26Public hearing

#### 26 Public hearing 26 Public hearing > > (1) The Redistribution Panel must hold a public hearing into any submission or comment made under section 25 unless the Redistribution Panel is of the opinion that— > > > > > (a) the matters raised in the submission or comment were raised, or are substantially the same as matters that were raised, in suggestions or comments lodged under section 22, or > > > > > (b) the submission or comment is frivolous or vexatious. > > > (2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Redistribution Panel may hold one public hearing into a number of submissions and comments. > > > (3) At the public hearing, oral and further written submissions may be made to the Redistribution Panel by or on behalf of any person who, or organisation that, lodged a submission or comment under section 25. > > > (4) The Redistribution Panel is not bound by the rules of evidence and may regulate the conduct of proceedings at the hearing as it considers fit. > > > (5) Without limiting subsection (4), the Redistribution Panel may determine the following— > > > > > (a) the times and places for holding sessions of the public hearing, > > > > > (b) the manner in which oral or written submissions may be made to the Panel at the public hearing, > > > > > (c) the time within which written submissions may be made to the Panel, > > > > > (d) the extent to which the Panel may be orally addressed, and the persons by whom they may be orally addressed, on any submission. > > > (6) The Redistribution Panel must consider all submissions made to it at a public hearing.