Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1992 - SECT 261

             (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.