Except in rare circumstances where procedural fairness is excluded by statute, if you are making a decision which
will affect the rights, interests or legitimate expectations of a person, you must comply with the rules of procedural
fairness. In other words, you must ensure:
you allow the individual a fair hearing (or verify that the individual has been granted a fair hearing) that is neither
too early or too late in the decision-making process; and
you are unbiased. This includes ensuring that from an onlooker’s perspective there is no reasonable perception
of bias. For example, personal, financial or family relationships, evidence of a closed mind or participation in
another role in the decision-making process (such as accuser or judge) can all give rise to a reasonable
perception of bias. If this is the case, it is best to remove yourself from the process and ensure an independent
person assumes the role of decision-maker.