Federal Court Amendment Rules 2009 (No. 3)1

Select Legislative Instrument 2009 No. 340

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

Dated 27 November 2009

M.E.J. BLACK C.J.

J.E.J. SPENDER J.

P.R.A. GRAY J.

D.M. RYAN J.

T.J. HIGGINS J.

M.F. MOORE J.

K.E. LINDGREN J.

P.D. FINN J.

R.A. SUNDBERG J.

S.R. MARSHALL J.

A.M. NORTH J.

J.R. MANSFIELD J.

A.H. GOLDBERG J.

A.R. EMMETT J.

R.A. FINKELSTEIN J.

J.A. DOWSETT J.

S.C. KENNY J.

M.A. STONE J.

A.C. BENNETT J.

B.T. LANDER J.

A.N. SIOPIS J.

R.F. EDMONDS J.

P.R. GRAHAM J.

A.P. GREENWOOD J.

S.D. RARES J.

B.COLLIER J.

D.A. COWDROY J.

A.J. BESANKO J.

C.N. JESSUP J.

R.R.S. TRACEY J.

J.E. MIDDLETON J.

R.J. BUCHANAN J.

J. GILMOUR J.

M.M. GORDON J.

J.A. LOGAN J.

G.A. FLICK J.

N.W. McKERRACHER J.

J.E. REEVES J.

N. PERRAM J.

J.M. JAGOT J.

L.G. FOSTER J.

M.L. BARKER J.

J.V. NICHOLAS J.

Judges of the Federal

Court of Australia

W.G. SODEN
Registrar

1 Name of Rules

  These Rules are the Federal Court Amendment Rules 2009 (No. 3).

2 Commencement

  These Rules commence as follows:

 (a) on the day after they are registered — rules 1 to 3 and Schedule 1;

 (b) on 4 January 2010 — Schedule 2.

3 Amendment of Federal Court Rules

  Schedules 1 and 2 amend the Federal Court Rules.

Schedule 1 Amendments commencing on the day after registration

(rule 3)

[1] Order 1, rule 4, definition of directions hearing

substitute

directions hearing means:

 (a) a hearing appointed in an originating process; or

 (b) except for the purpose of computation of time within which acts must be done — any other hearing fixed for the purpose of giving, or at which the Court in fact gives, directions about the conduct of a proceeding.

[2] Order 1, rule 4, after definition of organisation

insert

originating process means a document, filed in the Court, that commences a proceeding in the Court’s original jurisdiction.

[3] Order 1, subrules 5AC (7) and (8)

substitute

 (7) A person who sends a document to a Registry by electronic communication must:

 (a) if the document is an image of an affidavit — produce the original of the affidavit as directed by the Court; or

 (b) in any other case — produce a paper copy of the document as directed by the Court.

 (8) If the Court directs that an original affidavit or a paper copy of a document be produced, the person who sent the document must:

 (a) for an original affidavit — attach a statement that it is the original of the affidavit sent by electronic communication and the date that the affidavit was sent by electronic communication; or

 (b) in any other case — endorse the first page with a statement that the paper copy is a true copy of the document sent by electronic communication and the date that the document was sent by electronic communication.

[4] Order 4, rule 8

substitute

8 Date for hearing

  An application must state a date for a hearing at which the Court may hear the proceeding in whole or in part, or give directions for the further conduct of the proceeding.

[5] Order 4, subrules 9 (2) to (4)

substitute

 (2) The Court may hear and determine the claim for interlocutory relief on the hearing date specified in the application.

 (3) At the hearing of the claim for interlocutory relief the Court may give any directions it thinks fit.

[6] Order 7, after subrule 11 (2)

insert

 (3) Unless the Court otherwise orders, the filing of a document in a proceeding has effect as service of the document on a party to the proceeding if:

 (a) personal service of the document is not required; and

 (b) the party has not filed a new address for service in accordance with Order 45, rule 7A although:

 (i) the party has changed the solicitor acting for the party in the proceeding; or

 (ii) the principal solicitor acting for the party has changed the solicitor acting as the principal solicitor’s agent; or

 (iii) the party, having acted for him or herself in the proceeding, has appointed a solicitor to act for the party in the proceeding; or

 (iv) the party has determined the authority of the party’s solicitor to act for the party in the proceeding; or

 (v) the party’s solicitor has ceased to act for the party in the proceeding.

[7] Order 15, rule 1

substitute

1 Notice of discovery — Form 21

  A party in a proceeding may, with the leave of the Court and within any period fixed by the Court for this purpose, require another party to the proceeding to give discovery by filing and serving on that party a notice for discovery in accordance with Form 21.

[8] Order 22, paragraph 2 (1) (a)

omit

appointed in the application

[9] Order 27, after subrule 6 (5)

insert

 (6) Unless a subpoena specifically requires the production of the original, the addressee may produce a copy of any document required to be produced by the subpoena.

 (7) The copy of a document may be:

 (a) a photocopy; or

 (b) in PDF format on a CD-ROM; or

 (c) in any other electronic form that the issuing party has indicated will be acceptable.

[10] Order 27, after subrule 10 (2)

insert

 (3) The issuing party must attach, to the front of a subpoena to produce to be served on the addressee, a notice and declaration in accordance with Form 41A.

 (4) The addressee must complete the notice and declaration and attach it to the subpoena or copy of the subpoena that accompanies the documents produced to the Court under the subpoena.

 (5) Subject to subrule (6), the Registrar may, on the expiry of 4 months from the conclusion of the proceeding, cause to be destroyed all the documents, produced in the proceedings in compliance with a subpoena, that were declared by the addressee to be copies.

 (6) The Registrar may cause to be destroyed those documents, declared by the addressee to be copies, that have become exhibits in the proceeding when they are no longer required in connection with the proceeding, including on any appeal.

[11] Order 42, subrule 6 (1)

substitute

 (1) A person served under rule 4 who denies that he or she is a partner of the partnership, or that he or she was a partner of the partnership at the time of the cause of action arose, must file an affidavit making that denial before the directions hearing.

[12] Order 45, after rule 7

insert

7A New address for service

 (1) A notice of a change mentioned in rule 3, 5 or 6 must include the information required by Order 9, paragraphs 4 (1) (a), (b) and (d) and, if applicable, the information required by paragraph 4 (1) (c).

 (2) A notice of change of agent filed by a party in accordance with rule 4 must, if the party’s address for service was that of the agent, include the party’s new address for service in accordance with Order 7, rule 6.

 (3) A party served with a notice of intention in accordance with subrule 7 (2) must, within 7 days after being served with the notice, file and serve on each party to the proceeding a notice that sets out the information required by Order 9, paragraphs 4 (1) (a), (b) and (d) and, if applicable, the information required by paragraph 4 (1) (c).

[13] Order 46, paragraph 6 (2) (m)

substitute

 (m) a statement of agreed facts;

 (n) reasons for judgment.

[14] Order 46, rule 7A

substitute

7A Refusal to accept document for filing

 (1) A Registrar may refuse to accept a document submitted for filing (including any document that, if accepted for filing, would become an originating document), or refuse to issue a document, if the Registrar considers the document to be an abuse of the process of the Court, or to be frivolous or vexatious:

 (a) on the face of the document; or

 (b) by reference to:

 (i) any document submitted for filing with the document; or

 (ii) any document mentioned in the document or in any document mentioned in subparagraph (i).

 (2) A Registrar may seek the direction of a Judge about whether a document mentioned in subrule (1):

 (a) be accepted for filing or issued; or

 (b) not be accepted for filing or issued; or

 (c) not be accepted for filing, or issued, without the leave of a Judge.

[15] Order 49, subrule 5 (3)

omit

directions hearing

insert

hearing on the date appointed under subrule 4 (1)

[16] Order 52, rule 19

substitute

19 Discontinuance of appeal

 (1) An appellant may discontinue the whole, or any part of, an appeal by filing and serving a notice of discontinuance in accordance with Form 29A:

 (a) without the leave of the Court — at any time before the hearing of the appeal; or

 (b) with the leave of the Court — at the hearing, or after the hearing but before judgment is pronounced or made on the appeal.

 (2) If a notice of discontinuance is filed and served under subrule (1), the appeal, or relevant part of the appeal:

 (a) is abandoned for the applicant; and

 (b) continues for any other appellant in the appeal or part of the appeal.

 (3) An appellant who files a notice of discontinuance under subrule (1) is liable to pay the costs of any other party to the appeal for the appeal, or part of the appeal, that has been discontinued.

 (4) A party whose costs are payable under subrule (3) may tax the costs and, if the taxed costs are not paid within 14 days after service of the certificate of taxation, may enter judgment for the taxed costs against the appellant who discontinued the appeal or the part of the appeal.

19A Discontinuance of application made under s 25 (2) of the Act

 (1) An applicant may discontinue an application mentioned in subsection 25 (2) of the Act by filing and serving a notice of discontinuance in accordance with Form 29B:

 (a) without the leave of the Court — at any time before the hearing of the appeal; or

 (b) with the leave of the Court — at the hearing of the application, or after the hearing of the application but before judgment is pronounced or made on the application.

 (2) If a notice of discontinuance is filed and served under subrule (1), the application:

 (a) is abandoned for the applicant; and

 (b) continues for any other applicant in the application.

 (3) An applicant who files a notice of discontinuance under subrule (1) is liable to pay the costs of any other party to the application for the application that has been discontinued.

 (4) A party whose costs are payable under subrule (3) may tax the costs and, if the taxed costs are not paid within 14 days after service of the certificate of taxation, may enter judgment for the taxed costs against the applicant who discontinued the application.

[17] Order 52, after rule 22

insert

22A Discontinuance of cross-appeal

 (1) A cross-appellant may discontinue the whole, or any part, of a cross-appeal by filing and serving a notice of discontinuance in accordance with Form 29A.

 (2) Order 52, rule 19 applies to a discontinuance under subrule (1) in the same way that it applies to a discontinuance of an appeal under subrule 19 (1).

[18] Order 52, rule 26, table, items 15 to 20

substitute

[19] Order 52, rule 26, table, items 21 to 27

substitute

[20] Order 53, rule 15A, table, items 13 to 18

substitute

[21] Order 53, rule 15A, table, items 19 to 25

substitute

[22] Order 54B, rule 8

substitute

8 Application for extension of time

 (1) An application for extension of time must be made by lodging an application, in accordance with Form 56A, that includes a claim for:

 (a) each remedy sought; and

 (b) the extension of time.

 (2) An application for extension of time must be accompanied by an affidavit showing all of the following:

 (a) the nature of the case;

 (b) the questions involved;

 (c) the reasons why it is necessary, in the interests of the administration of justice, that the extension of time be given.

 (3) A lawyer (within the meaning of section 5 of the Migration Act 1958) must not file an application for extension of time unless the application includes, or is accompanied by, a certificate:

 (a) under section 486I of the Migration Act 1958; and

 (b) in accordance with Form 56B; and

 (c) signed by the lawyer.

 (4) In this rule:

application for extension of time means an application for an order under subsection 477A (2) of the Migration Act 1958 for an extension of the time within which to lodge an application for a remedy to be granted in exercise of the court’s original jurisdiction under paragraph 476A (1) (b) or (c) of that Act.

[23] Order 76, heading

substitute

Order 76 Enforcement of determinations of the Australian Human Rights Commission or Privacy Commissioner

[24] Order 76, paragraph 1 (a)

omit

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

insert

Australian Human Rights Commission

[25] Order 80, rules 9 and 10

substitute

9 Professional fees and disbursements

 (1) Subject to subrule (5), a legal practitioner who provides legal assistance to a litigant under the scheme (an assisted litigant) may seek or recover from the assisted litigant professional fees or disbursements for the legal assistance only if the legal practitioner enters into an agreement with the assisted litigant.

 (2) The agreement must provide that the legal practitioner is entitled to charge, and the assisted litigant is liable to pay, professional fees and disbursements only:

 (a) if an order for costs is made in favour of the assisted litigant; and

 (b) to the extent that the litigant against whom the order for costs is made in fact pays the fees and disbursements.

 (3) If the agreement is entered into, the Court may also order the litigant against whom the order for costs is made to pay the fees and disbursements to the legal practitioner instead of to the assisted litigant.

 (4) Payment made to the legal practitioner in accordance with an order under subrule (3) satisfies, to the extent of the payment, the order for costs made in favour of the assisted litigant.

 (5) The legal practitioner may ask the assisted litigant to pay any disbursements reasonably incurred, or reasonably to be incurred, by the legal practitioner on behalf of the assisted litigant in connection with the legal assistance.

[26] Order 81, rule 2, definitions of Commission and Human Rights Act

substitute

Commission means the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Human Rights Act means the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986.

[27] Schedule 1, Forms 3, 8 and 9

omit

insert

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

 DISTRICT REGISTRY

 DIVISION No. of 20 .

[27A] Schedule 1, Form 10

omit

insert

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

 DISTRICT REGISTRY

 DIVISION No. of 20 .

[28] Schedule 1, Form 20

omit

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA 

   DISTRICT REGISTRY No.      of 20   .

insert

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

 DISTRICT REGISTRY

 DIVISION No. of 20 .

[29] Schedule 1, after Form 29

insert

Form 29A Notice of discontinuance of an appeal or cross-appeal

(Order 52, rules 19 and 22A)

The appellant/cross-appellant* discontinues the whole of the appeal/cross-appeal*.

or

The appellant/cross-appellant* discontinues the appeal/cross-appeal* in relation to the following part(s):

(Complete details of the relevant part(s) of the appeal/cross-appeal to be abandoned).

*The discontinuance is in accordance with the leave of the Court granted on [date].

(Complete if leave of the Court has been obtained under Order 52, paragraph 19 (1) (b) or Order 52, rule 22A)

Notes in relation to costs

Note 1   Under Order 52, subrule 19 (3), a party filing a notice of discontinuance under rule 19 (1) is liable to pay the costs of the other parties to the appeal for the appeal/cross-appeal, or for the part of the appeal/cross-appeal that has been discontinued.

Note 2   Under Order 52, subrule 19 (4), a party whose costs are payable under subrule 19 (3) may tax the costs and, if the taxed costs are not paid within 14 days after service of the certificate of taxation, may enter judgment for the taxed costs.

Date:

[Signature of appellant/cross-appellant or appellant/cross-appellant’s solicitor]

Version 1

Form 29B Notice of discontinuance of an application (s 25 (2) of the Act)

(Order 52, rule 19A)

The applicant* discontinues the application.

*The discontinuance is in accordance with the leave of the Court granted on [date].

(Complete if leave of the Court has been obtained under Order 52, paragraph 19A (1) (b)).

Notes in relation to costs

Note 1   Under Order 52, subrule 19A (3), a party filing a notice of discontinuance under rule 19A (1) is liable to pay the costs of the other parties of the application.

Note 2   Under Order 52, subrule 19A (4), a party whose costs are payable under subrule 19 (3) may tax the costs and, if the taxed costs are not paid within 14 days after service of the certificate of taxation, may enter judgment for the taxed costs.

Date:

[Signature of applicant or applicant’s solicitor]

Version 1

[30] Schedule 1, Form 41, note 9

substitute

Production of copy instead of original

9. If the subpoena requires you to produce a document, you may produce a copy of the document unless the subpoena specifically requires you to produce the original.

9A. The copy of a document may be:

 (a) a photocopy; or

 (b) in PDF format on a CD-ROM; or

 (c) in any other electronic form that the issuing party has indicated will be acceptable.

[31] Schedule 1, after Form 41

insert

Form 41A Subpoena — declaration by addressee

(Order 27, subrule 10 (3))

IN THE [name of court] File number:

DISTRICT REGISTRY [insert if filing in Federal Court]

DIVISION [insert if filing in Federal Court]

APPLICANT/PLAINTIFF:

RESPONDENT/DEFENDANT:

Notice to Addressee

The addressee is the person to whom the subpoena is addressed, and who will be the recipient of the subpoena.

You may produce copies of any subpoenaed documents, unless the subpoena specifically requires you to produce originals. A copy of a document may be:

(a) a photocopy; or

(b) in PDF format on a CD-ROM; or

(c) in any other electronic form that the issuing party (the party that issued the subpoena) has indicated to you will be acceptable.

You must complete the Declaration below, attach it to the subpoena or a copy of the subpoena and return them with the documents or things you provide to the Court under the subpoena.

If you declare that the material you produce is copies of documents, the Registrar may, without further notice to you, destroy the copies after the expiry of 4 months from the conclusion of the proceeding or, if the documents become exhibits in the proceeding, when they are no longer required in connection with the proceeding, including on any appeal.

If the material you produce to the Court is or includes any original document, the Court will return all of the material to you at the address specified by you in the Declaration below.

DECLARATION BY ADDRESSEE (SUBPOENA RECIPIENT)

[tick the relevant option below, (provide your address as appropriate), sign and date]

 All of the material I am providing to the Court in compliance with the attached subpoena is copies of documents. I acknowledge that the Court will destroy the copies once they are no longer required, without further notice to me.

 Some or all of the material I am providing to the Court in compliance with the attached subpoena is an original document. Once the material is no longer required, all of the material should be returned to me at the following address:

 _________________________________________________________

 _________________________________________________________

 _________________________________________________________

 _________________________________________________________

 _________________________________________________________

 _______________________________

 [Signature of addressee]

 _______________________________

 [Name of addressee]

 _______________________________

 [Date]

[32] Schedule 1, Form 50

omit

Address for service:

insert

Address for service:*

[33] Schedule 1, Form 50

omit

Version 1

insert

*See Order 7, rule 6

Version 2

[34] Schedule 1, Form 53B

omit

(address for service of party)

insert

(address for service of party)*

[35] Schedule 1, Form 53B

omit

Version 3

insert

*See Order 7, rule 6

Version 4

[36] Schedule 1, Form 53C

omit

(address for service of party)

insert

(address for service of party)*

[37] Schedule 1, Form 53C

omit

Version 2

insert

*See Order 7, rule 6

Version 3

[38] Schedule 1, Form 55CA

omit

NOTICE OF ADDRESS FOR SERVICE

insert

NOTICE OF ADDRESS FOR SERVICE*

[39] Schedule 1, Form 55CA

omit

Version 2

insert

*See Order 7, rule 6

Version 3

[40] Schedule 1, Form 55DA

omit

address service

insert

address for service

[41] Schedule 1, Form 56A

omit

The applicant was notified of the decision that is the subject of this application on: (date)

insert

The date of the written decision, written statement or the written notice of the migration decision that is the subject of this application is: (date)

*If the decision that is the subject of this application was an oral migration decision, the date on which the oral decision was given is: (date)

*Delete if there was no oral decision

[42] Schedule 1, Form 56A

omit

Note

insert

Note 1

[43] Schedule 1, Form 56A, after the note

insert

Note 2   Section 477A of the Migration Act 1958 provides that an application for a remedy in relation to which the Court has original jurisdiction under paragraph 476A (1) (b) or (c) of that Act must be made to the Court within 35 days of the date of the migration decision. An application to the Court for an extension of the 35 day period may be made as a claim in this form — see Order 54B, rule 8.

[44] Schedule 1, Form 167, heading

substitute

Form 167 Claim under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 alleging unlawful discrimination

(Order 81, rule 5)

[45] Schedule 1, Form 167

omit

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986

insert

Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986

[46] Schedule 1, Form 167, table, item 11

omit

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

insert

Australian Human Rights Commission

[47] Schedule 1, Form 167, table, item 15

omit

28

insert

60

[48] Schedule 1, Form 167, table, item 15

omit

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

insert

Australian Human Rights Commission

[49] Schedule 1, Form 167, table, item 16

Omit each occurrence of

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

insert

Australian Human Rights Commission

[50] Schedule 1, Form 168, heading

substitute

Form 168 Defence to application under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 alleging unlawful discrimination

(Order 81, rule 7)

[51] Schedule 1, Form 168

omit

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986

insert

Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986

[52] Schedule 1, Form 169

omit

insert

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

 DISTRICT REGISTRY

 DIVISION No. of 20 .

[53] Further amendments

[54] Further amendments

Schedule 2 Amendments commencing on 4 January 2010

(rule 3)

[1] Schedule 2 — updating costs

Note

1. All legislative instruments and compilations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments kept under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. See http://www.frli.gov.au.