55Closed hearings in special circumstances

55 Closed hearings in special circumstances (1) The Magistrates Court when hearing an application for a protection order may, if satisfied that it is in the interests of safety, justice or the public to do so, make an order— (a) permitting— (i) the hearing, or part of the hearing, to take place in private; and (ii) stated people to be present at the hearing; or

(b) prohibiting or restricting the publication of— (i) evidence given at, or received for, the hearing, whether in public or private; or (ii) a matter in a document filed in the court for the proceeding; or (c) prohibiting or restricting the disclosure to some or all of the parties to the proceeding of— (i) evidence given, or received, at the hearing, whether in public or private; or (ii) a matter in a document filed in the court for the proceeding. (2) A person commits an offence if the person fails to comply with an order under this section. Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units. (3) For subsection (1), the making of an order is in the interests of safety, justice or the public if the order is necessary— (a) to protect the affected person; or (b) to protect morals, public order or national security in a democratic society; or (c) because the interest of the private lives of the parties require the privacy; or (d) to the extent privacy is strictly necessary, in special circumstances of the application, because publicity would otherwise prejudice the interests of justice.