Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 326

Appeals – oral hearings

Section 326 gives the Minister (or a designated representative) the power to direct that a social welfare appeal be decided by way of an oral hearing, overriding the normal procedures set out in section 311(2).

• The Minister or a person designated by the Minister may intervene in the appeals process to require an oral hearing.
• This power applies where the circumstances of a particular case are considered to warrant it.
• The direction is given to the Chief Appeals Officer, who must then arrange for the appeal to be heard orally.
• This overrides the standard appeal procedures under section 311(2), which would not otherwise require an oral hearing.