Queensland Consolidated Acts Queensland Consolidated Acts(1) The tribunal shall meet as often as is necessary for the purpose of exercising its jurisdiction under this Act at such times and places as it thinks fit and, subject to this Act, may conduct its business and proceedings before it in the way it decides.
(2) Proceedings before the tribunal shall if so required by the board or the veterinary surgeon concerned take place in public otherwise such proceedings shall take place in private.
(3) In proceedings before the tribunal--
(a) a lawyer or a member or officer of the board may appear for adducing evidence or assisting the tribunal; and
(b) a party to the proceedings may be represented by a lawyer or other person unless the tribunal considers it appropriate in the interests of justice to direct otherwise.
(3A) In considering if it is appropriate to direct a party may not be represented by a lawyer or other person, the tribunal must have regard to--
(a) the cost of representation and whether each party can afford to be represented; and
(b) the potential for lengthening the proceedings if a party is not represented; and
(c) whether the nature of the subject matter of the proceedings is practical as opposed to legal or technical.
(4) For the purpose of exercising its jurisdiction under this Act the tribunal may receive and admit in evidence the transcript of proceedings of any court having jurisdiction in the State where, in the opinion of the tribunal, the transcript is relevant to the matter before it.
(5) The tribunal may proceed to hear and decide proceedings instituted pursuant to this Act in the absence of the person in respect of whom the proceedings are brought where the tribunal is satisfied that the person has been given notice of the time and place at which the proceedings are to be heard and, where the same have been adjourned or further adjourned, of the time and place to which they have been adjourned.