Federal Court of Australia
Notices to practitioners issued by the ACT District Registrar back  

Administative arrangements (ACT 2004/1)
NB: This Notice to Practitioners is superseded by Administrative Arrangements dated 1 December 2005.

Introduction

The following administrative arrangements will apply for the handling of matters in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Registry of the Federal Court of Australia.

ACT List Judge and Panel Judges

A panel of Judges, who will be available to sit in the ACT Registry of the Court, has been established. It is comprised of Justice Gyles (List Judge); Justice Emmett; Justice Whitlam; and Justice Madgwick as well as Justice Hill and Justice Bennett who will be available to hear tax and intellectual property cases respectively where necessary. Other Judges will also sit as required.

Listing Arrangements and Enquiries

Judges’ directions, motions days and the corporations list and Registrars’ list days in the ACT Registry will be held at 9.15 am and 10.15 am respectively each Thursday (except public holidays). All new proceedings not within the Registrar’s delegation for final determination will normally be listed for a first directions hearing for the next appropriate Judges’ directions and motions day. All new proceedings within the Registrar’s delegation for final determination will normally be listed for the next appropriate Registrars’ list day. Notices of Motion or other interlocutory applications will normally be listed for the next appropriate Judges’ directions and motions day or Registrars’ list day.

The final hearing of cases and the hearing of lengthy Notices of Motions or other interlocutory applications will be by special fixture.

All listing or other enquiries in regard to any hearing in a proceeding or proposed proceeding should be directed to the Deputy District Registrar, Director Court Services or Client Service Officers at the ACT Registry on (02) 6267 0566.

Urgent and Out of Hours Applications

Special arrangements will be made on an individual basis to deal with any application that is so urgent that it cannot be satisfactorily accommodated within the ordinary system of filing and listing of cases in the ACT Registry. Such applications could include relief for:

• abridgment of time for service of originating process

• interlocutory injunctions to operate pending the final hearing and determination of a proceedings

• asset preservation orders

• Anton Pillar orders,

as well as urgent applications under a provision of the Corporations Act 2001 and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act 2001.

During business hours enquiries in relation to urgent matters should be directed to the Deputy District Registrar, Director Court Services or Client Service Officers in the ACT Registry on (02) 6267 0566. Outside business hours (including on weekends and public holidays), inquirers with urgent matters should contact the Security Desk of the Law Courts Building in Sydney on telephone number (02) 9230 8025. The Security Desk will refer any inquirer to the Duty Registrar who will then make arrangements to communicate with a Judge.

John Mathieson
District Registrar
5 April 2004