Royal Commissions are not specifically required to hold public hearings. The Inquiries Act 2013 allows each Inquiry to set its own procedure. The Law Commission, in its report that led to the Inquiries Act, noted that Inquiries should be able to use a wide variety of means, such as informal meetings and interviews, with formal hearings akin to court processes only required in the minority of instances.

The Royal Commission will decide on the forms of engagement it considers necessary, including whether any hearings are appropriate, to gather the information or views needed to inform its recommendations. In the next few months, the Royal Commission will outline its approach once it has completed its initial planning.