Commonwealth Numbered Regulations Commonwealth Numbered Regulations(1) A hearing of a Commission must be held in private.
(2) Despite subsection (1), the appointing authority for a Commission may, by written notice given to the President of the Commission, direct:
(a) that the Commission hold one or more of its hearings in public; or
(b) that a person, or persons included in a class of persons, specified in the notice may be present during all or part of a private hearing of the Commission.
(3) If the President of a Commission is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in the interests of:
(a) the defence, security or international relations of the Commonwealth; or
(b) fairness to a person who the President considers may be affected by the Commission's inquiry; or
(c) the effective conduct of the Commission's inquiry;
the President may:
(d) order that a person, or persons included in a class of persons, specified in the order must not be present at all or part of a public or private hearing of the Commission; or
(e) order that all or part of a public hearing must be held in private and give directions as to the persons who may be present.
(4) The President of a Commission may make an order under subsection (3) in relation to a hearing of the Commission despite any direction given under subsection (2) in relation to the hearing.
(5) If the President of a Commission makes an order under subsection (3), the President may authorise a person to take such reasonable action as is required to give effect to the order.