Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ACT 1976 - SECT 53A

  (1)   The Court may, by order, refer proceedings in the Court, or any part of them or any matter arising out of them:

  (a)   to an arbitrator for arbitration; or

  (b)   to a mediator for mediation; or

  (c)   to a suitable person for resolution by an alternative dispute resolution process;

in accordance with the Rules of Court.

  (1AA)   Subsection   (1) is subject to the Rules of Court.

  (1A)   Referrals under subsection   (1) (other than to an arbitrator) may be made with or without the consent of the parties to the proceedings. Referrals to an arbitrator may be made only with the consent of the parties.

  (2)   The Rules of Court may make provision for the registration of awards made in an arbitration carried out under an order made under subsection   (1).

  (3)   This section does not apply to criminal proceedings.