The Supreme Court (Chapter I Costs Amendment) Rule 2024 will come into operation from 1 January 2025.
Following the Notice to the Profession issued 1 December 2023, the Council of Judges of the Supreme Court on 5 September has made Rules providing for a new Scale of Costs based principally on time costing. The Supreme Court (Chapter I Costs Amendment) Rules 2024 can be found here and will come into operation on 1 January 2025.
A Practice Note accompanying the change will follow shortly. The Court is liaising with professional bodies regarding information sessions in relation to the change to assist practitioners to be prepared for commencement.
The Notice to the Profession noted that further consultation was taking place. The following update is provided on those matters:
- Recovery of GST paid by litigants not entitled to claim an input tax credit.
- This remains under active consideration but will not be part of the Rules commencing on 1 January 2025.
- The timing of a sunset provision on the use of six minute units.
- The timing remains under consideration but it will not be part of the Rules commencing on 1 January 2025.