This protocol sets out how a media representative (being a journalist or a person acting on behalf of a media organisation) may obtain access to a copy of the whole or part of the transcript of a proceeding in the Federal Court.
1. A request by a media organisation for access to the whole or part of the transcript of a proceeding in the Federal Court must be in accordance with the Media Request Form for Access to Transcript.
Media request form for access
to transcript
PDF
RTF
Copies of the form are also available from the Court’s transcript provider and from each Registry.
2. A transcript of the Court’s draft judgment or orders in a proceeding is not available under this Protocol.
3. Transcript will be provided to the media where:
(a) no order of the Court has been made covering any restriction on the access to, or publication of, the transcript or any portion of the transcript; and
(b) the media representative submits a formal request for transcript using the approved form and pays the relevant fee.
4. The application form asks for the name and contact details of the media representative making the request, and for information about the transcript the representative is seeking. The form includes an agreement by the media representative that
(a) copyright in the transcript remains with the Court (on behalf of the Commonwealth); and
(b) the transcript will not be provided until the relevant transcript provider has been paid the copying and service fee specified by the provider; and
(c) the transcript will only be used for the purpose of reporting on the proceeding; and
(d) no part of the transcript will be copied or made available to any other person except for that purpose; and
(e) no part of the transcript will be provided to any of the parties to the proceeding; and
(f) any additional conditions specified by the presiding Judge will be complied with.
5. The application form must be lodged directly with the transcript provider.
6. Upon receiving the application, the transcript provider will check whether there is any restriction on the release of the transcript to the media. If there is no restriction, then transcript will be provided to the media on payment of the specified fee.
7. Charges apply to the provision of transcript to the media. Normally, this will only be a service / photocopy charge. However, if transcript has not been ordered by the parties, then the media may be charged the full cost for the preparation of the transcript.
