FAMILY LAW ACT 1975
- SECT 97
Procedure

(1)

Subject to subsections (1A) and (2), to the regulations and to the applicable Rules of Court, all proceedings in the Family Court, in the Federal Magistrates Court, or in a court of a Territory (other than the Northern Territory) when exercising jurisdiction under this Act, shall be heard in open court.

(1A)

The regulations and the applicable Rules of Court may authorise proceedings to be heard by a Judge, Judicial Registrar, Registrar, Federal Magistrate or magistrate sitting in Chambers.

(2)

In any proceedings in the Family Court, or in another court when exercising jurisdiction under this Act, the court may, of its own motion or on the application of a party to the proceedings, make one or more of the following orders:

(a) an order that a specified person is not, or specified persons are not, to be present in court during the proceedings or during a specified part of the proceedings;
(b) an order that persons included in a specified class of persons are not to be present in court during the proceedings or during a specified part of the proceedings;
(c) an order that only the parties to the proceedings, their legal representatives and such other persons (if any) as are specified by the court may be present in court during the proceedings or during a specified part of the proceedings.

(3)

In proceedings under this Act, the court shall proceed without undue formality and shall endeavour to ensure that the proceedings are not protracted.