The Federal Court of Appeal has published an updated Consolidated Practice Direction along with an accompanying Notice. This updates the 2023 practice direction. Updates were made to the filing of confidential materials, requests for virtual/hybrid hearings, and the discussion of condensed books/day books/compendia.

Changes appear to include:

• requiring public versions of confidential documents (para 15d)
• clarification that the court handles requests for virtual or hybrid hearings “on a case-by-case basis and may authorise them in exceptional circumstances or when the interest of justice so requires.” (36)
• updates to the description of “condensed books”, “day books” and “compendium” for use at the hearing (para 61-64).