eBooks Practice Note (GPN-eBOOKS)

General Practice Note

This version: To 10 June 2026

Current version: From 11 June 2026

1. Introduction

1.1 This practice note identifies the Court’s requirements in respect of court books and books of authorities, and other documents such as affidavits, which are proposed to be provided in electronic format (eBooks).

Note: this practice note applies to both the provision of an eBook to the Court (for example, by provision to a Judge’s chambers) and the filing of an eBook for the purpose of r 2.25 of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) (Federal Court Rules).

1.2 The requirements in this practice note are additional to and, to the extent of any inconsistency prevail over, other practice notes in force.

1.3 It is intended that this practice note will prevail over any inconsistent provisions in the Federal Court Rules pending the amendment of those Rules. It may be anticipated that if an inconsistency arises that the dispensing power in r 1.34 of the Federal Court Rules will most likely be exercised.

2. Application

2.1 This practice note applies to any party required or proposing to file or provide an eBook.

3. Court's Expectations of Parties

3.1 In all matters, parties should confer and ensure that eBooks complying with this practice note can be provided before all hearings if:

(a) agreed to be provided by the parties; or

(b) ordered to be provided by the Court.

3.2 Parties should take account of the resources available to each party when conferring about responsibility for the preparation of eBooks in accordance with this practice note.

4. eBook Requirements - General

4.1 This section applies to all eBooks.

4.2 Parties should confer about eBook proposals in a timely manner and inform the Court of any proposal which they consider would better suit the nature of the matter than the provisions of this practice note.

4.3 eBooks should:

(a) be provided in a format where the text can be searched and copied;

(b) be prepared so that documents in landscape format appear in that format without the need to rotate the page; and

(c) be prepared in the format, or formats, specified by the chambers of the docket, list or duty judge:

(1) Format 1: Separate PDF or other index with cross-document relative hyperlinks to attachments

A separate PDF or other (such as Word or Excel) index with cross-document relative hyperlinks to attachments that complies with the following guidance:

(i) the index is to be in the form of a table with rows containing sequentially numbered tabs, document titles, and dates where applicable;

(ii) subject to any other requirements, the index is to group documents appropriately;

(iii) the index is to include for each listed document a cross-document relative hyperlink to the attached document;

(iv) the attachments to the index are to be separate documents so that when the cross-document relative hyperlink in the index is activated, the attached document opens so as to enable multiple documents from the index to be open concurrently;

(v) primarily, the relative hyperlinked attachments are to be PDF documents, but where appropriate, may be in native form (for example, an Excel spreadsheet);

(vi) the documents are to be paginated sequentially (independently of any individual document page numbering), and the sequential page numbers are to correspond with the page numbers for any Format 2, and any hard copy, version of the eBook;

(vii) in the case of an eBook of authorities, the attached documents are to be named according to their corresponding tab numbers followed by a sufficient description of the authority, for example “02. Décor v Dart [1991] FCA 844”;

(viii) in the case of affidavits:

• where an annexure comprises a bundle of documents, the index to the affidavit is to separately refer to each document in the bundle, and each document in the bundle is to be separately bookmarked (using nested bookmarks as necessary);
• any annexures to the affidavit should be bookmarked within the PDF document comprising the affidavit;
• alternatively, in the case of affidavits with a large number of annexures, consideration should be given to indexing the annexures separately with their own hyperlinks.

(2) Format 2: One bookmarked and internally relative hyperlinked PDF document

One bookmarked PDF document that complies with the following guidance:

(i) the PDF document is to be paginated sequentially (independently of any individual document numbering), and the pdf display numbers are to correspond with the sequential page numbers displayed on each page of the eBook, and any Format 1 or any hard copy, versions of the eBook;

(ii) the PDF document is to have an index at the front in the form of a table with rows containing sequentially numbered tabs, document titles, dates where applicable, and the corresponding page number;

(iii) subject to any other requirements, the index is to group documents appropriately;

(iv) the PDF document is to contain an appropriately titled bookmark for each document, and the title of the bookmark should include the relevant tab number in the index and a brief description of the document, for example “01. Originating application” and “34.  Email from Smith to Jones 12.9.23”;

(v) the index is to include for each listed document an internal relative hyperlink to the document contained within the PDF document;

(vi) in the case of an eBook of authorities, the authorities are to have an appropriately titled bookmark, and the title of the bookmark should include the relevant tab number in the index and a sufficient description of the authority, for example, “02. Décor v Dart [1991] FCA 844”; and

(vii) in the case of affidavits, any annexures are to be separately bookmarked and where an annexure comprises a bundle of documents, the index to the affidavit is to separately refer to each document in the bundle, and each document in the bundle is to be separately bookmarked (using nested bookmarks as necessary).

5. Provision and Filing of eBooks

5.1 eBooks are to be provided to the Court in accordance with the Court’s Technical guide to the provision and filing of eBooks as published on the Court’s website from time to time. Parties should also refer to the Technology and the Court Practice Note (GPN-TECH) and Technology Resources on the Court’s website.

5.2 Where clarification is required, parties should liaise with the relevant District Registry of the Court for additional technical advice in relation to methods of providing appropriately formatted eBooks.

5.3 If an eBook is provided to the Court, the party providing the eBook must ensure that as soon as reasonably practicable after provision the eBook is also filed with the Court.

Note: the format of the eBook may need to be adjusted to enable the eBook to be accepted by the Court’s electronic filing system. Refer to paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2 above for assistance with arrangements for the filing of an eBook.

6. Court eBooks

6.1 Court eBooks should include all material filed by all parties relevant to the hearing (including material subject to objection, which should be identified in the index and/or otherwise as applicable as subject to objection).

7. eBooks of Authorities

7.1 Separate eBooks of authorities for each party should be avoided. Rather, eBooks of authorities should include a jointly consolidated version of all of the authorities, legislation and explanatory and other material proposed to be relied upon at the hearing by all parties.

7.2 eBooks of authorities should be divided into the following sections, each section being arranged in alphabetical order:

(a) authorities;

(b) legislation; and

(c) bills and other explanatory material.

7.3 If it is proposed to only include one or more extracts from a particular document rather than the whole document, all extracts to be relied upon should be provided in a single consolidated document.

7.4 Extracts from legislation should identify the date in force of the extract.

D S Mortimer
Chief Justice
12 June 2026