Consolidated practice directions

Mediation 
18. If the application is considered suitable for mediation and both parties 
consent to the application being mediated, then the taxing officer will 
make directions programming the application to mediation. Those 
directions will be in the form of the Court's usual mediation orders 
(Practice Direction 4.2.1 par 10). 
19. If the dispute does not resolve at mediation, then at the conclusion of the 
mediation, the mediation registrar will refer the application to the taxing 
officer for programming orders to be made or a further directions 
hearing listed. 

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4. General Division - Civil 
 
PD 4.7.4 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
Assessment 
20. If the application is not suitable for provisional assessment or mediation, 
the taxing officer will make directions programming the application for 
assessment. 
21. Typical directions programming the application for assessment may 
require: 
(a) the law practice to file and serve a bill of costs in assessable form, 
in compliance with O 66 r 42 of the 
Rules of the Supreme Court 1971 
(the bill); 
(b) the paying party to file and serve a notice of objection setting out: 
(i) 
each item in the bill to which the party objects; 
(ii) the grounds on which an objection is made; and 
(iii) the sum considered to be a reasonable allowance for each 
item. 
22. The taxing officer will also make orders in respect of: 
(a) the time and date on which the assessment is to be held; and 
(b) the payment of the taxing fee pursuant to sch 1, div 1, item 9(b) of 
the 
Supreme Court (Fees) Regulations 2002.
23. The taxing officer may make orders that the application be served on 
any person pursuant to s 299(1) of the Act. 
24. The Act sets out the criteria for assessment. 
25. At the conclusion of the assessment: 
(a) the taxing officer will determine the costs of the 
assessment in accordance with s 304 of the Act; and 
(b) the taxing officer will certify in writing the amount of 
disputed costs allowed and the costs of the assessment 
pursuant to s 305 of the Act (a sample certificate is 
attached to this Practice Direction at 4.7.4.4). 

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4. General Division - Civil 
 
PD 4.7.4 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
26. In matters where only a portion of the costs are in dispute the taxing 
officer's certificate will set out the amount of costs agreed, the amount of 
disputed costs allowed, the costs of the assessment and the total of these 
sums. 
27. The taxing officer's certificate is binding on the parties, bears interest 
and may be enforced as a judgment of the Supreme Court for the 
payment of the amount in the certificate. 

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4. General Division - Civil 
 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
4.7.4.1.
How to complete an application for assessment of costs 
form