Update on technology for VCAT appearances

We received a circular summarising technology used by the different jurisdictions in Victoria for hearings in light the new social distancing rules.

At this stage, for retail tenancies disputes VCAT is only using telephone calls for urgent matters.  As far as I can tell, at this stage the system only allows for two-parties to call in at any one time (ie the Member plus two others on the call).

If you have an appearance in a retail tenancies matter at VCAT, you should make sure that you are prepared to only have one phone line into the Tribunal.  For example, I have been appearing at VCAT by telephone with my instructing solicitors communicating with me on FaceTime from my desk.