The role of a McKenzie friend is limited to sitting beside the litigant, offering suggestions, taking notes, and guiding generally; it does not extend to addressing the court or conducting proceedings as an advocate. The refusal of a McKenzie friend is within the discretion of the presiding judicial officer and will not constitute an appellable error where the litigant is found fit to stand trial and the matter is relatively straightforward. An assertion that local government is constitutionally invalid for lack of express mention in the Commonwealth Constitution does not raise a genuine constitutional issue requiring s 78B notices.
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