44Hearings to be private

### 44 Hearings to be private > > (1)  An application under this Act must not be heard in open court. > > > (2)  Persons who are not parties to proceedings in relation to an application under this Act, or their legal representatives, are, except as otherwise directed by the court, to be excluded during the hearing of such an application. > > > (3)  A court may, at the hearing of an application under this Act – > > > > > > (a) at any time during the hearing, order a child to leave the room or other place in which the court is hearing the application if it is of the opinion that such an order should be given in the interests of the child; and > > > > > > > (b) order a person to leave the room or other such place during the examination of a witness.