Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Supreme Court Act 1986 - SECT 18

Power to close proceedings to the public

18. Power to close proceedings to the public



(1) The Court may in the circumstances mentioned in section 19-

   (a)  order that the whole or any part of a proceeding be heard in closed
        court; or

   (b)  order that only persons or classes of persons specified by it may be
        present during the whole or any part of a proceeding; or

   (c)  make an order prohibiting the publication of a report of the whole or
        any part of a proceeding or of any information derived from a
        proceeding.

(2) This section applies to any proceeding, whether civil or criminal.

(3) If an order has been made under this section the Court must cause a copy
of it to be posted on a door of the court house or in another conspicuous
place where notices are usually posted at the court house.

(4) A person must not contravene an order made and posted under this section.

Penalty: 1000 penalty units or imprisonment for 3 months.