Supreme Court Rules 1987

Unless the Court otherwise orders, the time stated in the writ or originating motion for the defendant to file an appearance shall be:

(a) where the originating process to be served in the Territory:

(i) is filed in the Darwin

Registry and the place of service is within 200 Kilometres from

Darwin – not less than 7 days after service;

(ii) is filed in the Alice

Springs Registry and the place of service is within 200 Kilometres from Alice Springs – not less than 7 days after service; or

(iii) is filed in the Darwin or Alice Springs Registry and place of service is not within 200

Kilometres from the filing Registry – not less than 14 days after service;

(b) where the originating process is to be served elsewhere within the Commonwealth – not less than 21 days after service;

(c) where the originating process is to be served in New Zealand or in Papua New Guinea – not less than 28 days after service; and

(d) in any other case – not less than 42 days after service.