##### 39  Retention of documents - \(1\) The Secretary may take, and retain for as long as is necessary, possession of a document produced under section 37\. - \(2\) The entity otherwise entitled to possession of the document is entitled to be supplied, as soon as practicable, with a copy certified by the Secretary to be a true copy\. - \(3\) The certified copy must be received in all courts and tribunals as evidence as if it were the original\. - \(4\) Until a certified copy is supplied, the Secretary must, at such times and places as the Secretary thinks appropriate, permit the entity otherwise entitled to possession of the document, or a person authorised by that entity, to inspect and make copies of the document\. --- ## Source and attribution Saved copy: C2018A00029 / C2026C00213 / f578e546a17068939a3a5a928474713f844dfae8 Scope: navPoint\_216 Compiled 2026\-06\-04\. This does not establish legal commencement\. Official source: https://www\.legislation\.gov\.au/C2018A00029/2026\-06\-04/2026\-06\-04/text/1/epub/OEBPS/document\_1/document\_1\.html Licence: https://creativecommons\.org/licenses/by/4\.0/ Based on content from the Federal Register of Legislation at 1 October 2026\. For the latest information on Australian Government legislation please go to https://www\.legislation\.gov\.au\. Converted XHTML into Tiptap JSON; recovered lists from paragraph classes; kept literal labels and text\. Print layout is changed\. The Commonwealth Coat of Arms is not covered by the CC BY licence\.