COMING ALONG TO ICAC
A number of people have expressed an interest in coming along to the ICAC hearings. I would really encourage it: best show in town, and no charge for admission!
Venue
The venue is the special ICAC hearing room on Level 7, 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. The building is basically adjacent to the Market Street David Jones Store, one building towards Central. See maps below. (Notice the 'Chrysler Cafe' - the entrance you want is to the left, with 133 prominently above the door.)
Enter the lobby, go to the lifts on the RIGHT HAND SIDE of the concierge desk, go up to Level 7.
You'll find the entrance to the hearing room as a single door at the end of a corridor:
There is no separate waiting area. Everyone lines up - legal types, witnesses, the public. Just take your spot in the queue.
Sitting Times/Days
The hearings start at 10am each day, Monday to Friday. (There are occasional exceptions, where the Commission doesn't sit on a particular day - for example, Fri 25/1. Any scheduled days off are indicated in the witness list - simply go to the ICAC website (www.icac.nsw.gov.au) and look for the link.
Lunch is typically 12:30pm-1.30pm.
The afternoon session goes from 1.30pm until about 4 or so, depending on how things are progressing.
How Do I Know Who's On?
Each week - typically late on a Thursday - the witness list for the coming week is updated (find it by navigating from the ICAC home page: www.icac.nsw.gov.au). On it, you can see who's scheduled to appear when. Having said this, things don't always go exactly to plan - sometimes evidence from a particular witness takes longer than expected (meaning it's not unusual for things to be running a bit behind). While the order of witnesses in the published list mostly stays the same, there can be changes.
Being 100% sure of where things are up to can be a little tricky. The best solution is to monitor our Twitter feed (@bylongmining, which is also updated on the BVPA homepage: www.bvpa.org.au) or the Twitter feed of people like Kate McClymont (@Kate_McClymont). You can also keep an eye on news coverage (especially the SMH) or - if you're really keen - check the transcripts of each day's hearing by going to: http://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/investigations/current-investigations/categorylist/12/192
When To Arrive
On days where there are well known names, it pays arrive a little early to queue up to get a seat - probably around 9.30am. On days where there are no big names, 9.40-9.45 is usually pretty safe. For the REALLY big names, I'd be getting there quite early - certainly by 9.15.
The media are let in from about 9.45am. Everyone else gets let in from about 9.55am.
You can actually arrive at any time - people are allowed to enter and leave while proceedings are under way. It's just a matter of whether or not there's room for you in the public gallery. (If not, you'll be directed to Level 21 where you can watch proceedings via closed circuit monitoring.)
How It Works/Where To Sit
Immediately inside the door from the corridor, you'll go through standard screening, with a metal detector and X-Ray for bags etc (just like going to the airport). As you walk through to the hearing room the public gallery seats are the “normal” black chairs straight in front of you and to the right
There are about 50 or so seats in the public gallery. If it fills up, there is an “overflow” area on Level 21 where you can watch and listen to proceedings by closed-circuit link. Come to Level 7 first and you'll be directed up to Level 21 as needed.
Protocols/Etiquette
Usual courtroom protocols apply. You'll hear a knock just before the Commissioner enters - stand. He'll take his place and bow - you bow too. As/when he sits, you sit.
If entering late, turn to the Commissioner and give a short nod/bow before proceeding to take your seat. If leaving early, stop at the door, turn to the Commissioner and nod/bow.
At an adjournment, the Commissioner will stand - you stand and everyone does the bowing thing again. Don't sit or talk or move until he's left the room. If in doubt, just do what everyone else is doing. :-)
Assistance for the Hearing Impaired
If you have a hearing aid or have difficulty hearing what's going on properly, special headsets are available. Just ask the one of the security guys in the entry/screening area.