Commonwealth Numbered Regulations

FEDERAL CIRCUIT AND FAMILY COURT OF AUSTRALIA (FAMILY LAW) RULES 2021 (F2021L01197) - RULE 15.13

             (1)  The following persons may search the court record relating to a proceeding, and inspect and copy a document forming part of the court record:

                     (a)  the Attorney-General;

                     (b)  a party, a lawyer for a party, or an independent children's lawyer, in the proceeding;

                     (c)  if the proceeding affects, or may affect, the welfare of a child--a child welfare officer of a State or Territory;

                     (d)  with the permission of the court, a person with a proper interest:

                              (i)  in the proceeding; or

                             (ii)  in information obtainable from the court record in the proceeding;

                     (e)  with the permission of the court, a person researching the court record relating to the proceeding.

             (2)  An arbitrator conducting an arbitration relating to a proceeding may search the court record relating to the proceeding, and inspect and copy a document forming part of the court record.

             (3)  The parts of the court record that may be searched, inspected and copied in accordance with subrule (1) or (2) are:

                     (a)  court documents; and

                     (b)  with the permission of the court, any other part of the court record.

             (4)  A permission:

                     (a)  for the purposes of paragraphs (1)(d) and (e) and (3)(b), may include conditions, including a requirement for consent from a person, or a person in a class of persons, referred to in the court record; and

                     (b)  for the purposes of paragraph (1)(e)--must specify the research to which it applies.

             (5)  In considering whether to give permission under this rule, the court must consider the following matters:

                     (a)  the purpose for which access is sought;

                     (b)  whether the access sought is reasonable for that purpose;

                     (c)  the need for security of court personnel, parties, children and witnesses;

                     (d)  any limits or conditions that should be imposed on access to, or use of, the court record.

             (6)  In this rule:

"court document " includes a document filed in a proceeding, but does not include correspondence or a transcript forming part of the court record.

Note 1:       Section 121 of the Family Law Act restricts the publication of court proceedings.

Note 2:       Access to court records may be affected by the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 .