Class actions are proceedings brought on behalf of seven or more people, where the claims arise out of the same, similar or related circumstances and raise substantial common factual and legal questions. The Victorian class action regime commenced in January 2000 and is governed by Part IVA of the Supreme Court Act 1986. Class actions are also referred to as 'group proceedings' or 'representative proceedings'.
One or more plaintiffs initiate the claim on behalf of a group of people, called ‘group members’. All persons who meet the definition as pleaded in the claim will be group members unless they elect to ‘opt out’ of the class action.
Class actions are heard both in the Common Law Division and Commercial Court of the Supreme Court.
Practice Note SC GEN 10 Conduct of Group Proceedings (Class Actions) provides guidance on the management of class actions in the Court.
To view a list of some of the current class actions before the Court, see the current class actions. Please note that this list is not a complete list of all class actions before the Court. New common law class actions are displayed here when they are listed for an initial case management conference.
A list of settlement supervision class actions is also available.
The Court publishes notices to group members and other relevant information specific to class actions on the class action webpages.
The following documents provide guidance to practitioners on the conduct of class actions in the Court:
Contact the pyqpynffnpgvbaf@fhcpbheg.ivp.tbi.nhua.vog.civ.truocpus@snoitcassalcdlccldclassactions@supcourt.vic.gov.au for more information regarding group proceedings in the Common Law Division.
Contact the PbzzrepvnyPbhegTebhcCebprrqvatf@fhcpbheg.ivp.tbi.nhua.vog.civ.truocpus@sgnideecorPpuorGtruoClaicremmoCCommercialCourtGroupProceedings@supcourt.vic.gov.au for more information regarding group proceedings in the Commercial Court.