Lists of Authorities and Citations Practice Note (GPN-AUTH)

D S Mortimer, Chief Justice 14 October 2024

General Practice Note

1. Introduction

1.1 This practice note provides guidance for the use of Lists and eBooks of Authorities in all  hearings (including appeals), unless or to the extent that the Court otherwise orders. It applies to all parties providing Lists and eBooks of Authorities as ordered or otherwise, including those parties that are not represented by a lawyer.

1.2 This practice note should be read in conjunction with the eBooks Practice Note (GPN eBooks).

1.3 This practice note takes effect from the date it is issued and, to the extent practicable, applies to proceedings whether filed before, or after, the date of issuing.

1.4 When reading this practice note, parties should have regard to the Definitions (which are set out in "Annexure A").

2. Form and Content of Lists and eBooks of Authorities

2.1 See eBooks Practice Note (GPN eBooks). 
Note: Lists of Authorities must also be in a format where the text can be searched and copied.

References to Legislation

2.2 References to legislation must specify the jurisdiction and the relevant sections, regulations, rules or clauses.

2.3 If the legislation is to be considered as it was at a particular point in time, the reference should state the point in time.

References to Cases

2.4 A reference to a case must include:

(a) the name under which the case is reported or, if the case is unreported, the names of the parties to the case; and

(b) its citation in an authorised series of reports (if available) or another series of reports (if the case has not been reported in an authorised series), and the medium neutral citation; and

(c) reference to the relevant page or paragraph numbers.

2.5 Example citations in the form described above are:

Reported case:D'Arcy v Myriad Genetics Inc (2014) 224 FCR 479; [2014] FCAFC 115
Medium neutral citation (MNC):Warner-Lambert Company LLC v Apotex Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 59
Unreported judgment (pre-MNC):Repatriation Commission v Smith (unreported, Federal Court of Australia, Sundberg J, 16 June 1997)

2.6 With respect to page and paragraph references at the end of citations, the Court prefers:

Page references:for example use: "at 481"
Paragraph references:for example use: "at [29]"

3. Filing and Serving the List

3.1 The applicant[1] must file, and serve on each other party, the applicant's List no later than 4.30 pm, 5 business days[2] before the hearing date.

3.2 The respondent must file, and serve on each other party, the respondent's List no later than 4.30 pm, 4 business days before the hearing date.

3.3 In accordance with the eBooks Practice Note, where reasonably practicable, the parties must prepare and file a jointly consolidated List no later than 4.30 pm, 2 business days before the hearing date.

Default

3.4 If a party defaults under paragraphs 3.1 or 3.2, any non-defaulting party must bring the default to the attention of the chambers of the judge hearing the matter (or the chambers of the presiding judge if there is more than one judge hearing the matter) so that appropriate orders may be made. At the same time, that party must also notify the other parties to the proceeding.

4. Providing eBooks of  Authorities

4.1 In accordance with the eBooks Practice Note, the parties must provide to the Court a jointly (or where not reasonably practicable, separately) consolidated eBook of authorities containing copies of the authorities included in the List no later than 4.30 pm, 2 business days before the hearing date.

D S Mortimer
Chief Justice
14 October  2024


Annexure

Definitions

To assist practitioners with citations and preparing Lists of Authorities, in this practice note:

Authorised Reports:

are report series that contain judgments that have been reviewed by the judges or their associate, prior to the publication. They are therefore considered to be an accurate record of the judgment. The reports usually indicate in the opening pages of each volume that they are "authorised reports". Australian authorised report series:

Court / JurisdictionReport SeriesYears
High Court of AustraliaCLR1903 –
Federal Court of AustraliaFCR1984 –
Administrative Review TribunalALD1976 –
Fair Work Commission (Australian Industrial Relations Commission; Fair Work Australia)IR2006 –
Australian Capital TerritoryACTR[3]1973 – 2008
ACTLR2007 –
New South WalesSR (NSW)1901 – 1970
NSWLR1970 –
Northern TerritoryNTR[4]1979 – 1991
NTLR1990 –
QueenslandQSR1902 – 1957
Qd R1958 –
South AustraliaSALR1899 – 1920
SASR1921 –
TasmaniaTas LR1904 – 1940
Tas SR1941 – 1978
Tas R1979 –
VictoriaVLR1875 – 1956
VR1957 –
Western AustraliaWALR1898 – 1958
WAR1958 –
  

Unauthorised Reports:

are report series that are a legitimate record of court decisions. In some cases, the unauthorised report may be the only source for certain cases, particularly matters from local courts and tribunals. They can be "generalist" or "subject-specific" report series. Commonly used Unauthorised reports include: ALR, ALJR, FLR, Fam LR and NTR;

  

Unreported Judgments:

are decisions of courts that have not been published in a report series. The elements for citing an Unreported Judgment are:

Case Name
(in italics)
Unreported,CourtJudge(s),(Full Date)Pin-point
  

MNC:

means a Medium Neutral Citation, which is a citation assigned by a court or tribunal independent to any citation that commercial publishers may give to a judgment or decision. This format can be used for citing cases when there is no reported version and the Court has assigned an MNC. The elements for citing an MNC are:

Case Name
(in italics)
[Year]Unique Court IdentifierJudgment Number(Full Date)[Pin-point]
  

Legislation references:

A reference to legislation should include the:

  • Short Title of the Act (unless the Act does not contain one, then the Long Title of the Act) in italics;
  • Year, in italics;
  • Jurisdiction, in brackets (ie. (Cth)); and
  • any pinpoint (ie. s 3)

[1] In this practice note any reference to "applicant" is also intended to be a reference to an "appellant" with respect to appeals and a "plaintiff" with respect to corporations matters. Likewise, any reference to "respondent" is intended to refer to a defendant for corporations matters.

[2] See Schedule  1 – Dictionary of Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) for definition of "business day".

[3] NOTE: The ACTR Report  Series from 1973 – 2008 is in the ALR.

[4] NOTE: The NTR Report Series  from 1979 – 1991 is in the ALR.