407Attendance at Court of author of report

407 Attendance at Court of author of report

(1) The author of a report may be required to attend to give evidence at the proceeding to which the report is relevant by a notice given in accordance with subsection (2) by—

(b) the Secretary; or

(c) the Children's Court.

(2) A notice under subsection (1) must be—

(a) in writing; and

(b) filed in the Children's Court as soon as possible and, if practicable, not later than 2 working days before the hearing.

(3) On the filing of a notice under subsection (1), the Children's Court must immediately notify the author of the report that the author's attendance is required on the return date.

(4) A person is guilty of contempt of court if—

(a) the person is the author of a report and has been required to attend the Children's Court under subsection (1); and

(b) the person fails, without sufficient excuse, to attend as required.

(5) The author of a report who has been required under subsection (1) by the child or the Secretary to attend at the proceeding, if required by the child or the Secretary (as the case requires)—

(a) must be called as a witness; and

(b) may be cross-examined on the contents of the report.