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Court Procedures Rules
741Freezing orders—general
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741 Freezing orders—general
(1) The Supreme Court may make an order (a freezing order) for the
purpose of preventing the frustration or inhibition of the court’s
process by ensuring that an order or prospective order of the court is
not made valueless or diminished in value.
(2) The Magistrates Court may make an order (also called a freezing
order) in a proceeding for the purpose of preventing the frustration or
inhibition of the court’s process by ensuring that an order or
prospective order of the court in relation to the proceeding is not made
valueless or diminished in value.
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(3) A freezing order may be an order restraining a respondent from
removing any assets located in or outside Australia or from disposing
of, dealing with, or diminishing the value of, those assets.
(4) For the Supreme Court, a freezing order or ancillary order may be
made whether or not the respondent is a party to an existing
(5) For the Magistrates Court, a freezing order or ancillary order may be
made in a proceeding whether or not the respondent is a party to the
(6) The affidavits supporting an application for a freezing order or
ancillary order must include the following information:
(a) information about—
(i) the order mentioned in rule 743 (1) (a) (Freezing orders—
order against enforcement debtor or prospective
enforcement debtor or third party); or
(ii) if no order mentioned in rule 743 (1) (a) has been
obtained—the following information about the cause of
action mentioned in rule 743 (1) (b) or (c):
(A) the basis of the claim for principal relief;
(B) the amount of the claim;
(C) if the application is made without being served on the
respondent—any possible defence or other response
to the claim;
(b) the nature and value of the respondent’s assets, as far as they are
known to the applicant, in and outside Australia;
(c) why the applicant believes—
(i) the respondent’s assets may be removed from Australia; or
(ii) the dealing with the assets should be restrained by order;
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(d) why the applicant believes the order mentioned in rule 743 (1)
(a) may go unsatisfied if the removal or dealing mentioned in
paragraph (c) happens;
(e) the identity of anyone, other than the respondent, who the
applicant knows may be affected by the order, and how the
person may be affected.
(7) The court may amend or set aside a freezing order or ancillary order.