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enables an accused to apply to the court before or during a committal hearing for permission to be absent from the hearing for a specified period. If the application is granted, the clause permits the committal hearing to continue in the absence of the accused. The clause provides a discretion to the court to grant this application if it is satisfied that there are special circumstances in respect of the accused and it considers that the hearing cannot be postponed without undue prejudice or inconvenience to the prosecution, any other accused or any witness. The power under clause 329(3) to excuse the attendance of an accused does not apply to this clause. If absent, the accused will receive a transcript of evidence given in the accused's absence if the accused is committed for trial. Clause 130(8) requires evidence in a committal hearing to be recorded and clause 147 provides that the accused is entitled to a copy of the depositions (which includes a transcript of evidence given at the committal hearing) if the accused is committed for trial.