Hearings

The principles of open justice are central to the work of the Commission. This means that, wherever possible, hearings are conducted in public so the community can see how evidence is tested and how decisions are made.

Public hearings will be livestreamed and recordings and transcripts will be published on this website. This ensures that hearings are accessible and transparent, even for people who cannot attend in person.

The Commission takes safety very seriously. There will be measures to protect people who give information at all hearings. These will enable people to share their experiences safely while maintaining an open and transparent process.

In some circumstances, the Commissioner may decide to hold a private hearing. These hearings are not open to the public, and there may be restrictions on what information can be shared.

Leave to appear

Leave to appear means the Commission has given permission for a person or organisation to take part in a public hearing — for example, to ask questions of witnesses or make submissions.

Find out more, or apply.

Schedule

The next public hearings are scheduled to be held in Cairns, from Tuesday 12 May to Friday 15 May 2026.

Hearings are envisaged to follow the below schedule:

Session One: 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM
30-minute recess
Session Two: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Luncheon adjournment
Session Three: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Adjournment

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