Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986

For the purpose of attempting to conciliate a complaint in accordance with section 46PF, the President may decide to hold a conference, to be presided over by:

the President; or

a suitable person (other than a Commission member) determined by the President.

The President may:

invite any or all of the complainants or respondents to attend the conference; and

invite any other person to attend the conference, if:

the President reasonably believes that the person is capable of giving information that is relevant to the conciliation of the complaint; or

the President considers that the person’s presence at the conference is likely to be conducive to the conciliation of the complaint.

The President may, by written notice given to a person referred to in subsection (2), require the person to attend the conference (whether or not the person has already been invited to attend the conference).

Failure to comply with a notice is an offence—see subsection (5).

A notice under subsection (3):

must specify the place and time of the conference, not being a time that is less than 14 days after the notice is given; and

must set out the effect of subsection (5).

A person commits an offence if:

the person has been given a notice under subsection (3) requiring the person to attend a conference; and

the person refuses or fails to comply with the requirement.

Subsection (5) is an offence of strict liability.

For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.

A person who is required to attend the conference is entitled to be paid, by the Commonwealth, a reasonable sum for the person’s expenses of attendance.