8Searching and inspecting documents

8 Searching and inspecting documents

8 Searching and inspecting documents

(1) A person must not, without leave of a Magistrate or registrar of the Local Court, search or inspect documents relating to proceedings.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the following persons—

(a) the Attorney General,

(b) a person authorised by the Attorney General to search or inspect documents on the Attorney General’s behalf,

(c) a party to the proceedings to which the documents sought relate.

(3) Leave may be granted under subsection (1) only to a person who demonstrates a proper interest in searching or inspecting the documents.

(4) In determining whether a person demonstrates a proper interest in searching or inspecting the documents for subsection (3), the Magistrate or registrar must consider the following matters—

(a) the impact of granting leave to the parties to the proceedings,

(b) the connection the person to whom the Magistrate or registrar is considering granting leave has to the proceedings,

(c) the reasons for which the person has sought to search or inspect the documents,

(d) other matters the Magistrate or registrar considers relevant.

(5) Leave may be granted subject to conditions determined by—

(a) the Local Court, or

(b) a registrar of the Local Court.