sec.177Hearings normally to be in public

### sec.177 Hearings normally to be in public A hearing must be held in public. However, a hearing, or part of a hearing, may be held in private if the authority considers it is appropriate because of the confidential nature of any evidence or other matter or for another reason. If a hearing, or part of a hearing, is being held in private, the authority— may give written directions about the persons who may be present; and may give an oral or written direction to a person prohibiting or restricting, without the authority’s consent, the publication of— evidence given before the hearing; or matters contained in documents given to the authority for the hearing. In giving a direction, the authority must have regard to the need for commercial confidentiality. A person must not— be present at a hearing in contravention of a direction under subsection (3) (a) ; or contravene a direction under subsection (3) (b) . Maximum penalty for subsection (5) —1,000 penalty units or 1 year’s imprisonment. (sec.177-ssec.1) A hearing must be held in public. (sec.177-ssec.2) However, a hearing, or part of a hearing, may be held in private if the authority considers it is appropriate because of the confidential nature of any evidence or other matter or for another reason. (sec.177-ssec.3) If a hearing, or part of a hearing, is being held in private, the authority— may give written directions about the persons who may be present; and may give an oral or written direction to a person prohibiting or restricting, without the authority’s consent, the publication of— evidence given before the hearing; or matters contained in documents given to the authority for the hearing. (sec.177-ssec.4) In giving a direction, the authority must have regard to the need for commercial confidentiality. (sec.177-ssec.5) A person must not— be present at a hearing in contravention of a direction under subsection (3) (a) ; or contravene a direction under subsection (3) (b) . Maximum penalty for subsection (5) —1,000 penalty units or 1 year’s imprisonment. - (a) may give written directions about the persons who may be present; and - (b) may give an oral or written direction to a person prohibiting or restricting, without the authority’s consent, the publication of— (i) evidence given before the hearing; or (ii) matters contained in documents given to the authority for the hearing. - (i) evidence given before the hearing; or - (ii) matters contained in documents given to the authority for the hearing. - (i) evidence given before the hearing; or - (ii) matters contained in documents given to the authority for the hearing. - (a) be present at a hearing in contravention of a direction under subsection (3) (a) ; or - (b) contravene a direction under subsection (3) (b) .