159ADirections about conferences of experts and joint experts reports

159A Directions about conferences of experts and joint experts reports (1) A panel may direct under section 159 experts who are engaged by a person specified in section 24 to provide an opinion in a hearing about a matter addressed in that person's submission or in any other submission considered by the panel— (a) to hold a conference of experts; or (b) to prepare a joint experts report; or (c) to hold a conference and prepare a joint experts report. (2) A direction to hold a conference of experts may include that the conference of experts be held with or without the attendance of all or any of the following— (a) a person who engaged an expert; (b) any other person who made a submission about the amendment; (c) the legal representative of a person referred to in paragraph (a) or (b); (d) an independent facilitator. (3) A direction to prepare a joint experts report may include the following— (a) that the joint experts report specifies— (i) the matters agreed and not agreed by the experts; and (ii) the reasons for any agreement or disagreement; (b) the issues to be dealt with in the joint experts report by the experts; (c) the facts, and assumptions of facts, on which the joint experts report is to be based. (4) Directions referred to in this section may be general or in relation to specified issues. (5) Nothing in this section limits any other direction the panel may give under section 159 or other power the panel may have. (6) In this section— ***expert*** means a person who has specialised knowledge based on the person's training, study or experience.