TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1997 - SECT 491 Hearings
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1997 - SECT 491
Hearings(1) The ACMA may hold hearings for the purposes of a public inquiry.
(2) Hearings may be held, for example:
(a) in order to receive submissions about the matter to which the inquiry relates; or
(b) in order to provide a forum for public discussion of issues relevant to that matter.
(3) At a hearing, the ACMA may be constituted by:
(a) a member or members determined in writing by the Chair for the purposes of that hearing; or
(b) if the functions or powers of the ACMA in relation to the hearing have been delegated to a person, or to a Division of the ACMA, under section 50, 51 or 52 of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 --that person or Division.
(4) The Chair is to preside at all hearings at which he or she is present.
(5) If the Chair is not present at a hearing, the hearing is to be presided over by:
(a) if paragraph (3)(a) applies--the member, specified in an instrument under that paragraph, as the member who is to preside at the hearing; or
(b) if paragraph (3)(b) applies and the delegation is to a person--that person; or
(c) if paragraph (3)(b) applies and the delegation is to a Division of the ACMA--a member of the Division chosen by the Division.
(6) The ACMA may regulate the conduct of proceedings at a
hearing as it thinks appropriate.