Consolidated practice directions

interlocutory order
should be understood in the context of the 
decisions such as 
Carr v Finance Corporation of Australia (No 1) 
(1981) 147 CLR 246 which establish the test for determining 
whether an order is interlocutory or final. That is, an order, if 
made, is interlocutory, if the order: 
(i) 
would not finally determine the substantive rights of the 
parties as raised by the litigation; or 
(ii) may be displaced other than by way of appeal and, for 
example, the option to request that the order be set aside is 
available, or if the order was refused, the applicant might 
again apply for a similar order. 
Case management requests and other applications 
4. 
RSC O 4A r 5A provides that party requests to make, cancel or amend 
case management directions
and 
interlocutory orders
are to be by way 
of letter to the case manager unless: 
(a) the request is made orally during a case management conference or 
hearing; or 
(b) the request is made by way of summons or motion, because 
although not otherwise required, formal process is justified by the 
circumstances of the particular case or the nature of the request; or

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4. General Division - Civil 
PD 4.1.4 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
(c) the 
Supreme Court (Corporations) (WA) Rules 2004
(WA) apply to the 
case, in which case the request is to be made in accordance with a 
form specifically prescribed for the purpose (see 
Supreme Court 
(Corporations) (WA) Rules 2004
r 2.2); or 
(d) a form, prescribed under a written law, is specific to the nature of 
the request; for example, the forms in Schedule 1 of the 
Supreme 
Court (Arbitration) Rules 2016
(WA) (see 
Supreme Court (Arbitration) 
Rules 2016
r 4). 
5. 
Case management requests made by letter are to comply with RSC O 4A 
r 5B(1)-(2), and are to be filed in accordance with O 67A, div 2. 
6. 
The following is intended to provide guidance to parties determining 
when a request is for interlocutory orders and case management 
directions, and considering whether these should be made by letter or 
by using a formal application. Please note that it is not comprehensive.
It is intended only to provide examples of the reasoning that would 
support a decision about how to apply to the Court: 

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4. General Division - Civil 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction