(1) For the purposes of this Part a preliminary conference, meeting, informal hearing or formal hearing may be held by means of an audio link or an audio visual link if—
(a) holding the conference, meeting or hearing by those means is the only way to comply with any requirements imposed by law; or
Example
A requirement imposed by a law could be that there may be no gatherings of people during a pandemic other than for reasons that do not include the holding of conferences, meetings or hearings.
(b) the person who is required to attend the conference or meeting or entitled to be present at the hearing agrees that the conference, meeting or hearing may be held by either of those means.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), an agreement may be made by any means of electronic communication.
S. 48 amended by Nos 69/2009 s. 54(Sch. Pt 2 item 54), 67/2014 s. 147(Sch. 2 item 39).