New South Wales Consolidated Acts

ELECTORAL ACT 2017 - SECT 26

26 Public hearing

(1) The Redistribution Panel must hold a public hearing into any submission or comment made under section 25 unless the Redistribution Panel is of the opinion that--

(a) the matters raised in the submission or comment were raised, or are substantially the same as matters that were raised, in suggestions or comments lodged under section 22, or

(b) the submission or comment is frivolous or vexatious.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Redistribution Panel may hold one public hearing into a number of submissions and comments.

(3) At the public hearing, oral and further written submissions may be made to the Redistribution Panel by or on behalf of any person who, or organisation that, lodged a submission or comment under section 25.

(4) The Redistribution Panel is not bound by the rules of evidence and may regulate the conduct of proceedings at the hearing as it considers fit.

(5) Without limiting subsection (4), the Redistribution Panel may determine the following--

(a) the times and places for holding sessions of the public hearing,

(b) the manner in which oral or written submissions may be made to the Panel at the public hearing,

(c) the time within which written submissions may be made to the Panel,

(d) the extent to which the Panel may be orally addressed, and the persons by whom they may be orally addressed, on any submission.

(6) The Redistribution Panel must consider all submissions made to it at a public hearing.