Magistrates' Court Practice Direction 5 of 2009

The Magistrates' Court of Victoria has issued Practice Direction 5 of 2009, which provides for the extension of the mediation pilot programme to the Magistrates' Court at Latrobe Valley from 16 November 2009 for defended civil dispute less than $10,000.00 or where the dispute is under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981.

The mediation pilot programme provides for referral of such matters to early mediation pursuant to section 108 of the Magistrates' Court Act 1989.

As the programme has been in operation at the Magistrates' Courts at Broadmeadows since 2007, and as the program has been extended during the course of 2009 to operate at the Magistrates' Courts at Sunshine and Werribee, it is reasonable to conclude that the Courts are finding the programme to be successful and may continue to extend the programme to other locations.

Practice Direction 5 of 2009 (along with Practice Direction No 6 of 2007 and Practice Direction No 1 of 2009 for the Magistrates' Court at Broadmeadows, Practice Direction No 2 of 2009 for the Magistrates' Court at Sunshine, and Practice Direction No 3 of 2009 for the Magistrates' Court at Werribee) are available on the Magistrates' Court website: here