ROYAL COMMISSION HEARINGS
The Commission will hold public hearings as part of its inquiry.
What is a public hearing?
At a public hearing the Commission listens to evidence from individuals and organisations. The hearings allow
the Commission to find out information to help with their inquiry and to test evidence that is presented to
them.
Can I come and watch the proceedings at the Commission?
Yes. Anyone can come and watch a public hearing – you don’t need to tell us or seek permission if you want
to sit and watch a public hearing. Times and locations of public hearings are available on the Commission’s
website.
Can I give evidence at a hearing?
The Commission identifies a small number of individuals and organisations as witnesses to give evidence at a
public hearing. If you have information that the Commission should know and are willing to be a witness,
please contact the Commission.
Received a summons?
If you receive a summons from the Commission:
 You are required to attend a hearing and tell the truth, and you are entitled to bring a lawyer to represent
you (we can tell you how to get legal advice if you need it);
 You may be provided with the assistance of an interpreter or support person when giving your evidence.
Please contact us if you need any help to attend a hearing. At the hearing, the Commissioners will supervise
all questioning but another person’s lawyer may be able to ask you questions. Others may also have the
opportunity to tell their side of the story.
Do I need ‘leave to appear’?
If a public hearing could directly affect your interest, you or your lawyer may want to formally participate and
you should seek permission from the Commission. This process is called seeking leave to appear. Individuals
and organisations which have leave to appear, may, for example, be allowed to question a personal giving
evidence at the hearing.
To apply for leave, you need to send an email to: [email protected] providing:
 Your name and contact details or those of your lawyer
 An outline of which parts of the Commission’s terms of reference (available on the website) you want to
address, and
 An explanation on why you need to appear.
You don’t need permission to provide information to the Commission. You can provide information in any
form, including by telephone or email, at any time. Our ‘Providing Information’ fact sheet contains further
detail.
For more information about public hearings, visit our website www.childdetentionnt.royalcommission.gov.au