Family Court Rules 2021

A party may request permission from the Court to attend the hearing of an appeal or an application for leave to appeal or an application in relation to an appeal or a procedural hearing by electronic communication.

The request must —

be in writing; and

be made at least 14 days before the date fixed for the hearing; and

set out the notice given of the request to any other party and whether there is any objection to the request.

The request may be determined, in chambers, in the absence of the parties by a registrar or by the judge who is to conduct the hearing.

The Court may take the following matters into account when considering the request —

the party’s distance from the place where the event is to be held;

any physical difficulty the party has in attending because of —

any illness or disability; or

any safety concerns.

The Court may —

order a party to pay the expenses of attending by electronic communication; or

apportion the expenses between the parties; or

make no order about the expenses.

This rule does not apply if the Court of its own motion decides to hear an appeal, an application for leave to appeal or an application in relation to an appeal, or a procedural hearing, by electronic communication.