17Application to stay Australian proceeding on forum grounds

#### 17 Application to stay Australian proceeding on forum grounds (1) A defendant in a civil proceeding in an Australian court may apply to the court for an order staying the proceeding on the grounds that a New Zealand court is the more appropriate court to determine the matters in issue. (2) The application must be made within: (a) 30 working days of the Australian court after the day on which the defendant was served with the initiating document for the proceeding; or (b) if, before or after the end of that period, the plaintiff or defendant applies to the Australian court for a shorter or longer period—any shorter or longer period the Australian court considers appropriate.