Vexatious Proceedings Act 2008

When orders may be made An authorised court may make an order under this section (a vexatious proceedings order) in relation to a person if the court is satisfied that—

the person has frequently instituted or conducted vexatious proceedings in Australia, or

the person, acting in concert with a person who is subject to a vexatious proceedings order or who is referred to in paragraph (a), has instituted or conducted vexatious proceedings in Australia.

For the purposes of subsection (1), an authorised court may have regard to—

proceedings instituted or conducted in any Australian court or tribunal (including proceedings instituted or conducted before the commencement of this section), and

orders made by any Australian court or tribunal (including orders made before the commencement of this section), and

evidence of the decision, or a finding of fact, of any Australian court or tribunal hearing such proceedings or making such orders, even if that evidence would otherwise not be admissible by virtue of section 91 of the Evidence Act 1995.

An authorised court must not make a vexatious proceedings order in relation to a person without hearing the person or giving the person an opportunity of being heard.

Orders may be made on court’s own motion or on application An authorised court may make a vexatious proceedings order of its own motion or on the application of any of the following persons—

the Attorney General,

the Solicitor General,

the appropriate registrar for the court,

a person against or in relation to whom another person has instituted or conducted vexatious proceedings,

a person who, in the opinion of the court, has a sufficient interest in the matter.

An application for a vexatious proceedings order may be made by a person referred to in subsection (4) (e) only with the leave of the authorised court.

A judicial officer, member or registrar of a court or tribunal may make a recommendation to the Attorney General that he or she consider making an application for a vexatious proceedings order in relation to a specified person.

Orders that may be made by Supreme Court The Supreme Court may make any one or more of the following vexatious proceedings orders in relation to a person—

an order staying all or part of any proceedings in New South Wales already instituted by the person,

an order prohibiting the person from instituting proceedings in New South Wales,

any other order that the Court considers appropriate in relation to the person.

Orders that may be made by Land and Environment Court The Land and Environment Court may make any one or more of the following vexatious proceedings orders in relation to a person—

an order staying all or part of any proceedings in the Court already instituted by the person,

an order prohibiting the person from instituting proceedings in the Court,

any other order that the Court considers appropriate in relation to proceedings by the person in the Court.

Orders that may be made by Industrial Court The Industrial Court may make one or more of the following vexatious proceedings orders in relation to a person—

an order staying all or part of any proceedings in the Industrial Relations Commission, whether in Court Session or otherwise,

an order prohibiting the person from instituting proceedings in the Industrial Relations Commission, whether in Court Session or otherwise,

another order the Court considers appropriate in relation to proceedings by the person in the Industrial Relations Commission, whether in Court Session or otherwise.

A vexatious proceedings order does not stay, or prohibit a person from instituting or conducting, any criminal proceedings that are taken by the person in connection with or incidental to criminal proceedings against the person, except as expressly specified in the order.

A vexatious proceedings order does not stay, or prohibit a person from making, a bail application (within the meaning of the Bail Act 2013).