Consolidated practice directions

Alternative Procedure for Delivery of Reserved Decisions and Reasons for 
Decision 
 
9. 
When a decision is reserved in a matter heard by the Court of Appeal, 
by Judge/s in a civil matter, or by the Master, and the Court determines 
that it is appropriate, the procedure set out in pars 10 - 18 inclusive of 
this Practice Direction (the alternative procedure) shall apply to the 
delivery of the reserved decision and reasons for decision. The aim is to 
assist counsel to formulate the orders they will seek when the decision 
and reasons are delivered, and thereby avoid the need to have a matter 
stood over. 
10. The purpose of the provision of an advance copy of the reasons for 
decision is to facilitate informed submissions in relation to the precise 
terms of the judgment, orders or directions to be made in light of the 
reasons for decision, including in particular the appropriate orders to be 
made in respect of the costs of the proceedings. Accordingly, where 
copies of the reasons are provided to parties in advance of their delivery, 
the Court expects that the parties will be able to produce Minutes of the 
proposed orders to be made following publication of reasons for 
decision - preferably after consultation with other parties to the 
proceedings with a view to identifying those aspects of the orders which 
are agreed and those which are contentious. The provision of an 
advance copy of reasons for decision is not to be taken as an invitation to 
challenge or address further argument in relation to the substantive 
issues determined in the published reasons, unless the advance copy 
specifically invites submissions on a particular topic or topics. 

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8. Reasons for Decision 
PD 8.1 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
11. When the reserved decision is ready to be delivered, each party will be 
informed of the date and time at which the decision and reasons will be 
delivered, and will be informed that the court proposes an advance copy 
of reasons for judgment (advance reasons) or alternatively asked to 
indicate whether solicitors for the party, or, where a party is not legally 
represented, the party, wishes to receive advance reasons prior to the 
date and time at which the decision will be delivered. 
12. Where advance reasons are to be provided to the parties, each party may 
at the party's election and unless the Court directs otherwise: 
(a) provide the name of a person to whom a paper copy of the advance 
reasons may be released (collecting person). The advance reasons 
will be available for collection by the collecting person either at the 
Supreme Court Registry, Level 11 David Malcolm Justice Centre, 
28 Barrack Street, Perth (for all civil matters), or the Court of 
Appeal Office at Stirling Gardens, Corner of Barrack Street and St 
Georges Terrace, Perth (for all Court of Appeal matters) from 
10.00 am on the last working day before the date on which the 
judgment will be delivered. The copy of the advance reasons will 
be in a sealed envelope and addressed to the collecting person.
Unless the collecting person is also an authorised person within the 
terms of par 13 of this Practice Direction the collecting person must 
deliver the advance reasons to an authorised person as soon as 
possible.; 
OR 
(b) provide the name and personal email address of a person to whom 
the advance reasons may be emailed (designated recipient). A 
designated recipient must be either: 
(i) 
the solicitor on record for the party, if the party is legally 
represented; or 
(ii) the party, if the party is not legally represented. 
13. Only the following persons are authorised to read the advance reasons 
or be provided with information contained within the advance reasons: 

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8. Reasons for Decision 
PD 8.1 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
(a) each party who is an individual; 
(b) where any party is not an individual: 
(i) 
one representative of that party who is authorised to represent 
the party or to instruct its legal advisers (if any) with respect 
to the orders properly made at judgment delivery; and 
(ii) any legal practitioner who is employed by the party to 
provide the party with legal advice generally, even if that 
legal practitioner is not representing the party in the matter; 
(c) if any party is legally represented, the party's legal advisers 
including barristers or counsel; and 
(d) if the case has been conducted on behalf of a party by its insurer, 
one representative of the insurer who is authorised to represent the