In this section

• Publications in alphabetical order

• Family Court of Australia publications

• Family Law Courts publications
• Federal Magistrates Court publications
• Translated information
• Ordering publications

Division 15.5.7 provides that if two or more parties to a case in the Family Court intend to tender an expert report or produce evidence from an expert witness about the same question, or a similar one, then the parties must:

• arrange for the expert witnesses to confer at least 28 days before the first hearing before the judge where their expert reports will be relied on in evidence; and
• give a copy of this brochure to the expert witness instructed by them.

The objectives of an experts’ conference
An experts’ conference is held to assist the parties and the Court to achieve a just, quick and cost effective disposal of the case. Even if agreement cannot be reached, by identifying and narrowing the issues to those that will require judicial determination, a conference will help shorten the subsequent trial and enhance the prospects of settlement. It will help avoid or reduce the need for experts to attend court to give evidence.

At the conference the experts must reach a conclusion on the evidence and produce a joint statement (the joint statement may be used in cross-examination of an expert at the trial). (See page 3 of this brochure for more details.

Preparing for a conference
Separate conferences may be required between experts in different specialities about different issues in a case. Rule 15.69(2) provides that the Court may order:

• which experts are to attend the conference;
• where and when the conference is to occur;
• which issues the experts must discuss ;
• the questions to be answered by the experts;
• the documents to be given to the experts, including:
  • Part 15.5 of these Rules;
  • relevant affidavits;
  • a joint statement of the assumptions to be relied on by the experts during the conference, including any competing assumptions;
  • all expert reports already disclosed by the parties.

The documents above and any others agreed to by the parties should be provided to the experts at least 7 days before the conference.

Questions for the experts
Any questions to be answered by the experts at a conference should be:

• those specified by the Court or agreed by the parties; and
• any other question which any party wishes to submit for consideration.

The questions should be framed to resolve an issue or issues in the case. If possible, questions should be capable of being answered Yes or No, or (if not) by a very brief response.

Setting the place, date and time for a conference

If the Court has not fixed a place and date for the conference, the parties should fix a mutually convenient date, time and place. The experts should be given a reasonable opportunity to prepare for the conference (ie. it should not normally take place until at least 7 days after the experts have received the pre-reading material but at least 28 days before the first hearing before the judge where their expert reports will be relied on in evidence). This ensures the experts have time, if necessary, to:

• seek clarification from the instructing lawyers or the Court concerning any question put to them; and
• access any additional materials which the parties are able to provide and which the experts consider to be relevant.

The conference

What a conference must do
Rule 15.69(3) provides that at the conference the experts must:

• identify the issues that are agreed and not agreed;
• if practicable, reach agreement on any outstanding issue;
• identify the reason for disagreement on any issue;
• identify what action (if any) may be taken to resolve any outstanding issues.

Conduct of the conference
The conference should be conducted in a manner that is flexible, free from undue complexity and fair to all parties.

The experts may appoint one of their number as a chairperson. However, if one of them requests and the parties agree or the Court orders, another person may chair the conference. Secretarial or administrative assistance should be provided by the parties if requested by the experts. If the experts agree, one of them or a secretarial assistant may be appointed to make a note at the conference of:

• matters agreed; and
• matters not agreed and reasons for disagreement.

The conference may be adjourned and reconvened as necessary.

Experts at the conference
The experts should:

• Respond individually to the questions asked based on the witness statements. Their responses need to state the assumptions made, including the opinions based on any alternative assumptions.
• State any contrary view.
• Accept as fact the matters stated in witness statements or assumptions submitted to them. It is not their role to decide any disputed question of fact or the credibility of any witness. Where there are competing assumptions, alternative answers may have to be provided to a question or questions, specifying which of the assumptions are adopted for each answer.

Joint statement
At the end of the conference, the experts must write a joint statement setting out the result of the conference, specifically addressing the items listed under ‘What a conference must do’ – Rule 15.69(3)(e). The statement must signed by all participating experts immediately at the conclusion of the conference otherwise, as soon as practicable thereafter.

The experts may specify in the joint statement other questions that they believe would be useful for them to consider. If an expert has a contrary view the expert should express it.

The participating experts should not seek advice or guidance from the parties or their lawyers prior to signing the joint statement.

Rule 15.69(4) provides that where experts reach agreement on an issue, the agreement does not bind the parties unless the parties expressly agree to be bound by it.

Rule 15.69(5) provides that the joint statement may be tendered by consent as evidence of matters agreed and to identify the issues on which evidence will be called.

Lawyers at a conference
Lawyers attending a conference by order of the Court or who are approached for advice by a participating expert should respond jointly and not individually. The only exception to this is if they have been authorised to respond individually by the lawyers for all other parties with an interest in the conference.

Advice may be provided by:

• responding to any questions in relation to the legal process applicable to the case
• identifying relevant documents
• providing further materials on request, and or
• correcting any misapprehension of fact or any misunderstanding concerning the conference process.

Further information
For more information, including access to the Family Law Act 1975, the Rules of the Courts and any of the forms or publications listed in this brochure:

• go to the forms or publications section of this website
• call 1300 352 000, or
• visit a family law registry near you.

This brochure provides general information only and is not provided as legal advice. If you have a legal issue, you should contact a lawyer before making a decision about what to do or applying to the Court. The Family Court cannot provide legal advice.

The Family Law Courts respect your right to privacy and the security of your information. You can read more about the Courts’ commitments and legal obligations in the fact sheet The Family Law Courts and your privacy. The fact sheet includes details about information protection under the privacy laws and where privacy laws do not apply.