Federal Court (Corporations) Amendment (Examination Summons) Rules 2015

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Select Legislative Instrument No. 52, 2015

Issued by the authority of the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia on behalf of the Judges of the Court

Federal Court (Corporations) Amendment

(Examination Summons) Rules 2015

Section 59 of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 permits the Judges of the Federal Court of Australia (Federal Court) or a majority of them, to make Rules of Court not inconsistent with the Act. These rules may provide for the practice and procedure to be followed in the Court and in Registries of the Court. They may extend to all matters incidental to any such practice or procedure that are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for the conduct of any business of the Court.

Under sub-section 59 (4) of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976, the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 (other than sections 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 16 of that Act) applies in relation to rules of court made by the Court under the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 or another Act:

(a) as if a reference to a legislative instrument were a reference to a rule of court; and

(b) as if a reference to a rule-maker were a reference to the Chief Justice acting on behalf of the Judges of the Court; and

(c) subject to such further modifications or adaptations as are provided for in regulations made under section 59A of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976.

The Judges have agreed to amend the Federal Court (Corporations) Rules 2000 to facilitate the transition from paper based files to electronic court files by amending subrule 11.3(4) to replicate, in an electronic environment, the requirement that an application and supporting affidavit for the issue of a summons for an examination of a person under either sections 596A or 596B of the Corporations Act 2001, be filed in a sealed envelope.

The Federal Court (Corporations) Rules 2000 are part of a harmonisation arrangement between the Federal Court, Family Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of each State and Territory in Australia. The Amendment Rules are of a minor nature. Nevertheless they were considered by the Council of Chief Justices’ of Australian and New Zealand Harmonisation of Rules Committee (the Committee). The Committee consists of representatives from the Federal Court, Family Court of Australia, Supreme Courts of each State and Territory in Australia and High Court in New Zealand.

Section 9 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 provides that Rules of Court made for the Federal Court are not legislative instruments for the purposes of that Act. As a result the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 does not apply to any such Rules of Court and no statement of compatibility for the purposes of that latter Act is included in this Explanatory Statement.

Details of the Rules are in the Attachment.

The Rules commence on the day after they are registered.

ATTACHMENT

Federal Court (Corporations) Amendment

(Examination Summons) Rules 2015

RULE 1 Name of rules

This rule provides that the Rules are to be cited as the Federal Court (Corporations) Amendment (Examination Summons) Rules 2015.

RULE 2 Commencement

This rule provides that these Rules commence on the day after registration.

RULE 3 Authority

This rule provides that these Rules are made under the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976.

RULE 4 Schedules

This rule provides that each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to the instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms. Accordingly, the Federal Court (Corporations) Rules 2000 are amended as set out in Schedule 1.

SCHEDULE 1

[1] Subrules 11.3(4)

Sections 596A and 596B of the Corporations Act 2000 permits an eligible person to apply in specified circumstances to the Court for the issue of a summons requiring that officers and provisional liquidators of a corporation which is in administration or has been wound up and others with relevant knowledge of the affairs of such a corporation attend before the Court at a specified place and time to be examined on oath.

Rule 11.3 sets out the procedural requirements for making such an application. Subrule 11.3(4) requires that the applicant for such a summons file the application and supporting affidavit in a sealed envelope. Subrule 11.3(6) provides that the supporting affidavit for such an application is not available for inspection by any person unless the Court orders otherwise.

The Federal Court is in the process of transition from paper based files to electronic court files and, during this period, must support both the existing paper based files and the new electronic court files.

This amendment repeals subrule 11.3(4) and replaces it with new subrules 11.3(4) and (4A) which require the applicant for such a summons to file the application and supporting affidavit, if paper based, in a sealed envelope or, if sent to a Registry of the Court for filing by electronic communication, to mark each as “Confidential” and accompany each with a statement that it is (as appropriate) “an application or a supporting affidavit for issue of a summons for examination under section 596A or section 596B of the Corporations Act 2000”.

Overview

The Federal Court (Corporations) Amendment (Examination Summons) Rules 2015 were enacted to address the need for the Federal Court of Australia to transition from paper-based to electronic court files. This legislative amendment was introduced under the authority of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976, which allows the Judges of the Federal Court to make Rules of Court. The purpose of these specific amendments was to facilitate the transition by updating the procedural requirements for filing applications and supporting affidavits for summons for examinations under sections 596A and 596B of the Corporations Act 2001. This ensures that the transition period can accommodate both the existing paper-based and new electronic filing systems. The amendment was overseen by the Council of Chief Justices' of Australian and New Zealand Harmonisation of Rules Committee, which includes representatives from various courts across Australia and New Zealand, reflecting a commitment to harmonising court procedures across jurisdictions.

Scope and Application

The Federal Court (Corporations) Amendment (Examination Summons) Rules 2015, as a legislative instrument made under the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976, apply to the procedural requirements for making an application under sections 596A and 596B of the Corporations Act 2001. This amendment specifically addresses the transition from paper-based to electronic court files by altering the filing requirements for applications and supporting affidavits related to examination summonses. The rules are applicable to all matters within the Federal Court's jurisdiction, ensuring that the procedural changes align with the court's ongoing digital transformation. The amendment affects legal practitioners and parties involved in corporate examinations, facilitating a smoother transition during the shift from traditional paper-based filings to electronic submissions. The changes, though minor, are designed to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of the documents submitted, while adapting to technological advancements in the legal sector. These Rules are not subject to the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011, as they are not considered legislative instruments for the purposes of that Act. The Amendment Rules have been reviewed by the Council of Chief Justices’ of Australian and New Zealand Harmonisation of Rules Committee, reflecting the collaborative efforts to harmonise procedural rules across different Australian courts and the High Court of New Zealand. The rules are to be cited as the Federal Court (Corporations) Amendment (Examination Summons) Rules 2015 and came into effect on the day after their registration. The specific amendments, detailed in Schedule 1, involve changes to subrule 11.3(4) to accommodate the transition to electronic filing while preserving the confidentiality of sensitive documents.

Key Provisions

The Federal Court (Corporations) Amendment (Examination Summons) Rules 2015 (Rules) primarily amend subrule 11.3(4) of the Federal Court (Corporations) Rules 2000. These rules are designed to facilitate the transition from paper-based files to electronic court files in the Federal Court, whilst maintaining the confidentiality of certain documents. Specifically, Rule 11.3 pertains to the procedural requirements for an application for a summons to examine a person under sections 596A or 596B of the Corporations Act 2001. Subrule 11.3(4A) mandates that if the application and supporting affidavit are submitted electronically, they must be marked as "Confidential" and accompanied by a statement indicating their purpose, i.e., for the issue of a summons for examination. If submitted in paper form, they must be filed in a sealed envelope. The obligations imposed by these Rules on the parties include ensuring that the application and supporting affidavit are filed correctly according to the method specified. For electronic submissions, this means marking the documents as "Confidential" and providing the required statement, while for paper submissions, it means ensuring the documents are placed in a sealed envelope. These requirements are designed to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of the examination summons process during the transition to electronic filing. Failure to comply with these Rules can result in administrative consequences, although the specific penalties are not detailed in the Explanatory Statement. It is implied that non-compliance could lead to delays or rejections in the filing process, which could potentially affect the timeliness and effectiveness of the summons application. The Rules themselves do not outline specific penalties but rather focus on the procedural requirements necessary to maintain the confidentiality and proper handling of examination summons applications.

Area of Law: Civil Litigation & Procedure
Instrument: Rules
Concepts: Commencement Provisions; Definitions & Interpretation; Regulatory Standards

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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