20Procedure at inquiries

20 Procedure at inquiries

(1)  [Section 20 Subsection (1) amended by No. 38 of 2023, s. 44, Applied:01 Jul 2024] Subject to this Act, an inquiry by the Tasmanian Augmented Electoral Commission into an initial objection is to be held in public.

(2)  [Section 20 Subsection (2) amended by No. 38 of 2023, s. 44, Applied:01 Jul 2024] [Section 20 Subsection (2) substituted by No. 31 of 1998, s. 40, Applied:28 Jul 1998] At an inquiry by the Tasmanian Augmented Electoral Commission into an initial objection any person or organisation that lodged an objection has a right to be heard.

(3)  [Section 20 Subsection (3) amended by No. 38 of 2023, s. 44, Applied:01 Jul 2024] [Section 20 Subsection (3) amended by No. 31 of 1998, s. 40, Applied:28 Jul 1998] At an inquiry into an initial objection, the Tasmanian Augmented Electoral Commission must consider all evidence given under subsection (2) .

(4)  [Section 20 Subsection (4) amended by No. 38 of 2023, s. 44, Applied:01 Jul 2024] The Tasmanian Augmented Electoral Commission is not bound by the legal rules of evidence and may regulate the conduct of proceedings at an inquiry into an initial objection as it thinks fit.

(5)  [Section 20 Subsection (5) amended by No. 38 of 2023, s. 44, Applied:01 Jul 2024] Without limiting the generality of subsection (4) –

(a) [Section 20 Subsection (5) amended by No. 38 of 2023, s. 44, Applied:01 Jul 2024] the manner in which evidence may be given to the Tasmanian Augmented Electoral Commission; and

(b) [Section 20 Subsection (5) amended by No. 38 of 2023, s. 44, Applied:01 Jul 2024] the time within which evidence may be given to the Tasmanian Augmented Electoral Commission; and