134Guidelines

134 Guidelines

(1) The Judicial Commission may make guidelines about—

(a) standards of ethical and professional conduct expected of judicial officers and non-judicial members of VCAT; and

(b) the practices that should be adopted by judicial officers and non-judicial members of VCAT in relation to the performance of their functions; and

Example

Examples of practices that should be adopted may include matters such as recommendations to judicial officers and non-judicial members of VCAT as to how to deal with—

• self-represented litigants; or

• victims and their families; or

• counsel appearing before the officer.

(c) the performance of functions conferred by or under this or any other Act by the Judicial Commission or an investigating panel in respect of complaints or referrals; and

(d) the making of complaints or referrals; and

(e) the assistance to be provided by the Director and staff of the Judicial Commission to any investigating panel; and

(f) the use of coercive powers under this Act; and

(g) the matters to be considered by an investigating panel for the purposes of determining whether a hearing should be open to the public under section 62(3); and

(h) any other matters that the Judicial Commission considers appropriate.

(2) The Judicial Commission must ensure that guidelines made under subsection (1) are published on an Internet site maintained by the Judicial Commission.

(3) The Judicial Commission must ensure that guidelines are not inconsistent with this Act or any regulations made under this Act.

(4) If the guidelines are inconsistent with the Act or regulations, the Act or regulations prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.