Media Protocol

Enquiries

Any requests for information should be made to the Registrar of the Tribunal.

Law List

Matters for public hearing are listed in the law list of the Courier Mail or relevant Regional paper on the day(s) of hearing.

Upcoming Matters

The media, upon enquiry, will be informed of what matters have been listed for hearing within the next month from the date of enquiry. The names of the parties or any information tending to identify them will not be divulged. The details that may be given to the enquirer are the type of discrimination alleged, and the area of the Act referred to eg.

Matters being heard by the Tribunal

Reporters and members of the public are entitled to attend at the Tribunal hearing unless the Tribunal has ordered the hearing be held in private.

Suppression orders

Journalists should be aware that suppression orders may be made in particular cases. Enquiries should be directed to the Associate of the Member hearing the case as to whether any suppression orders have been made.

Access to Documents

a. Statements

As most evidence is provided by way of statements, to enable fair reporting of matters being heard before the Tribunal reporters (at the discretion of the hearing member) may be permitted access to view statements of witnesses once those statements have been tendered to the Tribunal at a hearing and the particular witness has commenced cross examination. If a witness has not be required for cross examination at hearing , then access to view their statement of evidence can be arranged at a time convenient to the Tribunal eg. during lunch adjournment. No access to statement material will be given prior to the commencement of a hearing.

b. Points of Claim/ Points of Defence

At the discretion of the Tribunal, the media may be permitted access to the Points of Claim or Points of Defence after a hearing has commenced and those documents have been tendered by the parties to the Tribunal.

c. Transcripts of Hearings

At the discretion of the Tribunal the media may be permitted access to transcripts of the hearings of the Tribunal.

NOTE: No photocopy of any document referred to in a, b or c will be provided by the Tribunal Registry to the media or any member of the public unless specifically authorised by the Member hearing the case.

d. Decisions

Once a matter has been handed down by the Tribunal, the media may access copies of the decision by contacting the Tribunal Registry. Decisions are also posted on this website.

Further information on cases or the Act

If the media wishes to seek comment on a particular case or any aspect of the Act, that is not related to the procedures of the Tribunal, then they should contact the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner.

Relevant sections of the Act

Section 220(1) of the Act prohibits members of the Tribunal, the Registrar or staff of the Tribunal who acquires information about a persons affairs or has a custody of a document about a person’s affairs from making a record of the information or communicating or producing the document another person.

Subsection (1) does not apply if recording or communicating information or producing a document is required for the performance of a function in connection with this Act.

Section 203 of the Act states that hearings are to be held in public unless the Tribunal directs that all or part of a hearing be held in private.

Section 192 states the Tribunal may order that any oral or documentary evidence must not be published, except as directed by the Tribunal.