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provides that a committal mention hearing must be held within 3 months after the commencement of the criminal proceeding for the offence (rather than the commencement of the committal proceeding), in the case of a sexual offence. Clause 6 sets out how a criminal proceeding is commenced. In all other cases, the committal mention hearing must be held within 6 months after the commencement of the criminal proceeding for the offence. Subclause (3) provides that neither of these time periods applies if the accused failed to attend in accordance with the conditions of bail or if an arrest warrant has been issued after a committal mention hearing was required to be held and the accused has not been arrested. The time limits also do not apply where the accused requests that a committal mention hearing be held after the period for holding a committal mention hearing has expired and the court is satisfied that the request should be granted in the interests of justice. This can arise where an indictable offence is initially proposed to be dealt with summarily but then the accused decides that they will not consent to summary jurisdiction and a committal proceeding needs to be held. The clause provides a discretion to the court to fix a longer period for a committal mention hearing if satisfied that it is in the interests of justice having regard to both the seriousness of the offence and the reason a longer period is required. The clause provides a discretion to the court to discharge the accused, on the accused's application, if a committal mention hearing has not been held before the expiry of the two time periods described in this clause, or any longer period fixed by the court. This clause is based on clause 4 of Schedule 5 to the Magistrates' Court Act 1989. This clause simplifies the test to be applied and addresses a gap in the current provision which does not indicate what the court must consider where an application for an extension of time is made before the time limit has expired.