Never been called up Phill, but its pretty hard to get out of it in oz from what I've been told.
A mate got called up once. When he was ushered into the room and the opposing solicitors asked him questions about his views, he made sure he gave controversial answers.
Q What is your views in regards to the aboriginal community.
A They are the reason for crime in our area
Q What are your views on juvenile crime
A They should bring back hanging.
It went on for a while longer and he was excused. The solicitors gave him a lecture about his radical views, telling him he should be more tolerant. But he's never been called up again.
Reminds me when I was called as the main witness to a car accident I witnesses 9 years previous where the old man in the accident died of his injuries.
They'd spent several years looking for me, eventually employing a PI to find my sister in the hope she would tell them where I was.
The PI eventually caught up with me, handed me a summons to appear in court the next day.
My boss wasn't happy as I was a manager and it was our busiest time of year.
He said to the PI that he expected to be compensated. The PI said he would.
So, next day I'm there at 8am being interviewed by the Barrister before the case was called. I was eventually called up just before lunch to give evidence.
Half way through, the judge suggested he adjourn for lunch, and I was reminded I was still under oath.. I was forbidden to talk to anyone.
Eventually we went back to court and I was put back on the stand to be told I was no longer required.
I went to the court office and asked what was required to get compensation for my boss. By this stage it was nearly 2pm.
He looked at a sheet of paper and says, you were on the stand for 30 minutes in total, so thats all your entitled too.
I wasted a whole day basically, and was only offered compensation for the time I was on the stand. What a joke.
My boss was livid.
I can understand why most people I know shudder at the thought of being away from work for several weeks. It would be damaging to my business to take time off without any notice.