an investigator, when exercising his or her powers under subsection (1). Penalty: $2 000. [Section 17 inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 10; amended: No. 14 of 2010 s. 41.] Division 2A — Specific investigatory powers [Heading inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 11.] 18. Powers (1) An investigator may — (a) require any person — (i) to give such information as is required; and (ii) to answer any question put to the person, in relation to any matter the subject of an investigation; and (b) require any person to produce any document; and (c) enter at all reasonable times and search any premises or motor vehicle named in a warrant obtained in accordance with this Division and exercise the powers set out in that warrant; and (d) make a copy or abstract of any document produced or inspected under this section, or of any entry made in the document. (2) A requirement made under subsection (1)(a) — (a) may be made orally or by notice in writing served on the person required to give information or answer a question, as the case may be; and (b) is to specify the time at or within which the information is to be given or the question is to be answered, as the case may be; and (c) may, by its terms, require that the information or answer required — (i) be given orally or in writing; and (ii) be given at or sent or delivered to any place specified in the requirement; and (iii) in the case of written information or answers, be sent or delivered by any means specified in the requirement; and (iv) be given on oath or affirmation or by statutory declaration. (3) An investigator may administer an oath or affirmation for the purposes of subsection (2)(c)(iv) and for that purpose has the authority of a commissioner for declarations. (4) A requirement made under subsection (1)(b) — (a) is to be made by notice in writing served on the person required to produce a document; and (b) is to specify the time at or within which the document is to be produced; and (c) may, by its terms, require that the document be produced — (i) at any place specified in the requirement; and (ii) by any means specified in the requirement. (5) Where under subsection (2)(a) an investigator orally requires a person to give any information or answer any question, the investigator is to inform that person that he or she is required, under this Act, to give the information or answer the question, as the case may be. (6) Where under subsection (2)(a) or (b) a person is required by notice in writing to give any information, answer any question, or produce any document, the notice is to state that he or she is required under this Act to give the information, answer the question, or produce the document, as the case may be. [Section 18 inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 12.] 18A. Warrant to enter premises (1) If an investigator has determined in a particular case that there are reasonable grounds for believing that entry to premises or a motor vehicle is necessary for the purpose of an investigation, the investigator may apply to a magistrate or justice of the peace for a warrant to be issued in respect of those premises or that motor vehicle. (2) An application for a warrant must — (a) be in writing; and (b) be accompanied by a notice in writing from the investigator stating that he or she has determined in the particular case that there are reasonable grounds for believing that entry to premises or motor vehicle is necessary for the purpose of the investigation; and (c) set out the grounds for seeking the warrant; and (d) describe the premises or motor vehicle that are to be entered. (3) A magistrate or justice of the peace to whom an application is made under this section must refuse it if — (a) the application does not comply with the requirements of this Act; or (b) when required to do so by the magistrate or the justice of the peace, the investigator does not give to the magistrate or justice of the peace more information about the application. (4) The information in an application or given to a magistrate or justice of the peace under this section must be verified before the magistrate or justice of the peace on oath or affirmation or by affidavit, and the magistrate or justice of the peace may for that purpose administer an oath or affirmation or take an affidavit. [Section 18A inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 12.] 18B. Issue of warrant (1) A magistrate or justice of the peace to whom an application is made under section 18A may issue a warrant, if satisfied that the investigator has reasonable grounds for believing that entry and inspection of the premises or motor vehicle are necessary for the purpose of the investigation. (2) A warrant under subsection (1) authorises the investigator — (a) to enter and inspect the premises or motor vehicle named in the warrant; and (b) to require a person on the premises to answer questions or produce documents or other things in the person's possession concerning the investigation; and (c) to inspect documents and other things, and take copies of or extracts from documents, produced in compliance with a requirement made under paragraph (b). (3) There must be stated in a warrant — (a) the purpose for which the warrant is issued; and (b) the name of the person to whom the warrant is issued; and (c) a description of the premises or motor vehicle that may be entered. (4) A magistrate or justice of the peace who issues a warrant must cause a record to be made of particulars of the grounds that the magistrate or justice of the peace has relied on to justify the issue of the warrant. [Section 18B inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 12.] 18C. Execution of warrant (1) Entry authorised by a warrant under this Division may be made with such assistance and equipment as is considered necessary for the purpose for which entry is required. (2) If asked by the occupier or a person in charge of the premises or motor vehicle, the person executing a warrant must produce it for inspection. (3) When executing a warrant, the investigator may require any person, having the control or custody of any premises, motor vehicle or thing which the investigator is authorised to enter or inspect, to furnish reasonable access to it and to give other reasonable assistance. (4) A warrant ceases to have effect — (a) at the end of the period of one month after its issue; or (b) if it is withdrawn by the magistrate or justice of the peace who issued it; or (c) when it is executed, whichever occurs first. [Section 18C inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 12.] 18D. Seizure (1) An investigator may seize a document or other thing that is produced or given in response to a requirement under this Division, or that is found as the result of executing a warrant under this Division. (2) Despite subsection (1), a document or other thing cannot be seized unless the investigator reasonably suspects it — (a) is being, or has been, used to commit; or (b) may afford evidence of the commission of, a breach of this Act, a prescribed Act or prescribed part of an Act, the finance brokers code of conduct, or a licence condition. (3) As soon as practicable after the document or other thing is seized, the investigator is to give a receipt for it to the person from whom it was seized. (4) If, for any reason, it is not practicable to comply with subsection (3), the investigator is to — (a) leave the receipt at the place of seizure; and (b) ensure the receipt is left in a reasonably secure way and in a conspicuous position. (5) Where a document or other thing is seized pursuant to subsection (1) — (a) an investigator may retain the document or other thing so long as is reasonably necessary for the purposes of the investigation to which the document or other thing is relevant; and (b) when the retention of the document or other thing by the person ceases to be reasonably necessary for those purposes, the investigator shall cause the document or other thing to be delivered to the person who appears to the investigator to be entitled to possession of the document or other thing. [Section 18D inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 12.] 18E. Incriminating information, questions, or documents Without prejudice to the provisions of section 11 of the Evidence Act 1906, where under section 18 a person is required to — (a) give any information; or (b) answer any question; or (c) produce any document, that person cannot refuse to comply with that requirement on the ground that the information, answer, or document may tend to incriminate the person or render the person liable to any penalty, but the information or answer given, or document produced, by the person is not admissible as evidence in any proceedings against the person other than proceedings in respect of an offence against section 18F(1)(b). [Section 18E inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 12.] 18F. Failure to comply with investigation (1) Where under section 18 a person is required to give any information, answer any question, or produce any document and that person, without reasonable excuse (proof of which lies on the person) — (a) fails to give that information or answer that question at or within the time specified in the requirement; or (b) gives any information or answer that is false in any particular; or (c) fails to produce that document at or within the time specified in the requirement, the person commits an offence. Penalty: $2 000. (2) It is a defence in any proceeding for an offence under subsection (1)(a) or (c) for the accused to show — (a) that, in the case of an alleged offence arising out of a requirement made orally under section 18, the investigator did not, when making the requirement, inform the accused that he or she was required under this Act to give the information or answer the question, as the case may be; or (b) that, in the case of an alleged offence arising out of a requirement made by notice in writing under section 18, the notice did not state that he or she was required under this Act to give the information, answer the question, or produce the document, as the case may be; or (c) that the time specified in the requirement did not afford the accused sufficient notice to enable him or her to comply with the requirement; or (d) that, in any case, the investigator did not, before making the requirement, have reasonable grounds to believe that compliance with the requirement would materially assist in the investigation being carried out. [Section 18F inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 12; amended: No. 84 of 2004 s. 82.] 18G. Obstruction of investigator (1) A person must not prevent or attempt to prevent an investigator from entering premises in the exercise of his or her powers under section 18. Penalty: $2 000. (2) A person must not obstruct or impede an investigator in the exercise of his or her powers under section 18. Penalty: $2 000. (3) A person must comply with a requirement to furnish reasonable access to a place or motor vehicle, or to give other reasonable assistance to an investigator under section 18C(3). Penalty: $2 000. [Section 18G inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 12.] 18H. Information (1) Information obtained under this Division by an investigator may (for the purposes of section 88) be recorded, used, or disclosed on the basis that it has been acquired by the investigator for the purposes of this Act. (2) A document copied by an investigator under section 18(1)(d), or when executing a warrant, may be certified by that investigator as being a true and accurate copy of a document and, in the absence of proof to the contrary, any copy so certified is to be accepted by any court or tribunal as evidence of, and as having equal validity as, the original. (3) In this section — information means information concerning the affairs of a person. [Section 18H inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 12.] Division 3 — Review of decisions of the Commissioner [Heading inserted: No. 55 of 2004 s. 342; amended: No. 53 of 2004 s. 13.] [19‑22. Deleted: No. 55 of 2004 s. 343.] 23. Application for review (1) Any person aggrieved by a reviewable decision of the Commissioner may apply to the State Administrative Tribunal for a review of the decision. (2) In subsection (1) — person aggrieved means — (a) a person whose licence is affected by a reviewable decision or who, under Part III, applies for or objects to the grant of a licence or applies for or objects to the renewal of a licence; or (b) a person affected by a decision of the Commissioner under Part IV Division 2; reviewable decision means — (a) a decision under Part III other than a determination of the form in which an application or objection is to be made; (b) a decision under Part IV Division 2 or section 82A(1). [Section 23 inserted: No. 55 of 2004 s. 344; amended: No. 53 of 2004 s. 14.] Part III — Licensing 24. Application (1A) Despite anything in this Act, on and after the referral day no application for a licence is to be made. (1) An application for a licence shall be made in writing and in the manner prescribed and a form approved by the Commissioner and shall contain such information as is prescribed. (2) Notice of the application shall be advertised in accordance with the regulations. (3) The information contained in the application shall be verified by statutory declaration of the applicant or where the applicant is a firm or a body corporate by the person who is to be in bona fide control of the business operated under the licence. (4) In respect of any particular application the applicant shall furnish the Commissioner with such further information as the Commissioner determines, verified if the Commissioner so requires by statutory declaration. [Section 24 amended: No. 53 of 2004 s. 15; No. 55 of 2004 s. 345; No. 14 of 2010 s. 42.] 25. Objections (1A) Despite anything in this Act, on and after the referral day no objection to the grant or renewal of a licence is to be made or determined. (1) An objection to the grant or renewal of a licence may be made by any person on the grounds that the applicant does not satisfy all the requirements under this Act for the grant or renewal of a licence. (2) Any objection made shall be in writing and in a form and manner determined by the Commissioner and shall contain information in support of the grounds on which the objection is made. (3) The information contained in the objection shall be verified by statutory declaration of the person making the objection. (4) The Commissioner is to have regard to the rules of natural justice in so far as they are relevant to the determination of an objection. (5) If an objection is found by the Commissioner to be frivolous or vexatious, the chief executive officer may recover, from the objector, any additional costs incurred as a debt in a court of competent jurisdiction. [Section 25 amended: No. 53 of 2004 s. 16; No. 55 of 2004 s. 346; No. 14 of 2010 s. 43.] 26. Finance brokers to be licensed (1A) On and after the referral day, subsection (1) has no effect. (1) On and after the appointed day a person shall not carry on business, or by any means hold himself or itself out, as a finance broker unless he or it is licensed as such under this Act. Penalty: $50 000. (2) In subsection (1) appointed day means such day as is fixed by the Minister by notice published in the Government Gazette to be the appointed day 1 for the purposes of that subsection. [Section 26 amended: No. 56 of 1995 s. 23(1); No. 53 of 2004 s. 17; No. 14 of 2010 s. 44.] 27A. No further grants of licences Despite anything in this Act, on and after the referral day, no licences are to be granted under section 27, 28 or 29. [Section 27A inserted: No. 14 of 2010 s. 45.] 27. Grant of licence to natural person (1) Subject to this Act, a person, not being a body corporate who applies to the Commissioner for a licence and pays to the chief executive officer the prescribed fee for the licence shall be granted and may hold a licence if the Commissioner is satisfied that — (a) he is resident in the State; and (b) he is of or over the age of 18 years; and (c) he is a person of good character and repute; and (ca) he is a fit and proper person to hold a licence; and (d) he has sufficient material and financial resources available to him to enable him to comply with the requirements of this Act; and (e) he understands fully the duties and obligations imposed by this Act on finance brokers; and (f) he has such other qualifications and satisfies such other requirements (if any) as may be prescribed by the regulations. [(2) deleted] [Section 27 amended: No. 53 of 2004 s. 18.] 28. Grant of licence to firm Subject to this Act, 2 or more persons constituting a firm who apply to the Commissioner for a licence and pay to the chief executive officer the prescribed fee for the licence shall be granted and may hold a licence if the Commissioner is satisfied that — (a) all of the natural persons, if any, by whom the firm is constituted and all of the directors of, and all of the persons concerned in the management or control of, any body corporate by which the firm is constituted are persons of good character and repute; and (aa) all of the natural persons, if any, by whom the firm is constituted and all of the directors of, and all of the persons concerned in the management or control of, any body corporate by which the firm is constituted are persons fit to be concerned as directors of, or in the management and control of a finance broker's business; and (b) the persons by whom or by which the firm is constituted have sufficient material and financial resources available to them to enable them to comply with the requirements of this Act; and (c) where the firm is constituted by not more than 3 persons at least one of them is licensed or where the firm is constituted by more than 3 persons at least 2 of them are licensed, and in either case the person in bona fide control of the business operated under the licence is licensed; and (d) the person in bona fide control of the business has such other qualifications and satisfies such other requirements (if any) as may be prescribed by the regulations. [Section 28 amended: No. 53 of 2004 s. 19.] 29. Grant of licence to body corporate (1) Subject to this Act, a body corporate which applies to the Commissioner for a licence and pays to the chief executive officer the prescribed fee for the licence shall be granted and may hold a licence if the Commissioner is satisfied that — (a) all of the directors of the body corporate, and all of the persons concerned in the management or conduct of the body corporate, are persons of good character and repute; and (aa) all of the directors of the body corporate, and all of the persons concerned in the management or conduct of the body corporate, are persons fit to be concerned as directors of, or in the management and control of a finance broker's business; and (b) that it has sufficient material and financial resources available to it to comply with the requirements of this Act; and (c) where there are not more than 3 directors of the body corporate at least one of them is licensed or where there are more than 3 directors of the body corporate at least 2 of them are licensed, and in either case the person in bona fide control of the business operated under the licence is licensed, or, where a declaration has been made pursuant to subsection (2) and is in force in respect of the body corporate, the officer in bona fide control of the finance broker's part of the business of the body corporate is licensed; and (d) that the person in bona fide control of the business, or the officer in bona fide control of the finance broker's part of the business (as the case requires), has such other qualifications and satisfies such other requirements (if any) as may be prescribed by the regulations. (2) Where the Commissioner is satisfied that finance broker's business is a minor part of the business of any body corporate the Commissioner may recommend to the Minister that a declaration be made to that effect and the Minister may by notice published in the Government Gazette make a declaration accordingly and the Minister may upon the recommendation of the Commissioner by notice so published revoke any such declaration. [Section 29 amended: No. 53 of 2004 s. 20.] 30. Effect of licence (1A) Despite anything in this Act, on the referral day every licence which has not already expired or been surrendered expires. (1) Subject to this Act, a licence continues for not longer than 3 years, or such other licence period as may be prescribed. (2) If different classes of licence are prescribed, different licence periods, each not exceeding 3 years, may be prescribed for each or any class of licence. (3) A person may at any time surrender a licence and shall do so — (a) if the person ceases to satisfy the requirements for holding the licence; or (b) within 7 days, if the person has the licence suspended by the Commissioner under section 82A. [(4) deleted] (5) Despite the surrender by a person of a licence, this Act applies, for the purpose of enabling the person to be investigated or otherwise dealt with for a matter arising before the surrender, as if the licence had not been surrendered. [Section 30 amended: No. 56 of 1995 s. 18 and 23; No. 53 of 2004 s. 21; No. 55 of 2004 s. 347; No. 14 of 2010 s. 46.] 31. Duration of licence (1) Despite anything in this Act, on and after the referral day no licence is to be renewed under subsection (2). (2) Subject to this Act, a licence may, on application and payment of the prescribed fee, be renewed from time to time for the relevant period described in section 30. [Section 31 amended: No. 56 of 1995 s. 19; No. 53 of 2004 s. 22; No. 14 of 2010 s. 47.] 32. Applications for renewals (1A) Despite anything in this Act, on and after the referral day — (a) no application for the renewal of a licence is to be made; and (b) no licence is to be renewed. (1) If — (a) an application for renewal is made after, but within 28 days of, the day on which the licence expired; and (b) the prescribed fee and any amount prescribed by way of penalty for a late application are paid, the licence may be renewed for the relevant period described in section 30. (1a) A renewal under subsection (1) shall be taken for all purposes to have taken effect on the day immediately succeeding the day on which the previous licence expired. (2) An application for renewal shall be made in writing and in the manner prescribed and a form approved by the Commissioner in respect of such an application and shall contain such information as is required by the Commissioner in respect of such an application. (3) The information contained in the application shall be verified by statutory declaration of the applicant or where the applicant is a firm or body corporate by the person who is to be in bona fide control of the business operated under the licence. (4) In respect of any particular application the applicant shall furnish the Commissioner with such further information as the Commissioner determines, verified if the Commissioner so requires by statutory declaration. [Section 32 amended: No. 56 of 1995 s. 20; No. 53 of 2004 s. 23; No. 55 of 2004 s. 348; No. 14 of 2010 s. 48.] 33. Refusal to renew The Commissioner may refuse to renew a person's licence if — (a) the applicant is no longer able to satisfy the requirements for an initial grant of a licence of that class; or (b) the applicant has not met further prescribed educational requirements (if any). [Section 33 inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 24.] 34. Conditions on licences (1) A licensee must until the referral day comply with the provisions of this Act and the finance brokers code of conduct. (2) The Commissioner may grant or renew a licence subject to such conditions as the Commissioner thinks fit and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing any of those conditions may relate to the holding of a policy of indemnity insurance in a specified amount. (3) A licensee must until the referral day comply with any condition to which under subsection (2) his licence is subject. (4) A condition to which a licence is subject may be varied or revoked by the Commissioner, upon the application of the licensee, or on the Commissioner's own motion. (5) No condition to which a licence is subject may be varied or revoked under subsection (4) on or after the referral day. [Section 34 amended: No. 56 of 1995 s. 23; No. 53 of 2004 s. 25; No. 55 of 2004 s. 350; No. 14 of 2010 s. 49.] [34A. Deleted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 26.] 34B. Suspension of licence by State Administrative Tribunal (1) Where the State Administrative Tribunal makes an order against a licensee and payment is not made in accordance with the order or the order is otherwise not complied with or is breached, the State Administrative Tribunal may suspend the licence until the payment is made, or for such period or upon such event occurring as the State Administrative Tribunal thinks fit. (2) The power conferred on the State Administrative Tribunal by subsection (1) is in addition to, and does not derogate from, the powers conferred on it by Part IV Division 3 or by the State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004. [Section 34B inserted: No. 55 of 2004 s. 351.] 35. Bond or guarantee in respect of licence (1) The Commissioner shall not grant or renew a licence unless the applicant lodges or has lodged with the Commissioner a bond or guarantee to Her Majesty and her successors in an approved form and in an amount approved in respect of the applicant, entered into by an insurance company carrying on business under, and in accordance with the Insurance Act 1973 of the Parliament of the Commonwealth, or by a bank carrying on business under, and in accordance with the Banking Act 1959 of the Parliament of the Commonwealth, or any other Act in amendment or substitution of those Acts respectively, or by other approved surety or sureties, or by other approved guarantor or guarantors. (2) A bond or guarantee lodged pursuant to this section shall be conditioned on the licensee duly and according to law paying, applying, and accounting for moneys coming to his hands and punctually complying with all duties and obligations imposed on him by law in relation to those moneys; and the bond or guarantee shall provide that it enures during the term of the licence for which it is originally given and may also provide that it enures during the term of any licence to the same person granted in renewal of the licence. (3) Where a bond or guarantee enures in respect of the renewal or further renewal of a licence, the insurance company, surety, or sureties, or the bank, guarantor, or guarantors may by notice in writing given to the Commissioner determine its, his, or their liability under the bond or guarantee in respect of any act or default that may be done or made after the current licence expires and the Commissioner shall not renew the licence until another approved bond or guarantee has been lodged by the applicant. (4) Where, at any time during the currency of a licence, the bond or guarantee lodged in respect of it ceases to be of full force and effect, the person who held the licence is deemed not to be the holder of a licence until another approved bond or guarantee is lodged by him. (5) The State Administrative Tribunal may, on the application of the Commissioner and on being satisfied that any condition of the bond or guarantee has been broken, assign the moneys recoverable on the bond or guarantee to the Commissioner or to any other person and the Commissioner or any other person to whom such an assignment has been made or the executors or administrators of the estate of that other person is, upon the assignment, entitled to sue upon the bond or guarantee in their own name or names, as if the bond or guarantee had, in the first instance, been given to him, or them and is entitled to receive, as trustees for all persons interested, the full amount recoverable in respect of the breach of a condition of the bond or guarantee. (6) Where — (a) a licence has expired under section 30(1A); and (b) the Commissioner is reasonably satisfied, having regard to the period of time since the licence has expired, that the former licensee is unlikely to have, or to incur, an undischarged liability in respect of moneys which came to his hands before the referral day, the Commissioner may release a bond or guarantee lodged by the former licensee under subsection (1) and may return to the former licensee any document associated with the bond or guarantee. [Section 35 amended: No. 56 of 1995 s. 23; No. 53 of 2004 s. 27; No. 55 of 2004 s. 352 and 358; No. 14 of 2010 s. 50.] 35A. Prescribed person exempt from bond requirements (1) Despite section 35, the regulations may exempt from the requirement to lodge a bond or guarantee — (a) any person or class of persons; or (b) persons carrying on any business or any specified class of business; or (c) any other class of person, act or thing. (2) An exemption may be expressed to apply — (a) generally; or (b) only in respect of a specified area or areas in the State. (3) The regulations may provide — (a) for circumstances in which, and conditions subject to which, an exemption is to apply; and (b) that an exemption is to have no effect at any time when any condition to which it is subject is not being observed. [Section 35A inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 28.] [36-38. Deleted: No. 14 of 2010 s. 51.] [39. Deleted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 32.] 40. Licence not transferable (1) A person shall not hold more than one licence and shall not carry on more than one business as a finance broker thereunder. Penalty: $50 000. (2) A licence is not transferable. (3) A licensee shall not in any way permit, or hold himself out as being willing to permit, another person to use the licence of the licensee. Penalty: $50 000. [Section 40 amended: No. 56 of 1995 s. 23; No. 53 of 2004 s. 33.] 40A. Prohibition against doing business with unlicensed finance brokers (1A) On and after the referral day, subsections (2) and (3) have no effect. (1) In this section — unlicensed finance broker means a person or firm that is required by section 26(1) to, but does not, hold a licence for the type of finance broking concerned. (2) A licensee must not enter into an agreement for any finance broking to be carried out by a person or firm that is an unlicensed finance broker. Penalty: $50 000. (3) A licensee must not do any act which assists, or is intended to assist, a person or firm that is an unlicensed finance broker to carry on a business that consists of or includes the carrying out of any finance broking that requires a licence. Penalty: $50 000. [Section 40A inserted: No. 53 of 2004 s. 34; amended: No. 14 of 2010 s. 52.] 41. Use of business name (1A) On and after the referral day, subsections (1) and (2) have no effect. (1) The use of a business name by a licensee is not subject to the approval of the Commissioner but — (a) a licensee may carry on business as a finance broker under only one business name; (b) all licensees carrying on the business of a finance broker under a business name shall have their surnames and initials at the head of all correspondence from them in that business. (2) A licensee who alters the name, style, title, or designation under which he carries on business as a finance broker shall within 14 days after the day on which he first uses that altered name, style, title, or designation in connection with that business give notice in writing to the Commissioner of the altered name, style, title, or designation. Penalty: $1 000. [Section 41 amended: No. 56 of 1995 s. 23(1); No. 53 of 2004 s. 35; No. 14 of 2010 s. 53.] 42. Notice to be exhibited (1) On and after the referral day, subsection (2) has no effect. (2) A licensee shall exhibit, and keep exhibited, in a prominent place at his registered office, and at every branch office of his business, so as to be easily read from outside that office — (a) a notice of his name, and of the fact that he is a licensed finance broker, together with the name, style, title, or designation under which he carries on business as a finance broker, if that business is not carried on in his own name; and (b) in the case of a branch office, a notice of the name of the manager and the address of the registered office of the licensee. [Section 42 amended: No. 14 of 2010 s. 54.] Part IV — Controls Division 1 — General 43. Disability of unlicensed person (1A) On and after the referral day, subsection (1) has no effect. (1) A finance broker is not entitled to receive any commission, reward, or other valuable consideration in respect of his services in that capacity unless — (a) he is licensed in that capacity when he renders the services; (b) his appointment to act in that capacity is in writing signed before the receipt of the commission, reward, or other valuable consideration (whether before or after the services are rendered) by the person to be charged therewith or some person lawfully authorised to sign the appointment on his behalf. (2) A person shall not demand or receive any commission, reward, or other valuable consideration in contravention of subsection (1). Penalty: $5 000. (3) Any commission, reward, or other valuable consideration received in contravention of subsection (1) may be recovered as a civil debt recoverable summarily in any court of competent jurisdiction. [Section 43 amended: No. 56 of 1995 s. 23(1); No. 53 of 2004 s. 36; No. 14 of 2010 s. 55.] 44. Remuneration of finance brokers (1A) On and after the referral day, subsections (5) and (6) have no effect. (1) After taking advice from the Commissioner, the Minister may, by notice published in the Government Gazette, fix the maximum amounts of remuneration, by way of commission or otherwise, for services rendered by licensees and may do so by reference to the type of loan negotiated, managed or arranged, and the value thereof, and the type of security, if any, offered or where no security is offered by reference to that fact. (2) The respective maximum amounts fixed under subsection (1) shall have effect on and after the date on which the notice fixing them is published in the Government Gazette or on and after such subsequent date as is specified in that notice. (3) In the absence of an agreement to the contrary between a licensee and the person by whom or on whose behalf he was appointed to negotiate or arrange a loan, the licensee's remuneration is payable only on the loan being obtained unless a failure to obtain the loan is due to the fault of the person by whom or on whose behalf the licensee was so appointed. (4) A licensee may require a person by whom or on whose behalf he was appointed to negotiate or arrange a loan to pay to him the estimated cost of obtaining a valuation of any security offered and any amount so paid shall be held in trust by the licensee to pay the costs of the valuation so obtained and to repay the balance of any such amount to the person who paid the money to him. (5) A licensee is not entitled to receive for negotiating, managing or arranging a loan any commission, reward, or other valuable consideration that exceeds in value the amount fixed under subsection (1) in respect thereof. (6) A licensee shall not demand, receive or hold any commission, reward, or other valuable consideration in contravention of this section. Penalty: $5 000. (7) Any commission, reward, or other valuable consideration received or held in contravention of this section may be recovered as a civil debt recoverable summarily in any court of competent jurisdiction. [Section 44 amended: No. 53 of 2004 s. 37; No. 14 of 2010 s. 56.] 45. Advertisements by licensees (1A) On and after the referral day, subsections (1), (2) and (3) have no effect. (1) An advertisement in respect of the business of a licensee shall not be published without his authority. (2) A duly authorised advertisement in respect of the business of a licensee shall contain (as a minimum) the licence number of the licensee, and such other details (if any) as are prescribed. (3) A duly authorised advertisement in respect of the business of a licensee other than an advertisement for credit to which the Consumer Credit (Western Australia) Code applies, shall not mention an interest rate in respect of loans which may be negotiated or arranged unless it is mentioned in respect of specific amounts and it includes the percentage rate of interest in relation thereto calculated in accordance with the formula provided in the Schedule. (4) A borrower who enters into a contract with a lender as a consequence of an advertisement which contravened subsection (3) is not thereby entitled to avoid the contract. (5) In this section — Consumer Credit (Western Australia) Code has the meaning given to it in the Consumer Credit (Western Australia) Act 1996 3. [Section 45 amended: No. 53 of 2004 s. 38; No. 14 of 2010 s. 57.] 46. Copy of loan documents Where before the referral day a person signs any contract, or any document purporting to be a contract, relating to any loan that has been negotiated or arranged wholly or in part by a licensee, the licensee shall forthwith supply the person who signed the contract or document with a true copy thereof and obtain from such person an acknowledgment in writing of the receipt of such copy. [Section 46 amended: No. 14 of 2010 s. 58.] Division 2 — Trust accounts 47. Terms used In this Division, unless the context otherwise requires — banker means the manager, or other officer, for the time being in charge of the office of a bank in which any account of a finance broker is kept; business day means a day other than Saturday, Sunday, or a public holiday; trust accounts means accounts relating to moneys received or held by a finance broker for or on behalf of any other person in respect of loans negotiated or arranged by the finance broker; year means a period of 12 months ending on 31 December, subject however to the provisions of section 51. 48. Trust accounts (1A) On and after the referral day, subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) have no effect. (1) Every finance broker shall maintain at least one trust account, designated or evidenced as such, with a bank in the State and shall, as soon as practicable, pay to the credit of that account all moneys received by him for or on behalf of any other person in respect of loans negotiated or arranged by the finance broker or in respect of interest on such loans collected by him. (2) Moneys so paid into any such trust account shall not be available for the payment of the debt of any other creditor of the finance broker, or be liable to be attached or taken in execution under the order or process of any court at the instance of any such creditors. (3) Loan moneys received by a finance broker in the course of negotiating or arranging a loan and moneys received by a finance broker in respect of interest on loans, shall not be withdrawn from his trust account except for the purpose of completing the loan or paying in accordance with subsection (4) the moneys in respect of interest on loans, or as otherwise authorised by this Act, or as otherwise authorised by the prior written consent of all parties to the loan. (4) A finance broker shall pay moneys withdrawn from a trust account to the person or persons lawfully entitled or authorised to receive them. (5) A finance broker shall — (a) keep full and accurate accounts of all money received or held by him on account of any other person and of all payments made by him of that money; and (b) before the end of the next business day after the day on which the money is received or paid enter in the accounts particulars of the amount so received or paid and the person from whom it was so received or to whom it was so paid; and (c) keep the accounts in such manner that they can be conveniently and properly audited; and (d) correctly balance the accounts at the end of each month. [Section 48 amended: No. 14 of 2010 s. 59.] 49. Receipts and accounting to principal (1A) On and after the referral day, subsections (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) have no effect. (1) When a finance broker receives money for or on behalf of any other person he shall forthwith give to the person paying the money a receipt for it complying with this section and specifying briefly the subject matter or purpose in respect of which the money was received, and shall retain legible carbon duplicates of the receipt. (2) Receipts issued under subsection (1) shall be taken from bound books containing not less than 100 receipts and arranged so that a carbon duplicate of each receipt issued shall be retained in the book. (3) The finance broker shall produce the retained duplicates in the appropriate books to the auditor at every audit, and at such other times as the auditor may reasonably require. (4) The receipts and the duplicates thereof shall be so numbered and or lettered or both that every receipt can be identified and so that the receipt and duplicate have the same number or letter. (5) Subsections (1) to (4) do not apply in the case of a finance broker if the finance broker's auditor certifies to the Commissioner that he is satisfied with the system employed by the finance broker and that the receipt books are so kept and entered up as to enable the accounts to be properly and conveniently audited, and the Commissioner approves of the system employed by the finance broker of recording the receipt of moneys. (6) On receipt of any moneys by a finance broker in respect of a loan, or in respect of interest on a loan, he shall render to the person on whose behalf the money is received an account in writing of all such moneys and of the application thereof. [Section 49 amended: No. 53 of 2004 s. 39; No. 14 of 2010 s. 60.] 50. Duty of finance broker to have trust accounts audited (1A) On and after the referral day, subsections (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9) have no effect. (1) Every person who carries on business as a finance broker during the whole or any part of that year shall cause his trust accounts for that year, or part of a year, as the case may be, to be audited by an auditor duly qualified or approved under this division. (2) The auditor shall conduct the audit in accordance with accepted auditing practice, including selective testing when the auditor considers it appropriate and in accordance with such other requirements as are determined by the Commissioner. (3) The auditor shall within 3 months after the end of each year — (a) deliver to the Commissioner a report of the result of the audit, verified by statutory declaration of the auditor, in an approved form; and (b) deliver a copy of the report so verified to the finance broker. (4) The finance broker shall retain the copy of the report and produce it on demand pursuant to section 60(3). (5) The Commissioner may, in circumstances the Commissioner considers appropriate, extend the time limit for lodging reports. (6) The auditor shall deliver an interim report to the Commissioner if at any time he discovers any irregularity in the trust accounts of the finance broker or discovers any other matter in respect of those accounts which the auditor considers should be reported to the Commissioner and he shall verify the interim report by statutory declaration and deliver a copy of the report so verified to the finance broker. (7) The Commissioner may require the auditor to furnish further information or carry out a further audit at any time, and the auditor shall comply with that requirement, and the cost of so doing shall be paid by the finance broker if the Commissioner so directs but otherwise shall be paid by the chief executive officer. (8) Apart from the annual audit and any interim audit provided for in this section, there shall be a quarterly audit in respect of the trust accounts of a finance broker for the first 3 months during which he carries on business as such after the appointed day, and such quarterly audit shall be conducted in accordance with such provisions of this division in respect of the annual audit as are capable of being applied to the quarterly audit, and the auditor shall within 2 months after the end of the first 3 months deliver to the Commissioner a report of the result of such quarterly audit. (9) The Commissioner may, if the Commissioner thinks fit, waive in respect of a finance broker's trust accounts the requirement of a quarterly audit mentioned in subsection (8). [Section 50 amended: No. 53 of 2004 s. 40; No. 46 of 2009 s. 17; No. 14 of 2010 s. 61.] 51. Variation of date of audit (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Division a finance broker may apply in writing to the Commissioner to fix some date other than 31 December, as the date up to which his trust accounts are to be audited, and the Commissioner may, in the Commissioner's discretion, permit the finance broker to substitute such other date for 31 December. (2) The Commissioner may, upon giving not less than one years' notice to the finance broker affected, revoke any permission granted under this section. (3) When permission is granted under this section the Commissioner shall fix the period in respect of which the first audit shall be made, and the permission may be given upon such conditions, with respect to the time within which the first or any subsequent audit shall be made or otherwise, as the Commissioner may think fit. (4) So long as the permission remains in force, and subject to any conditions which may be imposed, section 50 shall, in relation to the finance broker concerned, be read as if such other date was substituted for 31 December. (5) When any date has been substituted for 31 December under this section, the date so substituted shall not be further changed except by permission of the Commissioner granted in accordance with this section. [Section 51 amended: No. 53 of 2004 s. 41.] 52. Qualification and approval of auditors (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person is qualified to act as an auditor under this Division unless he is a registered company auditor within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth. (2) In districts in respect of which the Commissioner is satisfied that no registered company auditor within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth is available, such other persons with such other qualifications as are approved by the Commissioner may act as auditors under this Division. (3) No person shall audit the accounts of a finance broker if he is an employee or partner of that finance broker, or if he is an employee or partner of any other finance broker actually carrying on business as such, or he is himself carrying on business as such. (4) An auditor shall disclose to the Commissioner any close relationship by blood or marriage he has with a finance broker whose trust accounts he has been appointed to audit or any business dealings he has with or through such finance broker at any time during his appointment as auditor, and the Commissioner may, if the Commissioner thinks fit, disqualify that auditor from acting in that particular case. [Section 52 amended: No. 10 of 1982 s. 28; No. 10 of 2001 s. 221; No. 53 of 2004 s. 42.] 53. Appointment of auditor (1) Subject to the provisions of this Division the auditor by whom the audit of, and reports on, a finance broker's trust accounts are to be made under this Division shall be appointed and employed for that purpose by that finance broker. (2) A finance broker shall appoint his auditor at the time