Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981

No. 23, 1981

Compilation No.   15

Compilation date: 10 June 2025

Includes amendments: Act No. 118, 2024

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 10 June 2025 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.

Self - repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

1 Short title 1

2 Commencement 1

3 Interpretation 1

4 Costs to be costs as between party and party etc. 3

5 Extension to external Territories 4

6 Costs certificates for respondents—Federal appeals 4

7 Costs certificates for appellants—Federal appeals 5

7A Costs certificates for appellants where no respondent 6

8 Costs certificates—new trials 6

9 Costs certificates—Federal appeals in family law proceedings 7

10 Costs certificates—incomplete proceedings 7

10A Costs certificates—Administrative Review Tribunal 8

11 Costs of appeal include costs of earlier appeals 8

12 Costs certificates may be granted in Chambers 9

13 No appeal against refusal of costs certificate 9

14 Costs certificates not to be granted to certain persons 9

15 Vacation of costs certificates 10

16 Payments on costs certificates 10

17 No payment in respect of costs certificates capable of being vacated 11

18 Limits of payments in respect of appeals or other proceedings 12

19 Payments to be made out of annual appropriation 12

20 Delegation 13

21 Application 13

22 Regulations 13

Schedule—Prescribed maximum amount 15

Endnotes 16

Endnote 1—About the endnotes 16

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key 18

Endnote 3—Legislation history 19

Endnote 4—Amendment history 21

An Act relating to costs in federal courts, courts of certain Territories and the Administrative Review Tribunal
1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981.
2 Commencement

This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
3 Interpretation 1

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

costs, in relation to proceedings, includes:

 a

the costs of obtaining a costs certificate in respect of the proceedings; and

 b

the costs of taxing, or otherwise ascertaining, costs in respect of the proceedings.

costs certificate means a costs certificate granted under subsection 6(1) or (2), 7(1), 7A(1), 8(1) or (2), 9(1), 10(2) or (3) or 10A(2).

Federal appeal means:

 a

an appeal to the Full Court of the High Court from a judgment of the High Court constituted by a single Justice; or

 b

an appeal to the High Court from a judgment of the Federal Court; or

 c

an appeal to the High Court from a judgment of the Supreme Court of a Territory; or

 d

an appeal to the High Court from a judgment of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1); or

 e

an appeal to the Full Court of the Federal Court from a judgment of the Federal Court constituted by a single Judge; or

 ea

an appeal to the Federal Court from a judgment of the Supreme Court of a State; or

 eb

an appeal to the Federal Court from a judgment of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory exercising jurisdiction conferred on the court by or under a law of the Commonwealth, other than jurisdiction conferred under an Act providing for the acceptance, administration or government of that Territory; or

 f

an appeal to the Federal Court from a judgment of the Supreme Court of a Territory; or

 fa

an appeal to the Federal Court from a judgment of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2); or

 g

an appeal to the Federal Court from a decision of the Administrative Review Tribunal; or

 ga

an appeal that is:

 i

from a decision of the Administrative Review Tribunal; and

 ii

heard and determined, or to be heard and determined, in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2); or

 h

an appeal to the Supreme Court of a Territory from a judgment of another court of that Territory; or

 j

an appeal to the Full Court of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) from a judgment of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) constituted by a single Judge; or

 ja

an appeal to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) from a judgment of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2); or

 k

an appeal to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) from a judgment of a court of a State, a court of an internal Territory (including the Northern Territory) or a court of Norfolk Island.

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia means:

 a

the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1); or

 b

the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2).

Federal Court means the Federal Court of Australia.

judgment includes any decree, order or decision, whether final or interlocutory, and a conviction or sentence.

proceedings includes a Federal appeal and a trial.

sequence of appeals means a sequence of appeals in which each appeal that follows next after another appeal in the sequence is an appeal against the judgment in that other appeal.

Territory does not include the Northern Territory.

 2

A reference in this Act to an appellant to an appeal, a respondent to an appeal, a party to a cause or to proceedings, an accused person or a person who has been granted a costs certificate shall be read as including a reference to the legal personal representative of the appellant, respondent, party or person, as the case requires.

 3

In this Act, a reference to a court of a Territory (including a reference to the Supreme Court of a Territory) does not include a reference to a court of Western Australia exercising jurisdiction:

 a

(a) in or in relation to the Territory of Christmas Island under the Christmas Island Act 1958; or

 b

(b) in or in relation to the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands under the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955.
4 Costs to be costs as between party and party etc. 1

A reference in this Act to costs incurred by a person in relation to proceedings shall be read as a reference to costs so incurred ascertained as if they were costs as between party and party.

 2

For the purposes of this Act:

 a

the amount of any costs incurred by a person in relation to proceedings (other than costs to which paragraph (b) applies) is:

 i

an amount agreed on in respect of those costs by the Attorney-General and the person who has been granted the costs certificate in relation to those costs; or

 ii

where under the regulations the amount of those costs has been assessed for the purposes of this Act by an officer of a court—the amount so assessed; or

 b

where any costs incurred by a person in relation to proceedings have been ordered by a court to be paid to the person by another party to the proceedings and the amount of those costs is specified in, or has been ascertained in accordance with, the order of the court—the amount of those costs is the amount so specified or ascertained, as the case may be.
5 Extension to external Territories

This Act extends to every external Territory.
6 Costs certificates for respondents—Federal appeals 1

Subject to this Act, where a Federal appeal succeeds on a question of law, the court that heard the appeal may, on the application of a respondent to the appeal, grant to the respondent a costs certificate in respect of the appeal.

 2

Subject to this Act, where a Federal appeal in relation to the amount of damages awarded by a court succeeds, the court that heard the appeal may, on the application of a respondent to the appeal, grant to the respondent a costs certificate in respect of the appeal.

 3

The certificate that may be granted under subsection (1) or (2) by a court to a respondent to a Federal appeal is a certificate stating that, in the opinion of the court, it would be appropriate for the Attorney-General to authorize a payment under this Act to the respondent in respect of:

 a

the costs incurred by the respondent in relation to the appeal; and

 b

any costs incurred by an appellant in relation to the appeal that have been, or are required to be, paid by the respondent to the appellant in pursuance of an order of the court, not being costs to which a costs certificate granted under section 7 relates.
7 Costs certificates for appellants—Federal appeals 1

Subject to this Act, where:

 a

(a) a respondent to a Federal appeal is, in pursuance of an order of a court, required to pay to an appellant any costs (in this section referred to as the relevant costs) incurred by the appellant in relation to the appeal; and

 b

under subsection 6(1) or (2), the respondent is entitled to apply to the court for a costs certificate in respect of the appeal;

the court, on the application of the appellant, may, if it is satisfied that:

 c

the respondent is, by reason of lack of means, unable to pay the relevant costs or a part of the relevant costs;

 d

the payment of the relevant costs or a part of the relevant costs would cause the respondent undue hardship; or

 e

the whereabouts of the respondent are unknown;

grant to the appellant a costs certificate in respect of the appeal.

 2

The certificate that may be granted under subsection (1) by a court to an appellant to a Federal appeal is a certificate stating that, in the opinion of the court, it would be appropriate for the Attorney-General to authorize a payment under this Act to the appellant in respect of:

 a

where paragraph (1)(c) applies—the whole of the relevant costs or that part of the relevant costs that the respondent is unable to pay;

 b

where paragraph (1)(d) applies—the whole of the relevant costs or that part of the relevant costs the payment of which would cause the respondent undue hardship; or

 c

where paragraph (1)(e) applies—the relevant costs.
7A Costs certificates for appellants where no respondent 1

Subject to this Act, where a Federal appeal succeeds on a question of law and there is no respondent to the appeal, the court that heard the appeal may, on the application of the appellant, grant to the appellant a costs certificate in respect of the appeal.

 2

The certificate that may be granted under subsection (1) by a court to an appellant is a certificate stating that, in the opinion of the court, it would be appropriate for the Attorney-General to authorize a payment under this Act to the appellant in respect of the costs incurred by the appellant in relation to the appeal.
8 Costs certificates—new trials 1

Subject to this Act, where, in a Federal appeal that succeeds on a question of law, the court that heard the appeal grants a new trial in a cause of a civil nature, the court may, on the application of a party to the cause, grant to the party a costs certificate in respect of the new trial.

 2

Subject to this Act, where, in a Federal appeal, being a Federal appeal against a conviction (whether on indictment or otherwise) or a Federal appeal in a sequence of appeals which includes an appeal against a conviction (whether on indictment or otherwise), that succeeds on a question of law, the court that heard the Federal appeal grants a new trial of an accused person, the court may, on the application of the accused person, grant to the accused person a costs certificate in respect of the new trial.

 3

The certificate that may be granted under subsection (1) or (2) to a party to a cause or to an accused person, as the case may be, by a court that has granted a new trial is a certificate stating that, in the opinion of the court, it would be appropriate for the Attorney-General to authorize a payment under this Act to that party or accused person in respect of such part as the Attorney-General considers appropriate of any costs incurred by that party or accused person in relation to the new trial.
9 Costs certificates—Federal appeals in family law proceedings 1

Subject to this Act, and in particular without limiting section 6, where:

 a

(a) a Federal appeal referred to in paragraph (d), (j), (ja) or (k) of the definition of Federal appeal in subsection 3(1) succeeds on a question of law; and

 b

(b) in accordance with Family Law Act 1975, each party to the appeal bears his or her own costs;section 114UB of the

the court that heard the appeal may, on the application of the appellant to the appeal, grant to the appellant a costs certificate in respect of the appeal.

 2

The certificate that may be granted under subsection (1) by a court to an appellant to a Federal appeal is a certificate stating that, in the opinion of the court, it would be appropriate for the Attorney-General to authorize a payment under this Act to the appellant in respect of the costs incurred by the appellant in relation to the appeal.
10 Costs certificates—incomplete proceedings 1

This section applies to the High Court, the Federal Court, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and a court of a Territory.

 2

Subject to this Act, where any proceedings in a court to which this section applies are rendered abortive by reason that the person, or a person, before whom the proceedings are being conducted dies, resigns, or is removed or dismissed from, his or her office, suffers a protracted illness or otherwise becomes unable to continue with, or to give judgment in, the proceedings, the court may, on the application of a party to the proceedings, grant to that party a costs certificate in respect of the proceedings.

 3

Subject to this Act, where:

 a

the hearing of any proceedings in a court to which this section applies is discontinued and a new hearing is ordered; and

 b

the discontinuance and new hearing are not attributable to the neglect, default or improper act of any party to the proceedings;

the court may, on the application of a party to the proceedings, grant to that party a costs certificate in respect of the proceedings.

 4

The certificate that may be granted under subsection (2) or (3) by a court to a party to proceedings that have been rendered abortive or the hearing of which has been discontinued, as the case may be, is a certificate stating that, in the opinion of the court, it would be appropriate for the Attorney-General to authorize a payment under this Act to that party in respect of such part as the Attorney-General considers appropriate of any costs incurred by that party in relation to those proceedings.

 5

A reference in this section to proceedings in a court includes a reference to proceedings by way of an appeal to that court.
10A Costs certificates—Administrative Review Tribunal 1

(1) Subject to this Act, if a review by the Administrative Review Tribunal of a decision has to be reheard because of paragraph 44(1)(a) or Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024, the Tribunal may, on the application of any party to the proceeding other than the person who made the decision that was subject to the review, grant to that party a costs certificate in respect of the application for review.section 45, 46 or 47 of the

2

The certificate that may be granted to a person under subsection (1) is a certificate stating that, in the Tribunal’s opinion, it would be appropriate for the Attorney-General to authorise a payment under this Act to the person in respect of the costs incurred by the person in relation to the proceeding before the Tribunal.

 3

An appeal does not lie to any court from a refusal of the Tribunal to grant a costs certificate.
11 Costs of appeal include costs of earlier appeals

A reference in section 6, 7, 7A or 9 to the costs incurred by a person in relation to a Federal appeal shall, where the appeal is in a sequence of appeals that includes an earlier Federal appeal or earlier Federal appeals, be read as including a reference to the costs incurred by the person in relation to that earlier Federal appeal or all those earlier Federal appeals.
12 Costs certificates may be granted in Chambers

The jurisdiction conferred on a court by this Act to grant costs certificates may be exercised by a member of that court sitting in Chambers.
13 No appeal against refusal of costs certificate

An appeal does not lie from a refusal of a court to grant a costs certificate.
14 Costs certificates not to be granted to certain persons 1

A court is not empowered by this Act to grant a costs certificate to:

 a

the Commonwealth;

 b

a State;

 c

the Northern Territory;

 d

a person suing, or being sued, on behalf of the Commonwealth, of any State or of the Northern Territory;

 e

an authority of the Commonwealth, of any State or of any Territory (including the Northern Territory and Norfolk Island);

 f

a body corporate that has a paid-up capital of $200,000 or more; or

 g

a body corporate that is not a body corporate referred to in paragraph (f) but is related to such a body corporate.

 2

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the question whether bodies corporate are related to each other shall be determined in the same manner as the question whether corporations, within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001, are related to each other would be determined under that Act.
15 Vacation of costs certificates 1

A costs certificate granted under subsection 6(1) or (2) to a respondent to a Federal appeal is vacated if the respondent to whom the certificate has been granted:

 a

appeals from the judgment in that appeal; and

 b

is a successful party in the appeal from that judgment or in a later appeal in the same sequence as the appeal from that judgment.

 2

A costs certificate granted under subsection 7(1) to an appellant to a Federal appeal is vacated if the respondent to whom the certificate relates:

 a

appeals from the judgment in that appeal; and

 b

is a successful party in the appeal from that judgment or in a later appeal in the same sequence as the appeal from that judgment.

 3

A costs certificate granted under subsection 9(1) to an appellant to a Federal appeal is vacated if the respondent to the appeal:

 a

appeals from the judgment in that appeal; and

 b

is the successful party in the appeal from that judgment or in a later appeal in the same sequence as the appeal from that judgment.
16 Payments on costs certificates 1

A person who has been granted a costs certificate (not being a certificate that has been vacated under section 15) may apply to the Attorney-General for payment in accordance with this Act in respect of the certificate.

 2

Subject to section 17, where an application is made by a person under subsection (1) in respect of a costs certificate, the Attorney-General may, having regard to the provisions of section 18 and to the moneys available at the time of the application for making payments under this Act, authorize the payment under this Act to that person of an amount not exceeding the amount or the sum of the amounts of the costs to which the certificate relates, and a payment so authorized shall be made accordingly.
17 No payment in respect of costs certificates capable of being vacated 1

The Attorney-General shall not authorize a payment under this Act in respect of a costs certificate referred to in section 15 unless he or she is satisfied, or is entitled under subsection (2) of this section to presume, that the certificate will not be vacated under that section.

 2

For the purposes of this section, where:

 a

there has been no appeal, or application for leave to appeal, against the judgment in the Federal appeal to which a costs certificate referred to in subsection (1) relates by the respondent an appeal by whom could result in the vacation of the certificate; and

 b

the Attorney-General has been given:

 i

notice in writing by that respondent that he or she does not intend to appeal against that judgment; or

 ii

in the case of a certificate granted to an appellant to the appeal—notice in writing by the appellant that the appellant has no reason to believe that that respondent will appeal against the judgment;

the Attorney-General is entitled to presume that the certificate will not be vacated.

 3

Where:

 a

a notice referred to in subparagraph (2)(b)(i) or (ii) has been given by, or in relation to, a respondent to a Federal appeal;

 b

an amount has been paid under this Act to a person who has been granted a costs certificate in respect of the appeal that would not have been paid but for that notice; and

 c

that respondent appeals, or seeks leave to appeal, against the judgment in the appeal;

the person so paid shall, upon demand in writing by the Attorney-General or a delegate of the Attorney-General, served on the person, either personally or by post, repay that amount to the Commonwealth within such period, not being less than 7 days, as is specified in the demand and, if the amount is not repaid within that period, the Commonwealth may recover the amount by action in a court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due to the Commonwealth.

 4

(4) For the purpose of the application of Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to the service by post on a person of a demand under subsection (3), such a demand posted as a letter addressed to the person at his or her last address known to the person making the demand shall be deemed to be properly addressed.section 29 of the

18 Limits of payments in respect of appeals or other proceedings 1

(1) In this section, prescribed maximum amount, in relation to a court or tribunal specified in column 1 of the table in the Schedule, means the amount specified in column 2 of that table opposite to that court or tribunal or such higher amount as is prescribed.

 2

The Attorney-General shall not authorize payment under this Act in respect of a costs certificate (other than a costs certificate granted under subsection 10(2) or (3)) in relation to an appeal or a new trial of an amount that exceeds the prescribed maximum amount in relation to the court that heard that appeal or new trial, as the case may be.

 2A

The Attorney-General must not authorise payment under this Act in respect of a costs certificate granted by the Administrative Review Tribunal under subsection 10A(2) of an amount that exceeds the prescribed maximum amount in relation to that Tribunal.

 4

A reference in this section to a court shall be read as a reference to that court however constituted.
19 Payments to be made out of annual appropriation

Payments under this Act shall be made out of moneys available under an appropriation made by the Parliament.
20 Delegation 1

The Attorney-General may, either generally or as otherwise provided by the instrument of delegation, by writing signed by him or her, delegate to an officer of the Attorney-General’s Department any of his or her powers under this Act, other than this power of delegation.

 2

A power so delegated, when exercised by the delegate, shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to have been exercised by the Attorney-General.

 3

A delegation under this section does not prevent the exercise of a power by the Attorney-General.
21 Application 1

A court is not empowered to grant a costs certificate under subsection 6(1) or (2), 7(1) or 9(1) in respect of a Federal appeal instituted, or leave for which was granted, before the commencement of this Act.

 2

A court is not empowered to grant a costs certificate under subsection 8(1) or (2) in respect of a new trial granted in a Federal appeal instituted, or leave for which was granted, before the commencement of this Act.

 3

A court is not empowered to grant a costs certificate under subsection 10(2) or (3) in respect of proceedings that were rendered abortive, or the hearing of which was discontinued, as the case may be, before the commencement of this Act.

 4

A court is not empowered to grant a costs certificate under subsection 7A(1) in respect of a Federal appeal instituted, or leave for which was granted, before the commencement of this subsection.
22 Regulations

The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

Schedule—Prescribed maximum amount

Section 18
Court or Tribunal Amount
$
High Court 5000
Federal Court 3000
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia 2000
Supreme Court of a Territory 3000
other court of a Territory 1000
Administrative Review Tribunal 2000

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key— E ndnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history— E ndnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under Legislation Act 2003.section 15V of the

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
ad = added or inserted o = order(s)
am = amended Ord = Ordinance
amdt = amendment orig = original
c = clause(s) par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)
C[x] = Compilation No. x /sub-subparagraph(s)
Ch = Chapter(s) pres = present
def = definition(s) prev = previous
Dict = Dictionary (prev…) = previously
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament Pt = Part(s)
Div = Division(s) r = regulation(s)/rule(s)
ed = editorial change reloc = relocated
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have renum = renumbered
effect rep = repealed
F = Federal Register of Legislation rs = repealed and substituted
gaz = gazette s = section(s)/subsection(s)
LA = Legislation Act 2003 Sch = Schedule(s)
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 Sdiv = Subdivision(s)
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given SLI = Select Legislative Instrument
effect SR = Statutory Rules
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s)
cannot be given effect SubPt = Subpart(s)
mod = modified/modification underlining = whole or part not
No. = Number(s) commenced or to be commenced

Endnote 3—Legislation history
Act Number and year Assent Commencement Application, saving and transitional provisions
Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981 23, 1981 (s 2)
Companies and Securities Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1981 153, 1981 s 100: 1 July 1982 (s 2(4)) —
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 2) 1983 91, 1983 s 3 and 6(1): 20 Dec 1983 (s 2(1)) s 6(1)
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1985 65, 1985 5 June 1985 s 3: 3 July 1985 (s 2(1)) —
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1988 38, 1988 3 June 1988 s 3: 1 Nov 1988 (s 2(4) and gaz 1988, No S333) s 5(1) and (2): 3 June 1998 (s 2(1)) s 5(1) and (2)
Territories Law Reform Act 1992 104, 1992 30 June 1992 s 21: 29 June 1993 (s 2(2) and gaz 1993, No S196) —
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1995 175, 1995 Sch 2 (items 36–41): 16 Dec 1995 (s 2(1)) —
Statute Law Revision Act 1996 43, 1996 Sch 2 (item 57): 16 Dec 1995 (s 2(2)) Sch 5 (items 59–61): 25 Oct 1996 (s 2(1)) —
Federal Magistrates (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999 194, 1999 Sch 13: 23 Dec 1999 (s 2(1)) —
Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001 55, 2001 28 June 2001 s 4–14 and Sch 3 (item 185): 15 July 2001 (s 2(1), (3)) s 4–14
Administrative Appeals Tribunal Amendment Act 2005 38, 2005 Sch 1 (items 208, 209): 16 May 2005 (s 2(1) item 6) Sch 1 (item 209)
Federal Circuit Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments) Act 2013 13, 2013 14 Mar 2013 Sch 1 (item 314) and Sch 2 (item 1): 12 Apr 2013 (s 2(1) items 2, 3) —
Tribunals Amalgamation Act 2015 60, 2015 26 May 2015 Sch 8 (item 20) and Sch 9: 1 July 2015 (s 2(1) items 19, 22) Sch 9
Territories Legislation Amendment Act 2016 33, 2016 23 Mar 2016 Sch 5 (items 57, 58): 1 July 2016 (s 2(1) item 7) —
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2021 13, 2021 1 Mar 2021 Sch 2 (items 419–427): 1 Sept 2021 (s 2(1) item 5) —
Administrative Review Tribunal (Consequential and Transitional Provisions No. 2) Act 2024 39, 2024 31 May 2024 Sch 2 (items 67–73): 14 Oct 2024 (s 2(1) item 2) —
Family Law Amendment Act 2024 118, 2024 10 Dec 2024 Sch 4 (item 14): 10 June 2025 (s 2(1) item 11) —

Endnote 4—Amendment history
Provision affected How affected
Title am No 175, 1995; No 39, 2024
s 3 am No 65, 1985; No 38, 1988; No 104, 1992; No 175, 1995; No 194, 1999; No 13, 2013; No 33, 2016; No 13, 2021; No 39, 2024
s 5 am No 33, 2016
s 7A ad No 65, 1985
s 8 am No 65, 1985
s 9 am No 194, 1999; No 118, 2024
s 10 am No 43, 1996; No 194, 1999; No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021
s 10A ad No 175, 1995
am No 38, 2005; No 60, 2015; No 39, 2024
s 11 am No 65, 1985
s 14 am No 153, 1981; No 55, 2001
s 17 am No 43, 1996
s 18 am No 91, 1983; No 175, 1995; No 39, 2024
s 20 am No 43, 1996
s 21 am No 65, 1985
Schedule
Schedule am No 175, 1995; No 43, 1996; No 13, 2021; No 39, 2024