Federal Court Rules (Amendment) (Cth)

Statutory Rules 1992

No. 421 1

__________________

Federal Court Rules 2(Amendment)

WE, Judges of the Federal Court of Australia, make the following Rules under the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976.

 Dated 16 December 1992.

 

 M. E. J. BLACK C.J.

 R. M. NORTHROP J.

 J. A. KEELY J.

 J. F. GALLOP J.

 J. D. DAVIES J.

 J. S. LOCKHART J.

 I. F. SHEPPARD J.

 T. R. MORLING J.

(L.S.)

A. R. NEAVES J.

 B. A. BEAUMONT J.

 M. R. WILCOX J.

 J. E. J. SPENDER J.

 P. R. A. GRAY J.

 J. C. S. BURCHETT J.

 J. A. MILES J.

 D. M. RYAN J.

 W. M. C. GUMMOW J.

 R. S. FRENCH J.

 M. R. EINFELD J.

 M. L. FOSTER J.

 M. C. LEE J.

 H. W. OLNEY J.

 J. W. VON DOUSSA J.

 D. G. HILL J.

 M. F. O’LOUGHLIN J.

 D. F. O’CONNOR J.

 T. J. HIGGINS J.

 P. C. HEEREY J.

 D. P. DRUMMOND J.

 R. E. COOPER J.

 Judges of the Federal

 Court of Australia

J. T. HOWARD

Registrar

____________

1.   Commencement

1.1   These Rules commence on 1 January 1993.

2.   Amendment

2.1   The Federal Court Rules are amended as set out in these Rules.

3.   Order 1, rule 11 (Application of Bankruptcy Rules)

3.1   Subrule 11 (1):

Omit “Except as to Order 41 (which relates to form of documents), these”, substitute “These”.

4.   Order 4, rule 3 (Relief claimed)

4.1   Subrule 3 (1):

Omit the subrule, substitute:

“(1)

An application must specify:

• (a)

  the relief claimed by the applicant; and

• (b)

  if the relief depends on a provision of an Act—the Act and the provision.”.

5.   Order 8, rule 10 (Procedure on filing and lodgment)

5.1   Subrule 10 (2):

Omit “Attorney-General”, substitute “Secretary to the Attorney-General’s Department”.

6.   Order 8, rule 11 (Evidence of service)

6.1   Omit “Attorney-General”, substitute “Secretary to the Attorney-General’s Department”.

7.   Order 10, rule 1 (Directions hearings)

7.1   Subrule 1 (2):

Omit “subrule (1)” and substitute “subrule (1) or (1a)”.

7.2   Subrule 1 (2):

Add at the end:

• “(h)

  order that the parties attend before a Registrar for a conference with a view to satisfying the Registrar that all reasonable steps to achieve a negotiated outcome of the proceedings have been taken, or otherwise clarifying the real issues in dispute so that appropriate directions may be made for the disposition of the matter, or otherwise to shorten the time taken in preparation for and at the trial;

• (i)

  in a case in which the Court considers it appropriate, direct the parties to attend a case management conference with a Judge or Registrar to consider the most economic and efficient means of bringing the proceedings to trial and of conducting the trial, at which conference the Judge or Registrar may give further directions.”.

7.3   Paragraph 1 (2) (g):

Omit the paragraph, substitute:

• “(g)

  order, under Order 72, that proceedings, part of proceedings or a matter arising out of proceedings be referred to a mediator or arbitrator.”.

7.4   Subrule 1 (3):

Omit “subrules (1) and (2).”, substitute “ (1), (1a) or (2).”

8.   Order 34, rule 2 (Appointment)

8.1   Omit “on application by a party—”, substitute “on its own motion or on application by a party or the Registrar:”.

9.   Order 35, rule 8 (Interest)

9.1   Omit “15%”, substitute “12%”.

10.   Order 62, rule 36a (Reduction in costs otherwise allowable)

10.1   Subrule 36a (1):

Omit “$50,000”, substitute “$100,000”.

11.   New Order 62a

11.1   After Order 62, insert:

“ORDER 62a

DETERMINATION OF MAXIMUM COSTS

AT DIRECTIONS HEARING

Power to order maximum costs

 “1. The Court may:

• (a)

  by order made at a directions hearing; and

• (b)

  of its own motion or on the application of a party;

specify the maximum costs that may be recovered on a party and party basis.

Excluded costs

 “2. A maximum amount specified in an order under rule 1 shall not include an amount that a party is ordered to pay because the party:

• (a)

  has failed to comply with an order or with any of these Rules; or

• (b)

  has sought leave to amend its pleadings or particulars; or

• (c)

  has sought an extension of time for complying with an order or with any of these Rules; or

• (d)

  has otherwise caused another party to incur costs that were not necessary for the economic and efficient:

  • (i)

    progress of the proceedings to trial; or

  • (ii)

    hearing of the action.

Further directions

 “3. An order under rule 1 may include such directions as the Court considers necessary to effect the economic and efficient:

• (a) 

  progress of the proceedings to trial; or

• (b)

  hearing of the action.

Variation of order

 “4. If, in the Court’s opinion, there are special reasons, and it is in the interests of justice to do so, the Court may vary the specification of maximum recoverable costs ordered under rule 1.”.

12.   Order 72, rule 11 (Sunset provision)

12.1   Omit “1993.”, substitute “1994.”.

13.   First Schedule

13.1   Form 5:

After “(Order 4, rule 1)”, insert:

“Application under (specify the Act(s) and the section(s) on which the application is based)”.

11.2   Form 5:

After “The applicant’s address for service is (specify address for service).”, add:

“The applicant’s address is (if a natural person—specify residence or place of business;if a body corporate—specify principal place of business).”.

NOTES

1. Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 December 1992.

2. Statutory Rules 1979 No. 140 as amended by 1980 No. 87; 1982 Nos. 217 and 408; 1983 No. 264; 1984 Nos. 9 and 258; 1985 Nos. 16, 97, 168 and 227; 1986 Nos. 61, 157 and 324; 1987 Nos. 73, 174 and 197; 1988 Nos. 14, 54, 144, 217 and 306; 1989 Nos. 50, 253 and 318; 1990 Nos. 72, 102, 276, 319, 414 and 453; 1991 Nos. 70, 249, 395 and 461; 1992 Nos. 43, 44, 86, 87, 186 and 330.