The Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2025 commence on 8 September 2025 (Link to new rules).
The Rules remain largely unchanged from the 2015 Rules and retain the same structure. Some significant changes include:
- Current Order 28 and 28A are consolidated and adapted to form new Order 28 entitled “Filing, sealing and inspection of documents”.
- Rule 27.03(1) provides that a document to be filed shall be in a pdf format, fully text searchable and have consecutive page numbering that corresponds with the display page numbers of the pdf viewer, and be printable.
- The original jurisdiction of Associate Judges to hear and determine any application and exercise any powers and authorities is expanded under certain statutory provisions by Rules in Order 77.
- Address of Parties – Current Rule 5.07(1)(a) outlines a requirement for both a residential address of the plaintiff and, for the plaintiff who sues in person whose residential address is outside Victoria, an address within Victoria for service. Similarly, Rule 8.06(2) provides that an address for service is required in Victoria for a defendant who appears in person. Those Rules have been amended so that a party is no longer required to provide an address in Victoria for service, having regard to electronic filing and service via email.
An explanatory memorandum is available on the Supreme Court of Victoria website.
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