New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

UNIFORM CIVIL PROCEDURE RULES 2005 - REG 1.22

1.22 Notice of constitutional matter

(cf Federal Court Rules , Order 51, rule 1)

(1) If proceedings pending in a court involve a matter arising under the Commonwealth Constitution or involving its interpretation within the meaning of section 78B of the Judiciary Act 1903 of the Commonwealth, the party whose case raises the matter must file a notice of a constitutional matter.

Note : Section 78B of the Judiciary Act 1903 of the Commonwealth provides that if a cause is pending in a State court that involves a matter arising under the Commonwealth Constitution or involving its interpretation, the court is under a duty not to proceed in the cause unless or until it is satisfied that notice of the cause and the matter raised in the cause has been served on the Attorneys-General of the Commonwealth and the States.
The purpose of such a notice is to afford the Attorneys-General a reasonable time to consider whether or not they wish to intervene in the proceedings or to have the cause removed into the High Court for determination.

(2) Notice of a constitutional matter must state--

(a) specifically the nature of the matter, and

(b) facts showing the matter is one to which subrule (1) applies.