Consolidated practice directions

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1. 
This Practice Direction does not apply to the publication of reasons for 
decision to the parties to proceedings. It is limited to the form of reasons 
for decision published on the eCourts Portal. It applies to interlocutory 
and final decisions. 
2. 
The Court considers that in addition to any statutory or other obligation 
that may exist, it is appropriate in some cases to take particular steps on 
publication of reasons for decision to protect personal information about 
persons referred to in those reasons. 
3. 
Consistent with O 6 r 3 of the 
Rules of the Supreme Court 1971
, the reasons 
for decision to which this Practice Direction relates are for:
(a) claims based on an allegation of fraud
; 
or 
(b) claims in respect of defamation, malicious prosecution or false 
imprisonment. 
4. 
Where reasons for decision to which this Practice Direction relates -
(a) have been published to the parties; or 
(b) will be published to the parties,
a party or other person who has been or may reasonably expect to be 
identified in the reasons, may apply to the judicial officer for an order 
that the version of the reasons published on the eCourts Portal not 
identify that person, or if that is not practicable, for an order that the 
reasons not be published. 
5.
In considering whether to make such an order, the judicial officer must 
have regard to the fundamental principle of open justice. 
6.
An individual is not identified if the person’s ident
ity cannot reasonably 
be ascertained from the reasons for decision. In some circumstances it will 
be sufficient to rep
lace a person’s name with a
pseudonym or initials, 
however in other cases this may be insufficient to prevent their 
identification.

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8. Reasons for Decision 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
7.
In consi
dering whether a person’s identity cannot be reasonably 
ascertained in the reasons for decision the Court may consider, amongst 
other things, the following factors alone or in combination: 
(a)
any alias of the person; 
(b)
the address or general locality of the premises at which the person 
resides or works, or the locality in which any such premises are 
situated; 
(c)
any physical description or other characteristic of the person; 
(d)
any employment or occupation engaged in, profession practised or 
calling pursued, by the person or any official or honorary position 
held by the person; 
(e)
the relationship of the person to identified relatives of the person or 
the association of the person with identified friends or identified 
business, official or professional acquaintances of the person; 
(f)
the recreational interests, or the political, philosophical or religious 
beliefs or interests, of the person; and/or
(g)
any real or personal property in which the person has an interest or 
with which the person is otherwise associated. 

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8. Reasons for Decision 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
8.2.2
Media Neutral Citation for Reasons for Decision and 
Sentencing Remarks