The applicant councillor's application for review of an investigating Code of Conduct Panel's determination was dismissed as misconceived or lacking in substance under s 89(1)(a) of the TASCAT Act. The Tribunal held that a complaint about the adequacy of reasons given by a code of conduct panel does not constitute a failure to comply with the rules of natural justice within s 28ZP of the Local Government Act 1993, and that a complainant's failure to submit available evidence does not give rise to a breach of the hearing rule by the panel. The decision distinguishes the procedural fairness obligations owed to a complainant (who faces no sanction) from those owed to a respondent in a complaint process, noting that the authorities cited by the applicant related to parties vulnerable to adverse outcomes.
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