39Hearing of complaint by council

39 Hearing of complaint by council

(1)  The council may hold hearings as part of an examination of a complaint.

(2)  A hearing must be held in private, unless the council decides on reasonable grounds that it is in the public interest for the hearing to be held in public.

(3)  If a hearing or part of a hearing is to be held in private, the council may give directions as to the persons who may be present during the hearing.

(4)  At a hearing of a complaint by the council –

(a) the relevant judicial officer is entitled to appear and to be represented by an Australian legal practitioner; and

(b) a person summoned to attend, or to appear before the council as a witness, may be represented by an Australian legal practitioner; and

(c) any other person may, with the consent of the council, appear and may be represented by an Australian legal practitioner.

(5)  A hearing is to be held in accordance with any relevant guidelines made under section 7(2) .