Telecommunications Act 1997

The ACMA may hold hearings for the purposes of a public inquiry.

Hearings may be held, for example:

in order to receive submissions about the matter to which the inquiry relates; or

in order to provide a forum for public discussion of issues relevant to that matter.

At a hearing, the ACMA may be constituted by:

a member or members determined in writing by the Chair for the purposes of that hearing; or

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.

The Chair is to preside at all hearings at which he or she is present.

If the Chair is not present at a hearing, the hearing is to be presided over by:

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

if paragraph (3)(b) applies and the delegation is to a person—that person; or

if paragraph (3)(b) applies and the delegation is to a Division of the ACMA—a member of the Division chosen by the Division.

The ACMA may regulate the conduct of proceedings at a hearing as it thinks appropriate.