#26085
Sir Humphrey
Strataguru

    I suspect you would not get far unless there were something in writing from the person wishing to attend by phone such as a request to the managing agent or the chair to attend by phone as per previous arrangements made reasonably in advance of the meeting. 

    The office of fair trading is more likely to be interested if the outcome of a close vote could have been different with one more attendee. 

    I am not up to speed on whether NSW (where I presume you are) has anything on attendance by phone. In the ACT the legislation is silent on that and only provides for attending in person, by appointing proxy or lodging an absentee vote on notified matters.

    In the ACT, in the absence of legislation or any case precedent that I am aware of, I would say it is up to the chair to decide whether to accept attendance by phone. A fair reason for not accepting would be insufficient notice of the request to enable conferencing facilities to be set up. 

    In my experience, people unable to attend but with an axe to grind have appointed a proxy and provided that person with a list of questions.