When do I participate in a Conciliation Conference at the Tribunal?

You may be ordered to attend

You need to attend a Conciliation Conference at the Tribunal if the Tribunal orders you to do so. The Tribunal may send a letter telling you that a Conciliation Conference has been ordered or the order may be made at a Directions Hearing.

If you do not attend the Conciliation Conference as ordered, you will be in breach of the Tribunal’s order.

You must attend a Conciliation Conference which has been ordered by the Tribunal even if other Directions ordered by the Tribunal (such as orders that Witness Statements or pleadings be provided) have not been complied with.

However, you do not have to participate if you are told by a Tribunal Member or one of the Tribunal Registry staff that you do not need to attend the Conciliation Conference.

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Where will the conciliation be held?

Usually, parties are required to attend a Conciliation Conference in person. The Tribunal Registry will tell you where the conference will be held.

The Conciliation Conference will usually be held in a major regional centre nearest to where the events are alleged to have taken place, or which is most convenient to the majority of the parties and the Tribunal.

Sometimes, when parties are not all in the same place, the Tribunal will order that the parties to be linked in by telephone. If this is the case for you, the Tribunal Registry will write and tell you what telephone number you will be called on. If you want to be contacted on a different number, you should tell the Tribunal Registry immediately.

If you are linked in to the Conciliation Conference by telephone, you must take the telephone call at the set time. If you do not accept the telephone call at the specified time, you will be taken to have not attended the Conciliation Conference and you will be in breach of the Tribunal’s orders.

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