The High Court, Federal Court, Family Court and Federal Magistrates Court have established a Joint Costs Advisory Committee (JCAC) to inquire into, and to make recommendations on, any variations in the quantum of costs (including expenses and fees for witnesses) allowable to legal practitioners which should be contained in the scales of costs in the:
- High Court Rules
- Federal Court Rules
- Family Law Rules
- Federal Magistrates Court Rules
These scales are used to determine the amount payable where one party must pay the legal costs of another party to a proceeding.
Interested persons and organisations are invited to submit in writing any views on changes to the scales of costs they wish to have considered by JCAC. JCAC is also seeking comments on whether, and to what extent, the weightings of the FCAC formula set out in its terms of reference should be adjusted in light of the Australian Bureau of Statistics 8667.0 - Legal Services, Australia, 2007-08 survey released on 24 June 2009.
Submissions (which will be available to the public unless deemed confidential by JCAC) should be sent to:
Ms Angela Filippello
Joint Costs Advisory Committee
c/o Family Court of Australia
GPO Box 9991
BRISBANE QLD 4001
jcac.submissions@familycourt.gov.au
The deadline for submissions is 30 June 2010.
