VPRS 8380 Transcripts of Proceedings

Full description

Transcripts of proceedings were created to provide a true and accurate record of all hearings conducted by the Royal Commission. Transcripts of two types of hearing were created: public hearings and in-camera or closed hearings.

The public hearings were those which interested members of the public and press could attend. The Commission recognised the right to confidentiality, for example in banker/client relationships, and sought to avoid unnecessary invasion of that right. Circumstances taken into consideration when determining that a particular matter should be heard in closed hearing included whether material to be examined related to existing criminal proceedings; whether such material and testimony related to personal and information of an individual; whether financial transactions were still current and if publicity could affect the outcome of the transactions.

Proceedings of the Commission were initially recorded on magnetic audio cassettes. The transcripts were produced from the tapes by the Victorian Government Reporting Service which was contracted on a commercial basis for that purpose. The Commission acquired at least two copies of the transcripts; one made available for public perusal (excluding in-camera transcripts) and the other for the reference of the Commission and counsel in the hearing room. The hearing room copy is the one transferred in the P1 and P2 consignments of this series.