Health Insurance Act 1973

A person under review who is an individual (whether or not a practitioner) is entitled, subject to any reasonable limitations or restrictions that the Committee may impose:

to attend the hearing; and

to be accompanied by a lawyer or another adviser; and

to call witnesses to give evidence (other than evidence as to the person’s character); and

to produce written statements as to the person’s character; and

to question a person giving evidence at the hearing; and

to address the Committee on questions of law arising during the hearing; and

after the conclusion of the taking of evidence, to make a final address to the Committee on questions of law, the conduct of the hearing and the merits of the matters to which the hearing relates.

A lawyer accompanying the person under review is entitled, on behalf of the person under review, subject to any reasonable limitations or restrictions that the Committee may impose:

to give advice to the person under review; and

to address the Committee on questions of law arising during the hearing; and

subject to subsection (4), after the conclusion of the taking of evidence, to make a final address to the Committee on questions of law, the conduct of the hearing and the merits of the matters to which the hearing relates.

The Committee may allow an adviser (other than a lawyer) of the person under review, subject to any reasonable limitations or restrictions that the Committee may impose:

to give advice to the person under review; and

subject to subsection (4), after the conclusion of the taking of evidence, to make, on behalf of the person under review, a final address to the Committee on the merits of the matters to which the hearing relates.

If the person under review is accompanied both by a lawyer and by an adviser who is not a lawyer, a final address to the Committee may be made either by the lawyer or by the other adviser, but not by both of them.

Any fees or expenses in respect of the services of a lawyer or other adviser accompanying the person under review or in respect of witnesses called by that person are payable by that person.