Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999

The court may at any stage of a proceeding order that—

a person who has been improperly or unnecessarily included as a party, or who has ceased to be an appropriate or necessary party, be removed from the proceeding; or

any of the following persons be included as a party—

a person whose presence before the court is necessary to enable the court to adjudicate effectually and completely on all matters in dispute in the proceeding;

a person whose presence before the court would be desirable, just and convenient to enable the court to adjudicate effectually and completely on all matters in dispute connected with the proceeding.

However, the court must not include or substitute a party after the end of a limitation period unless 1 of the following applies—

the new party is a necessary party to the proceeding because—

property is vested in the party at law or in equity and the plaintiff’s or applicant’s claimed entitlement to an equitable interest in the property may be defeated if the new party is not included; or

the proceeding is for the possession of land and the new party is in possession personally or by a tenant of all or part of the land; or

the proceeding was started in or against the name of the wrong person as a party, and, if a person is to be included or substituted as defendant or respondent, the person is given notice of the court’s intention to make the order; or

the court considers it doubtful the proceeding was started in or against the name of the right person as a party, and, if a person is to be included or substituted as defendant or respondent, the person is given notice of the court’s intention to make the order;

the relevant cause of action is vested in the new party and the plaintiff or applicant jointly but not severally;

the new party is the Attorney-General and the proceeding should have been brought as a relator proceeding in the Attorney-General’s name;

the new party is a company in which the plaintiff or applicant is a shareholder and on whose behalf the plaintiff or applicant is suing to enforce a right vested in the company;

the new party is sued jointly with the defendant or respondent and is not also liable severally with the defendant or respondent and failure to include the new party may make the claim unenforceable;

for any other reason—

a claim made, or ground of defence raised, in the proceeding before the end of the limitation period can not be maintained; or

relief sought in the proceeding before the end of the limitation period can not be granted;

If the court makes an order including or substituting a party, the court may give directions about the future conduct of the proceeding.