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gives a discretion to the Magistrates' Court to order a separate hearing—
for any one or more charges, if a charge-sheet contains more than one charge; or
for a specified accused, if a charge-sheet names more than one accused.
The court may order a separate hearing if it considers that—
an accused's case may be prejudiced because they are charged with more than one offence in the same charge- sheet;
a hearing with a co-accused would prejudice the fair hearing of the charge against the accused; or
for any other reason it is desirable to do so.
The orders may be made on the court's own motion or on application by any party in accordance with clause 337, before or during the hearing. If an order is made for a separate hearing, the court may make any order in relation to the bail of the accused that it considers appropriate. If the court makes one of the orders, the prosecution may elect which charge is to be heard first. The procedure on the separate hearing of a charge is the same as if the charge had been set out separately. Division 2—Diversion program