Federal Court of Australia

Notices to practitioners issued by the ACT District Registrar

Administative arrangements (ACT 2005/01)

Note: This Practice Notice was superseded on February 04 2008 by Practice Notice ACT 2008/01

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. Notice to Litigants and Practitioners (ACT 2004/01) dated 5 April 2004 is replaced by this Notice.

ACT List Judge and Panel Judges

The Court has a panel of Judges who deal with matters filed in the ACT Registry of the Court. It is comprised of Justices Bennett, Emmett, Gyles (List Judge), Madgwick and Moore. Other Judges will also sit as required.

Listing Arrangements and Enquiries

A Judges’ Directions, Motions and Corporations list will be held at 9.15 am each Thursday (except public holidays). Matters filed in the ACT Registry will be listed for a directions hearing in the next appropriate Thursday Judge’s directions list.

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

A Registrar’s Bankruptcy, Corporations, Subpoena and Directions list is held monthly on a Thursday at 10am, however, matters can be listed by videoconference or phone at other times as required. A schedule of Registrar’s list dates is issued by the Registry each year.

All listing or other enquiries in regard to any hearing in a proceeding or proposed proceeding should be directed to the staff of 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
• 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 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 and liaise with the applicant for urgent orders.

eSearch, eFiling and eCourt

Details about matters filed in the Court including information about hearing dates and orders made are available online through the Court’s website http://www.fedcourt.gov.au under the headings eCourt and then eSearch.

The Court also has facilities for electronic filing of documents (eFiling) and for the conduct of appropriate matters by eCourt. Further information on these facilities can also be found on the Court’s website.

Issuing of entered and sealed Court orders

The Court’s online eSearch database includes the text of many Court orders. Rather than submitting hardcopy orders for settlement and entry, parties are encouraged to check eSearch for the relevant order and then request a sealed and entered order by contacting the ACT Registry in person or by phone on 6267 0566, by fax on 6267 0625 or by email to actman@fedcourt.gov.au specifying the file number and name as well as the date of the required order.

J. Hedge
District Registrar
1 December 2005