158GConsideration of submissions by hearing, on the basis of documents or both

158G Consideration of submissions by hearing, on the basis of documents or both (1) Unless the Minister gives a panel a direction under subsection (2), the panel may decide to consider a submission referred to it or give a person a reasonable opportunity to be heard under section 24— (a) by conducting a hearing; or (b) on the basis of documents, if the panel is satisfied that, in considering the submission or giving the person a reasonable opportunity to be heard, it will not need to consider a major issue of policy; or (c) by conducting a hearing about some matters in relation to the amendment and on the basis of documents for other matters, if the panel is satisfied that the matters to be considered on the basis of documents do not raise a major issue of policy. (2) The Minister may direct a panel to consider one or more of the submissions about an amendment referred to it or give a person a reasonable opportunity to be heard under section 24 by conducting a hearing. (3) In deciding whether to consider a submission referred to it or give a person a reasonable opportunity to be heard under section 24 on the basis of documents, the panel must have regard to any guidelines issued by the Minister under subsection (4). (4) The Minister may issue guidelines about the consideration of submissions or giving a person a reasonable opportunity to be heard on the basis of documents. (5) For the purposes of sections 24, 34 and 97E, a panel gives a person referred to in those sections a reasonable opportunity to be heard if the panel hears that person— (a) by conducting a hearing; or (b) on the basis of documents. S. 159 (Heading) inserted by No. 6/2025 s. 159(1).