Vexatious Proceedings Act 2011

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears –

Australian court or tribunal means a court or tribunal of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory and includes a body prescribed in the regulations for the purposes of this definition;

Court means the Supreme Court;

decision includes determination;

institute, in relation to proceedings, includes – for civil proceedings, the taking of a step or the making of an application that may be necessary before proceedings can be started against or in relation to a party; and for proceedings before a tribunal, the taking of a step or the making of an application that may be necessary before proceedings can be started before the tribunal; and for criminal proceedings, the making of a complaint or the obtaining of a warrant for the arrest of an alleged offender; and for civil or criminal proceedings or proceedings before a tribunal, the taking of a step or the making of an application that may be necessary to start an appeal in relation to the proceedings or to a decision made in the course of the proceedings;

order includes declaration and injunction;

proceedings includes – any cause, matter, action, suit, proceeding, trial, complaint or inquiry of any kind; and any proceedings, including interlocutory proceedings, taken in connection with or incidental to proceedings pending before a court or tribunal; and any calling into question of a decision, whether or not a final decision, of a court or tribunal, and whether by appeal, challenge, review or in another way;

proceedings of a particular type includes – proceedings in relation to a particular matter; and proceedings against a particular person; and proceedings in a particular court or tribunal;

vexatious proceedings includes – proceedings that are an abuse of the process of a court or tribunal; and proceedings instituted to harass or annoy, to cause delay or detriment, or for another wrongful purpose; and proceedings instituted or pursued without reasonable ground; and proceedings conducted in a way so as to harass or annoy, cause delay or detriment, or achieve another wrongful purpose;

vexatious proceedings order means an order made under section 6(2).