(1)
Under section 46Q of the Act, the purpose of a settlement conference is to enable a Judge to—
ascertain whether any or all of the issues in dispute between the parties can be settled; and
settle those issues.
(2)
Rules 178 to 180 do not apply to a settlement conference under this Part, except that—
rule 178(3) and (4) applies; and
rule 179(3) applies.
(3)
A Judge may, on request by a party, permit any person to attend a settlement conference as a support person for that party, and the Judge must agree to such a request unless he or she considers there is a good reason why the named support person should not be permitted to be present.
(4)
At the conclusion of a settlement conference the Judge may make any direction that he or she thinks fit and must do 1 or more of the following:
make a consent order (under section 46Q(3) of the Act) settling some or all of the issues in dispute:
direct that the application proceed to a hearing, but only if—
the Judge is satisfied that all the issues in dispute between the parties cannot be settled at the settlement conference; and
the Judge has indicated to the persons attending the conference that he or she has formed that view:
if section 46F of the Act applies, direct the parties to attend FDR.
(5)
If the Judge directs, under subclause (4)(b), that the application proceed to a hearing,—
the Judge may do any of the relevant things referred to in rule 175D(2), and may also do anything referred to in rule 416Z(2); and
if the Judge directs also that a directions conference be held, the directions conference must be convened, if reasonably practicable, within 4 weeks after the settlement conference.
(6)
A Judge who presides over a settlement conference may also preside over any hearing that follows it, whether or not the parties consent.
Rule 416Y: inserted, on 31 March 2014, by rule 42 of the Family Courts Amendment Rules (No 2) 2014 (LI 2014/4).