T said:
Finally, the CTTT don't have the resources to visit your building. They don't even have the resources to read an application more that are more than a few pages long. This is why oral evidence in a hearing is so useful.
We had a case in 2008 where CTTT flew a Snr Member 800km to hear the case, the Member then traveled by car 35km from the OFT building to the SP to make an inspection before returning to the OFT building to hear the case. The Member ultimately made a decision that seemed to be in contrast to 5 previous orders on the matter but the effort is the point.
In contrast to that the same SP has recently had two rather trivial matters and both times the matters were dealt with by phone from Sydney. That the cases were not dealt with by one of our well qualified, and not too busy, local Members was quite unusual.
The last time i was in Sydney I dropped in to CTTT HQ and sat in on a case being conducted by a Snr. Member. The applicant spoke for about 15 minutes and the whole time the Member just flicked through paperwork without even looking at the applicant. I believe the paperwork was for another matter. It was very cold from a CTTT Snr Member.
Oral evidence is not worth much if the Member is too busy looking over other more important matters.