Commonwealth Numbered Acts

JURISDICTION OF COURTS (CROSS-VESTING) ACT 1987 No. 24 of 1987 - LONG TITLE

An Act relating to the cross-vesting of certain jurisdiction 

(Assented to 26 May 1987)
WHEREAS inconvenience and expense have occasionally been caused to litigants
by jurisdictional limitations in federal, State and Territory courts, and
whereas it is desirable-

   (a)  to establish a system of cross-vesting of jurisdiction between those
        courts, without detracting from the existing jurisdiction of any
        court;

   (b)  to structure the system in such a way as to ensure as far as
        practicable that proceedings concerning matters which, apart from this
        Act and any law of a State relating to cross-vesting of jurisdiction,
        would be entirely or substantially within the jurisdiction (other than
        any accrued jurisdiction) of the Federal Court or the Family Court or
        the jurisdiction of a Supreme Court of a State or Territory are
        instituted and determined in that court, whilst providing for the
        determination by one court of federal and State matters in appropriate
        cases; and

   (c)  if a proceeding is instituted in a court that is not the appropriate
        court, to provide a system under which the proceeding will be
        transferred to the appropriate court.
BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and the House of
Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows: