Open Courts Act 2013

Version No. 017

Open Courts Act 2013

No. 58 of 2013

Version incorporating amendments as at
30 September 2025

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

Section Page

Part 1—Preliminary 1

1 Purposes 1

2 Commencement 2

3 Definitions 2

4 Principle of open justice prevails unless circumstances require displacement 6

5 Abrogation of common law and no implied jurisdiction 6

6 Jurisdiction and powers of courts and tribunals to deal with contempt 6

7 Admission of evidence and disclosure of information to a court or tribunal or party to a proceeding 7

8 Other laws restricting or prohibiting publication not affected 7

8A Handing down and delivering judgments by electronic communication does not contravene rules of law relating to open justice 10

8B Certain measures in relation to proceeding or hearing do not contravene rules of law relating to open justice 11

8C Court may restrict or prohibit publication of transcript provided under section 8B 12

Part 2—General provisions for suppression orders 14

9 Application of Part 14

10 Notice of applications for suppression orders 14

11 Notifications to relevant news media organisations 15

12 Duration of orders 15

13 Scope of information covered by order 16

14 Order must be made on basis of evidence or sufficient credible information 17

14A Statement of reasons for making a suppression order 17

15 Review of orders 18

16 Duty to publish reasons, judgments or decisions 20

Part 3—Proceeding suppression orders 22

17 Court or tribunal may make proceeding suppression order 22

18 Grounds for proceeding suppression order 22

19 Procedure for making a proceeding suppression order 23

20 Interim orders 24

21 Where a proceeding suppression order applies 25

22 Exceptions for conduct of proceeding, enforcement or informing persons of existence of proceeding suppression orders or interim orders 25

23 Offence to contravene proceeding suppression order or interim order 26

Part 4—Broad suppression orders 27

24 Application of this Part 27

25 County Court may grant injunction restraining publication in relation to criminal proceeding 27

26 Magistrates' Court may make order prohibiting publication of specified material 27

27 Offence to contravene order under section 26(1) 28

Part 5—Closed court orders 30

28 Principle of open justice and hearings in open court 30

29 Jurisdiction and powers of courts and tribunals to regulate proceedings 30

30 Power to close proceeding to the public 31

31 Requirement to post notice of closed court order on door of court or tribunal 32

32 Offence to contravene closed court order 32

Part 6—General 34

33 Regulations 34

Part 7—Transitional provisions 35

34 Transitional 35

35 Power to resolve transitional difficulties in proceeding 35

═══════════════

Endnotes 36

1 General information 36

2 Table of Amendments 38

3 Explanatory details 40

Version No. 017

Open Courts Act 2013

No. 58 of 2013

Version incorporating amendments as at
30 September 2025

The Parliament of Victoria enacts:

Part 1—Preliminary

1 Purposes

The main purposes of this Act are to—

S. 1(aa) inserted by No. 11/2019 s. 4.

(aa) recognise and promote the principle that open justice is a fundamental aspect of the Victorian legal system which—

(i) maintains the integrity and impartiality of courts and tribunals; and

(ii) strengthens public confidence in the system of justice;

(a) reform and consolidate provisions for suppression orders relating to information derived from proceedings applicable to the Supreme Court, the County Court, the Magistrates' Court, the Coroners Court, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and other prescribed courts and tribunals;

(b) reform and consolidate provisions for suppression orders relating to other information relevant to, but not derived from, certain proceedings in the County Court and the Magistrates' Court;

(c) make general provisions applicable to all suppression orders made pursuant to the exercise of the inherent jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and by courts or tribunals under this Act;

(d) reform and consolidate provisions for closed court orders applicable to the Supreme Court, the County Court, the Magistrates' Court, the Coroners Court, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and other prescribed courts and tribunals.

2 Commencement

(1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act comes into operation on a day or days to be proclaimed.

(2) If a provision of this Act does not come into operation before 1 December 2013, it comes into operation on that day.

3 Definitions

In this Act—

business day means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday within the meaning of the Public Holidays Act 1993;

child means a person under 18 years of age;

closed court order means an order made under Part 5;

S. 3 def. of correspond-ing interstate order repealed by No. 53/2016 s. 110(c).

---

S. 3 def. of correspond-ing New Zealand order repealed by No. 53/2016 s. 110(c).

---

court or tribunal means—

(a) the Supreme Court;

(b) the County Court;

(c) the Magistrates' Court;

(d) the Coroners Court;

(e) VCAT;

(f) any other prescribed court or tribunal;

(g) a prescribed person or body;

family violence intervention order has the same meaning as it has in the Family Violence Protection Act 2008;

S. 3 def. of family violence offence
amended by No. 53/2016 s. 110(b).

family violence offence means—

(a) an offence where—

(i) the accused is a person who, at the time of the alleged offence, is subject to a family violence intervention order, a family violence safety notice or a
non-local DVO; and

(ii) the complainant or alleged victim is a person who is protected by the order or notice referred to in subparagraph (i); and

(iii) the conduct comprising the alleged offence, if established, includes conduct by the accused which is a contravention of the order or notice referred to in subparagraph (i); or

(b) an offence where the conduct comprising the alleged offence, if established, constitutes family violence within the meaning of the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 by the accused against the complainant or alleged victim and the conduct could reasonably have justified the making of a family violence intervention order or a family violence safety notice applying to the accused and protecting the complainant or alleged victim;

family violence safety notice has the same meaning as it has in the Family Violence Protection Act 2008;

information includes any document;

inquest has the same meaning as it has in the Coroners Act 2008;

interim order means an order made under section 20;

news media organisation means—

(a) a commercial enterprise that engages in the business of broadcasting or publishing news;

(b) a public broadcasting service that engages in the dissemination of news through a public news medium;

S. 3 def. of non-local DVO
inserted by No. 53/2016 s. 110(a).

non-local DVO means a non-local DVO within the meaning of the National Domestic Violence Order Scheme Act 2016;

party to a proceeding includes—

(a) in the case of a criminal proceeding, the complainant or victim or alleged victim;

(b) any person named in evidence given in a proceeding;

(c) in relation to a proceeding that has concluded, a person who was a party to the proceeding before the proceeding concluded;

proceeding means a civil proceeding or a criminal proceeding;

proceeding suppression order means an order made under section 17;

publish means disseminate or provide access to the public or a section of the public by any means, including by—

(a) publication in a book, newspaper, magazine or other written publication; or

(b) broadcast by radio or television; or

(c) public exhibition; or

(d) broadcast or electronic communication—

and publication must be construed accordingly;

sexual offence has the same meaning as it has in the Criminal Procedure Act 2009;

suppression order means—

(a) a proceeding suppression order;

(b) an interim order;

(c) an order made under section 25 or 26;

(d) an order made by the Supreme Court in the exercise of its inherent jurisdiction that prohibits or restricts the publication or other disclosure of information in connection with any proceeding, whether or not the information was derived from the proceeding.

S. 4 substituted by No. 11/2019 s. 5.

4 Principle of open justice prevails unless circumstances require displacement

(1) A court or tribunal is to have regard to the primacy of the principle of open justice and the free communication and disclosure of information in determining whether to make a suppression order.

(2) A court or tribunal is only to make a suppression order if satisfied that the specific circumstances of a case make it necessary to override or displace the principle of open justice and the free communication and disclosure of information.

5 Abrogation of common law and no implied jurisdiction

(1) Nothing in this section limits or otherwise affects the inherent jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

(2) Any common law power to make an order prohibiting or restricting the publication of information in connection with any proceeding is abrogated.

(3) A court or tribunal has no implied jurisdiction to make an order prohibiting or restricting the publication of information in connection with any proceeding.

6 Jurisdiction and powers of courts and tribunals to deal with contempt

(1) This Act does not limit or otherwise affect any jurisdiction or any power that a court or tribunal has apart from this Act to deal with a contempt of the court or tribunal.

(2) In this section—

jurisdiction includes any implied jurisdiction and, in the case of the Supreme Court, its inherent jurisdiction;

power includes any power at common law.

7 Admission of evidence and disclosure of information to a court or tribunal or party to a proceeding

This Act does not limit or otherwise affect—

(a) the making of an order or decision by a court or tribunal that requires the disclosure of information in the course of, or in relation to, a proceeding;

(b) any rule of law restricting the permitted use and disclosure of information referred to in paragraph (a);

(c) the making of an order or decision by a court or tribunal regarding the admission into evidence of information;

(d) the making of an order or decision by a court or tribunal that—

(i) conceals the identity of a person by restricting the way the person is referred to in open court;

(ii) restricts the way an event or thing may be referred to in open court;

(iii) prohibits or restricts access to a court or tribunal file.

8 Other laws restricting or prohibiting publication not affected

S. 8(1) amended by No. 11/2019 s. 6(1).

(1) This Act does not limit or otherwise affect the operation of a provision made by or under any other Act, including an Act of the Commonwealth, that—

(a) prohibits or restricts, or authorises a court or tribunal to prohibit or restrict, the publication or other disclosure of information for or in connection with any proceeding; or

(b) requires or authorises a court or tribunal to close any proceeding to the public.

S. 8(1A) inserted by No. 11/2019 s. 6(2).

(1A) If a provision of an Act referred to in subsection (2) prohibits or restricts, or authorises a court or tribunal to prohibit or restrict, the publication or other disclosure of information for or in connection with any proceeding, a court or tribunal must not make a suppression order that prohibits or restricts the publication or other disclosure of information which is already prohibited or restricted by that other provision.

(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), this Act does not limit the operation of the following provisions—

(a) section 121 of the Adoption Act 1984;

(b) section 534 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005;

S. 8(2)(c) amended by No. 27/2016 s. 44.

(c) sections 17(3), (4) and (5), 36L(6), (7) and (8), 37(9), (10) and (11) and 40H(7), (8) and (9) of the Confiscation Act 1997;

(d) section 75 of the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997;

S. 8(2)(da) inserted by No. 32/2024 s. 836.

(da) section 206G of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009;

(e) Part 4 of the Criminal Organisations Control Act 2012;

(f) sections 32F or 42BQ of the Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1958;

(g) sections 166 or 167 of the Family Violence Protection Act 2008;

(h) section 43 of the Major Crime (Investigative Powers) Act 2004;

(i) section 133 of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008;

S. 8(2)(j) substituted by No. 27/2018 s. 361.

(j) Division 1 of Part 19 of the Serious Offenders Act 2018;

S. 8(2)(ja) inserted by No. 21/2016 s. 23.

(ja) section 66ZZB of the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004;

(k) section 12 of the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act 2003;

(l) section 43 of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 1996;

S. 8(2)(m) amended by No. 11/2019 s. 6(3)(a).

(m) clause 37 of Schedule 1 to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998;

S. 8(2)(n) inserted by No. 11/2019 s. 6(3)(b).

(n) sections 3 and 4 of the Judicial Proceedings Reports Act 1958;

S. 8(2)(o) inserted by No. 11/2019 s. 6(3)(b).

(o) sections 7 and 48 of the Major Crime (Investigative Powers) Act 2004;

S. 8(2)(p) inserted by No. 11/2019 s. 6(3)(b).

(p) sections 10A and 13 of the Witness Protection Act 1991.

Note to s. 8(2) amended by No. 11/2019 s. 6(4).

Note

Other Acts have specific suppression regimes that place statutory restrictions or prohibitions on the disclosure of information. For example, see sections 77 and 78 of the Juries Act 2000.

S. 8(3) inserted by No. 11/2019 s. 6(5).

(3) A suppression order that prohibits or restricts the publication or other disclosure of information which is already prohibited or restricted by the operation of a provision made by or under any Act, including an Act of the Commonwealth, is not invalid merely because it covers the same prohibition, restriction or disclosure as the provision of an Act.

S. 8A inserted by No. 11/2021 s. 110.

8A Handing down and delivering judgments by electronic communication does not contravene rules of law relating to open justice

(1) A court or tribunal does not contravene any rule of law relating to open justice if, instead of handing down or delivering a judgment in a court room or hearing room that is open to the public, the court or tribunal—

(a) gives the parties notice that the judgment is to be handed down or delivered as described in paragraphs (b) and (c); and

(b) sends the judgment to the parties by electronic communication; and

(c) makes the judgment available to—

(i) the public generally; or

(ii) a member of the public on request.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) permits the publication of information in connection with a proceeding if that publication is contrary to a prohibition or restriction imposed by or under this Act or any other Act.

(3) In this section—

judgment includes the following—

(a) reasons;

(b) an order (including a final order);

(c) a ruling;

(d) a finding;

(e) a decision;

(f) a determination.

S. 8B inserted by No. 11/2021 s. 110.

8B Certain measures in relation to proceeding or hearing do not contravene rules of law relating to open justice

S. 8B(1) amended by Nos 38/2022 s. 90(1), 26/2023 s. 7(1)(a).

(1) A court or tribunal does not contravene any rule of law relating to open justice if, instead of holding a proceeding or hearing in a court room or hearing room that is physically open to the public, the court or tribunal does whichever of the following things the court or tribunal is satisfied it is in the interests of justice to do—

S. 8B(1)(a) amended by Nos 38/2022 s. 90(2), 26/2023 s. 7(1)(b).

(a) arranging or providing a contemporaneous audio or audio visual broadcast of the proceeding or hearing to—

(i) the public generally; or

(ii) a member of the public on request;

S. 8B(1)(b) amended by No. 38/2022 s. 90(3)(a).

(b) arranging or providing an audio or audio visual recording of the proceeding or hearing within a reasonable time after the conclusion of the proceeding or hearing to—

(i) the public generally; or

S. 8B(1)(b)(ii) amended by No. 38/2022 s. 90(3)(b).

(ii) a member of the public on request;

S. 8B(1)(c) amended by No. 38/2022 s. 90(4).

(c) in the case of the Supreme Court, the County Court or the Coroners Court, arranging or providing a transcript of the proceeding or hearing within a reasonable time after the conclusion of the proceeding or hearing to—

(i) the public generally; or

(ii) a member of the public on request.

S. 8B(2) substituted by No. 26/2023 s. 7(2).

(2) A court or tribunal may determine what means of access or combination of means of access under subsection (1) is or are most appropriate in all the circumstances.

S. 8B(3) amended by No. 38/2022 s. 90(5), substituted by No. 26/2023 s. 7(2).

(3) No fee is payable for a contemporaneous audio or audio visual broadcast under subsection (1)(a), an audio or audio visual recording of a proceeding or hearing under subsection (1)(b) or a transcript of a proceeding or hearing under subsection (1)(c) by a person to whom it is provided.

S. 8B(4) inserted by No. 26/2023 s. 7(2).

(4) Subsection (3) applies despite any Act (other than the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006) or any regulation which fixes a fee for the provision of any broadcast, recording or transcript.

S. 8C inserted by No. 26/2023 s. 8.

8C Court may restrict or prohibit publication of transcript provided under section 8B

(1) If satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to do so, the Supreme Court, the County Court or the Coroner's Court may make an order—

(a) restricting the publication of a transcript, or any part of a transcript, provided under section 8B(1)(c); or

(b) prohibiting the publication of a transcript, or any part of a transcript, provided under section 8B(1)(c).

(2) An order under subsection (1)(a) or (b) may be subject to any conditions that the Court making the order considers appropriate to impose.

(3) An order under subsection (1)(a) or (b) may be made on the own motion of the Supreme Court, the County Court or the Coroner's Court.

Part 2—General provisions for suppression orders

9 Application of Part

This Part applies to any suppression order.

10 Notice of applications for suppression orders

(1) Subject to subsection (3), an applicant for a suppression order must give 3 business days' notice of the making of the application to—

(a) the court or tribunal in which the application is to be made; and

S. 10(1)(b) substituted by No. 55/2014 s. 176.

(b) the parties on the record in the proceeding to which the application relates.

(2) Notice under subsection (1) must be in accordance with rules of court (if any) applying in the court or tribunal in which the application is made.

(3) The court or tribunal may hear an application
for a suppression order despite the failure of the applicant to give notice in accordance with subsection (1) if the court or tribunal is satisfied that—

(a) there was a good reason for the notice not being given or not being given within the required time period; or

(b) it is in the interests of justice that the court or tribunal hear the application without notice being given.

(4) This section does not apply to the making of a proceeding suppression order by a court or tribunal on its own motion.

11 Notifications to relevant news media organisations

(1) On receiving a notice under section 10(1), the court or tribunal must take reasonable steps to ensure that any relevant news media organisation is notified of the application for a suppression order.

(2) Notification under this section may be by electronic communication or any other means that the court or tribunal considers appropriate.

(3) In this section, relevant news media organisation means a news media organisation which the court or tribunal would ordinarily ensure was sent notice of the making of a suppression order.

12 Duration of orders

(1) The period for which a suppression order other than an interim order operates must be—

(a) determined by the court or tribunal in accordance with this section; and

(b) specified in the order.

Note to s. 12(1) amended by No. 11/2019 s. 7(1).

Note

For interim orders, see section 20(3).

(2) The period for which a suppression order operates may be specified by reference to—

(a) a fixed or ascertainable period; or

(b) subject to subsection (3), the occurrence of a specified future event.

(3) If the period for which a suppression order operates is specified by reference to a future event that may not occur, the order must also specify a period from the date of the order (not exceeding 5 years) at the end of which the order expires unless sooner revoked.

Example

An order that is expressed to be in effect until further order of the court or tribunal would also need to specify a period not exceeding 5 years at the end of which the order expires unless sooner revoked.

S. 12(3A) inserted by No. 11/2019 s. 7(2).

(3A) Unless a court or tribunal otherwise orders or the suppression order otherwise specifies, a suppression order (unless it is sooner varied or revoked) continues to operate until—

(a) the expiry of any appeal period in relation to the proceeding to which the order relates; or

(b) if an appeal is made, the determination of the appeal.

(4) The court or tribunal must ensure that a suppression order operates for no longer than is reasonably necessary to achieve the purpose for which it is made.

S. 13 (Heading) amended by No. 11/2019 s. 8(1).

13 Scope of information covered by order

(1) A suppression order must specify the information to which the order applies with sufficient particularity to ensure that—

(a) the order is limited to achieving the purpose for which the order is made; and

(b) the order does not apply to any more information than is necessary to achieve the purpose for which the order is made; and

(c) it is readily apparent from the terms of the order what information is subject to the order.

(2) A suppression order—

S. 13(2)(a) repealed by No. 11/2019 s. 8(2).

---

(b) in the case of a proceeding suppression order or an order under section 26(1), must specify the applicable ground or grounds on which it is made.

14 Order must be made on basis of evidence or sufficient credible information

(1) In making a suppression order, a court or tribunal must be satisfied on the basis of evidence, or sufficient credible information that is satisfactory to the court or tribunal, that the grounds for making the order are established.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an interim order.

S. 14A inserted by No. 11/2019 s. 9.

14A Statement of reasons for making a suppression order

(1) Subject to subsection (2), a court or tribunal which makes a suppression order must give a statement of reasons that sets out—

(a) the reasons for the terms of the order; and

(b) the reasons for the duration, grounds and scope of the information covered by the order.

(2) A court or tribunal is not required to give a statement of reasons—

(a) for an interim order; or

(b) for an order varying a suppression order, if the order specifies the purpose of the variation; or

(c) for an order revoking a suppression order; or

(d) if giving a statement of reasons would render the suppression order ineffective.

(3) A failure to comply with this section does not affect the validity of a suppression order.

15 Review of orders

(1) The court or tribunal that made a suppression order may review the order—

(a) on the court's or tribunal's own motion; or

(b) on the application of—

(i) the applicant for the order;

S. 15(1)(b)(ii) amended by No. 11/2019 s. 10(1).

(ii) a party to the proceeding in connection with which the order was made, including in any criminal proceeding involving a sexual offence or a family violence offence, a victim or an alleged victim of that offence;

(iii) the Attorney-General;

S. 15(1)(b)(iv) amended by No. 11/2019 s. 10(2).

(iv) the Attorney-General of another State or a Territory or of the Commonwealth;

(v) a news media organisation;

(vi) any other person who, in the opinion of the court or tribunal, has a sufficient interest in the question of whether the order should be confirmed, varied or revoked.

S. 15(1A) inserted by No. 11/2019 s. 10(3).

(1A) A court or tribunal hearing an appeal from a proceeding in which a suppression order has been made which has continued to operate pursuant to section 12(3A) may review the order—

(a) on the court's or tribunal's own motion; or

(b) on the application of—

(i) the person who was the applicant for the order in the proceeding which is the subject of the appeal;

(ii) any other party to the proceeding which is the subject of the appeal in connection with which the order was made;

(iii) in any criminal proceeding involving a sexual offence or a family violence offence, a victim or an alleged victim of that offence;

(iv) the Attorney-General;

(v) the Attorney-General of another State or a Territory or of the Commonwealth;

(vi) a news media organisation;

(vii) any other person who, in the opinion of the court or tribunal, has a sufficient interest in the question of whether the order should be confirmed, varied or revoked.

S. 15(1B) inserted by No. 11/2019 s. 10(3).

(1B) Subject to subsection (1C), in reviewing an order under subsection (1) or (1A), the court or tribunal must make an order revoking the suppression order which is the subject of the review if—

(a) unless the review is on the court's or tribunal's own motion, the application for review is made by a party who is a victim or an alleged victim of an offence involving a sexual offence or a family violence offence; and

(b) the court or tribunal is satisfied that the party—

(i) gives permission to that disclosure; and

(ii) is 18 years of age or over; and

(c) it is otherwise appropriate in all the circumstances for the order to be revoked.

S. 15(1C) inserted by No. 11/2019 s. 10(3).

(1C) A court must not revoke a suppression order under subsection (1B) if the revocation of the order would result in the disclosure of the identity of any person against whom a sexual offence or family violence offence was allegedly committed and that was dealt with in the same proceeding—

(a) who does not give permission to that disclosure; or

(b) who is under 18 years of age; or

(c) if it is not appropriate in all the circumstances for the identity to be disclosed.

S. 15(2) amended by No. 11/2019 s. 10(4).

(2) Each of the persons specified in subsection (1)(b) or (1A)(b) is entitled to appear and be heard by the court or tribunal on the review of a suppression order.

S. 15(3) amended by No. 11/2019 s. 10(5).

(3) On a review under subsection (1) or (1A), the court or tribunal—

(a) may confirm, vary or revoke the suppression order; and

S. 15(3)(b) amended by No. 11/2019 s. 10(6).

(b) in addition, may make any other order that the court or tribunal may make under this Act including, in the case of a review under subsection (1A), any order that the court or tribunal which made the suppression order could have made.

S. 16 amended by No. 11/2019 s. 11.

16 Duty to publish reasons, judgments or decisions

Nothing in this Act, other than section 14A, limits or otherwise affects any duty of a court or tribunal to publish reasons for judgment or decisions, subject to the court or tribunal editing those reasons to the extent necessary to comply with any order of a court or tribunal or statutory provision restricting the publication of information.

Note

See also section 24(3) of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006.

Part 3—Proceeding suppression orders

17 Court or tribunal may make proceeding suppression order

A court or tribunal on one or more of the grounds specified in section 18 may make a proceeding suppression order to prohibit or restrict the disclosure by publication or otherwise of—

(a) a report of the whole or any part of a proceeding;

(b) any information derived from a proceeding.

18 Grounds for proceeding suppression order

(1) A court or tribunal other than the Coroners Court may make a proceeding suppression order if satisfied as to one or more of the following grounds—

(a) the order is necessary to prevent a real and substantial risk of prejudice to the proper administration of justice that cannot be prevented by other reasonably available means;

Example

Another reasonably available means may be directions to the jury.

(b) the order is necessary to prevent prejudice to the interests of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory in relation to national or international security;

(c) the order is necessary to protect the safety of any person;

(d) the order is necessary to avoid causing undue distress or embarrassment to a complainant or witness in any criminal proceeding involving a sexual offence or a family violence offence;

(e) the order is necessary to avoid causing undue distress or embarrassment to a child who is a witness in any criminal proceeding;

(f) in the case of VCAT, the order is necessary—

(i) to avoid the publication of confidential information or information the subject of a certificate under section 53 or 54 of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998;

(ii) for any other reason in the interests of justice.

(2) The Coroners Court may make a proceeding suppression order in the case of an investigation or inquest into a death or fire if the coroner constituting the Coroners Court reasonably believes that an order is necessary because disclosure would—

(a) be likely to prejudice the fair trial of a person; or

(b) be contrary to the public interest.

19 Procedure for making a proceeding suppression order

(1) A court or tribunal may make a proceeding suppression order—

(a) on its own motion; or

(b) on the application of—

(i) a party to the proceeding concerned; or

(ii) any other person considered by the court or tribunal to have a sufficient interest in the making of the order.

(2) Each of the following persons may appear and be heard by the court or tribunal on an application for a proceeding suppression order—

(a) the applicant for the order;

(b) a party to the proceeding concerned;

(c) the Attorney-General;

(d) the Attorney-General of another State or Territory or of the Commonwealth;

(e) a news media organisation;

(f) any other person who, in the opinion of the court or tribunal, has a sufficient interest in the question of whether the order should be made.

(3) Subject to rules of court (if any) or unless the court or tribunal otherwise orders, an applicant for a proceeding suppression order is not required to give notice of the application to a person referred to in subsection (2)(a), (c), (d), (e) or (f).

(4) A proceeding suppression order may be made—

(a) at any time during a proceeding;

(b) after a proceeding has concluded.

(5) A proceeding suppression order may be made subject to any exceptions and conditions that the court or tribunal thinks fit and specifies in the order.

20 Interim orders

(1) If an application is made to a court or tribunal for a proceeding suppression order, the court or tribunal may make an interim order in respect of that application.

(2) An interim order may be made without determining the merits of the application under section 18.

(3) An interim order has effect until—

(a) the substantive application is determined; or

(b) the interim order is revoked by a court or tribunal.

(4) If a court or tribunal makes an interim order, the court or tribunal must determine the substantive application for the proceeding suppression order as a matter of urgency.

21 Where a proceeding suppression order applies

(1) A proceeding suppression order or an interim order applies only to the publication or disclosure of information in a place where the order applies, as specified in the order.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), a proceeding suppression order or an interim order is not limited to applying in Victoria and may be made to apply anywhere in Australia.

(3) A proceeding suppression order or an interim order must not be made to apply outside Victoria unless the court or tribunal is satisfied that having the order apply outside Victoria is necessary for achieving the purpose for which the order is made.

22 Exceptions for conduct of proceeding, enforcement or informing persons of existence of proceeding suppression orders or interim orders

A proceeding suppression order or an interim order does not prevent a person from disclosing information if the disclosure is in the course of performing functions or duties or exercising powers in a public official capacity—

(a) in connection with the conduct of any proceeding or the recovery or enforcement of any penalty imposed in a proceeding; or

(b) in compliance with any procedure adopted by a court or tribunal for informing a person of the existence and content of a proceeding suppression order or an interim order made by the court or tribunal.

23 Offence to contravene proceeding suppression order or interim order

(1) A person must not engage in conduct that constitutes a contravention of a proceeding suppression order or an interim order that is in force if that person—

(a) knows that the proceeding suppression order or interim order, as the case requires, is in force; or

(b) is reckless as to whether a proceeding suppression order or an interim order, as the case requires, is in force.

Penalty: in the case of an individual, level 6 imprisonment (5 years maximum) or 600 penalty units, or both;

in the case of a body corporate, 3000 penalty units.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), in the absence of evidence to the contrary, a person is taken to be aware that a proceeding suppression order or an interim order is in force if a court or tribunal has electronically transmitted notice of the order to the person.

Part 4—Broad suppression orders

24 Application of this Part

An order under this Part must not be made in respect of any information which could be the subject of a proceeding suppression order.

25 County Court may grant injunction restraining publication in relation to criminal proceeding

(1) The County Court has the same jurisdiction, and may exercise the same powers and authority, to grant an injunction in a criminal proceeding restraining a person from publishing any material or doing any other thing to ensure the fair and proper conduct of the proceeding as the Supreme Court has and may exercise in respect of a criminal proceeding in the Supreme Court.

(2) The power of the County Court referred to in subsection (1) is exercisable by making an order, whether interlocutory or final, either unconditionally or on such terms and conditions as the Court thinks just.

26 Magistrates' Court may make order prohibiting publication of specified material

S. 26(1) substituted by No. 55/2014 s. 177.

(1) The Magistrates' Court may make an order prohibiting the publication of any specified material, or any material of a specified kind, relevant to a proceeding that is pending in the Court if the Court is satisfied that—

(a) the order is necessary to prevent a real and substantial risk of prejudice to the proper administration of justice that cannot be prevented by other reasonably available means; or

(b) the order is necessary in order to protect the safety of any person.

(2) An order under subsection (1) applies only to the publication of material in a place where the order applies, as specified in the order.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), an order under subsection (1) is not limited to applying in Victoria and may be made to apply anywhere in Australia.

(4) An order under subsection (1) must not be made to apply outside Victoria unless the Magistrates' Court is satisfied that having the order apply outside Victoria is necessary for achieving the purpose for which the order is made.

(5) An order under subsection (1) does not prevent a person from disclosing information if the disclosure is in the course of performing functions or duties or exercising powers in a public official capacity—

(a) in connection with the conduct of any proceeding or the recovery or enforcement of any penalty imposed in a proceeding; or

(b) in compliance with any procedure adopted by the Magistrates' Court for informing a person of the existence and content of an order made under subsection (1) by the Court.

27 Offence to contravene order under section 26(1)

(1) A person must not engage in conduct that constitutes a contravention of an order under section 26(1) that is in force if that person—

(a) knows that the order is in force; or

(b) is reckless as to whether an order under that section is in force.

Penalty: in the case of an individual, level 6 imprisonment (5 years maximum) or 600 penalty units, or both;

in the case of a body corporate, 3000 penalty units.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), in the absence of evidence to the contrary, a person is taken to be aware that an order is in force if a court or tribunal has electronically transmitted notice of the order to the person.

Part 5—Closed court orders

S. 28 substituted by No. 11/2019 s. 12.

28 Principle of open justice and hearings in open court

(1) In determining whether to make any order, including a closed court order, a court or tribunal must have regard to the primacy of the principle of open justice and the free communication and disclosure of information which require the hearing of a proceeding in open court.

(2) A court or tribunal should only make a closed court order—

(a) that the whole or any part of a proceeding be heard in closed court or closed tribunal; or

(b) that only specified persons or classes of persons may be present during the whole or any part of a proceeding—

if the specific circumstances of a case make it necessary to override or displace the principle of open justice and the free communication and disclosure of information which require the hearing of a proceeding in open court.

29 Jurisdiction and powers of courts and tribunals to regulate proceedings

(1) Subject to section 28, nothing in this Part limits or affects any jurisdiction or any power that a court or tribunal has apart from this Act to regulate its proceedings.

(2) In this section—

jurisdiction includes any implied jurisdiction and, in the case of the Supreme Court, its inherent jurisdiction;

power includes any power at common law.

30 Power to close proceeding to the public

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a court or tribunal—

(a) may order that the whole or any part of a proceeding be heard in closed court or closed tribunal; or

(b) may order that only persons or classes of persons specified by it may be present during the whole or any part of a proceeding.

(2) A court or tribunal other than the Coroners Court may make a closed court order if satisfied as to one or more of the following grounds—

(a) the order is necessary to prevent a real and substantial risk of prejudice to the proper administration of justice that cannot be prevented by other reasonably available means;

Example

Other reasonably available means may include directions to the jury, making a proceeding suppression order, or orders excluding only certain persons or a more limited class of persons from the court or tribunal.

(b) the order is necessary to prevent prejudice to the interests of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory in relation to national or international security;

(c) the order is necessary to protect the safety of any person;

(d) the order is necessary to avoid causing undue distress or embarrassment to a complainant or witness in any criminal proceeding involving a sexual offence or a family violence offence;

(e) the order is necessary to avoid causing undue distress or embarrassment to a child who is a witness in any criminal proceeding;

(f) in the case of VCAT, the order is necessary—

(i) to avoid the disclosure of confidential information or information the subject of a certificate under section 53
or 54 of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998;

(ii) for any other reason in the interests of justice.

(3) The Coroners Court may make a closed court order if the coroner constituting the Coroners Court reasonably believes that an order is necessary in the public interest, having regard to the matters specified in Part 2 of the Coroners Act 2008.

31 Requirement to post notice of closed court order on door of court or tribunal

If a closed court order has been made, the court or tribunal must cause a copy of the order to be posted—

(a) on a door of the court or tribunal; or

(b) in another conspicuous place where notices are usually posted at the place where the court or tribunal is being held.

32 Offence to contravene closed court order

A person must not engage in conduct that constitutes a contravention of a closed court order that is in force if that person—

(a) knows that the closed court order is in force; or

(b) is reckless as to whether a closed court order is in force.

Penalty: in the case of an individual, level 6 imprisonment (5 years maximum) or 600 penalty units, or both;

in the case of a body corporate, 3000 penalty units.

Part 6—General

33 Regulations

(1) The Governor in Council may make regulations for or with respect to any matter or thing required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed or necessary to be prescribed to give effect to this Act.

(2) The regulations may—

(a) be of general or limited application;

(b) differ according to differences in time, place or circumstances;

(c) confer a discretionary authority or impose a duty on a specified person or body or class of persons or bodies;

(d) provide in a specified case or class of cases for the exemption of persons or things or a class of persons or things from any of the provisions of the regulations—

(i) whether unconditionally or on specified conditions; and

(ii) either wholly or to any extent that is specified.

Pt 6A (Headings and ss 33A–33L) inserted by No. 11/2020 s. 40, amended by No. 27/2020 s. 37, repealed by No. 58/2013 s. 33L (as amended by No. 27/2020 s. 37).

---

Part 7—Transitional provisions

34 Transitional

This Act applies in relation to a proceeding (including any interlocutory proceeding)—

(a) that is commenced in, or transferred to, a court or tribunal on or after the commencement of section 17; or

(b) that has commenced in a court or tribunal but has not been heard and determined by the court or tribunal immediately before the commencement of section 17.

35 Power to resolve transitional difficulties in proceeding

(1) If any difficulty arises because of the operation of this Act in relation to a proceeding referred to in section 34, a court or tribunal may make any order it considers appropriate to resolve the difficulty.

(2) An order made under subsection (1)—

(a) may be made on application of a party to the proceeding or on the court's or tribunal's own motion, as the case requires; and

(b) has effect despite any provision to the contrary made by or under any Act (other than the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006).

S. 36 repealed by No. 58/2013 s. 36(4).

---

Pt 8 (Headings and ss 37–67) repealed by No. 58/2013 s. 67.

---

═══════════════

Endnotes

1 General information

See www.legislation.vic.gov.au for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.

Minister's second reading speech—

Legislative Assembly: 27 June 2013

Legislative Council: 5 September 2013

The long title for the Bill for this Act was "A Bill for an Act to reform and consolidate provisions for and powers relating to suppression orders and closed court orders, to make consequential amendments to various Acts and for other purposes."

The Open Courts Act 2013 was assented to on 22 October 2013 and came into operation on 1 December 2013: section 2(2).

INTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)

Style changes

Section 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.

References to ILA s. 39B

Sidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided section or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subsections or subclauses, the original section or clause becomes subsection or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression "(1)" at the beginning of the original section or clause.

Interpretation

As from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:

• Headings

All headings included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any heading inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. This includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; sections; clauses; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms. See section 36(1A)(2A).

• Examples, diagrams or notes

All examples, diagrams or notes included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Act. See section 36(3A).

• Punctuation

All punctuation included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 forms part of that Act. Any punctuation inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. See section 36(3B).

• Provision numbers

All provision numbers included in an Act form part of that Act, whether inserted in the Act before, on or after 1 January 2001. Provision numbers include section numbers, subsection numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).

• Location of "legislative items"

A "legislative item" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of an Act is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.

• Other material

Any explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of an Act.
See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).

2 Table of Amendments

This publication incorporates amendments made to the Open Courts Act 2013 by Acts and subordinate instruments.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Open Courts Act 2013, No. 58/2013

Criminal Organisations Control and Other Acts Amendment Act 2014, No. 55/2014

Sex Offenders Registration Amendment Act 2016, No. 21/2016

Confiscation and Other Matters Amendment Act 2016, No. 27/2016

National Domestic Violence Order Scheme Act 2016, No. 53/2016

Serious Offenders Act 2018, No. 27/2018

Open Courts and Other Acts Amendment Act 2019, No. 11/2019

COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Act 2020, No. 11/2020

COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) and Other Acts Amendment Act 2020, No. 27/2020

Justice Legislation Amendment (System Enhancements and Other Matters) Act 2021, No. 11/2021

Justice Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences and Other Matters) Act 2022, No. 38/2022

Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2023, No. 26/2023

Youth Justice Act 2024, No. 32/2024

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

3 Explanatory details

No entries at date of publication.