Richards (a pseudonym) v Jones (a pseudonym) (No 2) [2025] NSWSC 27

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Richards (a pseudonym) v Jones (a pseudonym) (No 2) [2025] NSWSC 27 Hearing dates: 5 February 2025 Date of orders: 5 February 2025 Decision date: 05 February 2025 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Dhanji J Decision: (1) Pursuant to ss 7 and 8(1)(a) of the Court Suppression and Non-Publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) the publication or other disclosure of the following material is prohibited for a period of 20 years: (a) the identity or the contact address details of any of the parties to these proceedings; (b) any information tending to reveal the identity of or otherwise concerning any party or witness to these proceedings, or any person who is related to or otherwise associated with any party or witness to these proceedings; (c) any document, evidence or information raised or relied upon in these proceedings, including submissions. (2) Order 1 is subject to the following exceptions such that it does not prevent the parties from: (a) serving or otherwise disclosing any document for the purposes of the conduct of the proceedings, including for the purposes of obtaining legal advice or representation in the proceedings; (b) from disclosing to or discussing with the defendant's father, matters concerned with the proceedings; (c) disclosure to a psychiatrist or psychologist or other qualified mental health practitioner for the purposes of obtaining treatment or counselling; (d) disclosure to an officer or employee of the New South Wales Police Force for the purposes of making an official report of a criminal offence or for the purpose of the investigation of any such offence. (3) In the event of any disclosure within one of the exceptions referred to in order 2 to a non-party to the litigation, that disclosure is to be accompanied by disclosure of the terms of these orders. (4) Costs reserved. (5) Direct the plaintiffs to approach the chambers of the Defamation List Judge for the purpose of having the matter listed. (6) Extend the interim orders made on 9 January 2025 and extended on 15 January 2025 until further order of the Court. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – application for suppression orders – where interim suppression order had been made – ex parte proceedings – principle of open justice primary objective – prejudice to the proper administration of justice – meaning of "necessary" – orders made Legislation Cited: Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) Cases Cited: AB (a pseudonym) v CD (a pseudonym) (2019) 93 ALJR 321; [2019] HCA 6 DRJ v Commissioner of Victims Rights [2020] NSWCA 136 Fairfax Digital Australia and New Zealand Pty Limited v Ibrahim (2012) 83 NSWLR 52; [2012] NSWCCA 125 Hogan v Hinch (2011) 243 CLR 506; [2011] HCA 4 John Fairfax Publications Pty Limited v District Court of (NSW) (2004) 61 NSWLR 344; [2004] NSWCA 345 Richards (a pseudonym) v Jones (a pseudonym) [2025] NSWSC 5 Rinehart v Welker (2011) 93 NSWLR 311; [2011] NSWCA 403 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Richards (a pseudonym) (First Plaintiff) Jackson (a pseudonym) (Second Plaintiff) Roberts (a pseudonym) (Third Plaintiff) Jones (a pseudonym) (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: ST Chrysanthou SC and NG Olson (Plaintiffs)