The High Court of Australia's Australian Privacy Principles Privacy policy:
The High Court of Australia's Privacy Plan
Whilst within the High Court’s building and precinct, visitors must comply with the High Court of Australia (Building and Precincts – Regulating the Conduct of Persons) Directions (Volumes 1 and 2) approved by the Chief Executive and Principal Registrar and registered on 8 December 2021.
Visitors must not engage in dangerous or inappropriate behaviour, illegal acts or infringe the rights of any other person. A person who fails to comply, may be asked to leave or may be removed from the premises. All persons entering the High Court building and the surrounding Court Precinct do so at their own risk. As a security measure, CCTV records images of people in the Court Precinct and within the building. CCTV may contain personal information if the identity of any person is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained.
Cloaking of Certain Items
Articles to be cloaked at building entrances include, but are not limited to, the following:
- bags, backpacks, cases, parcels or other containers that are longer than 30 cm on any one side, helmets, large coats or any other item that a Security Officer or Court Guide determines as requiring to be cloaked.
- umbrellas, camera tripods, aerosol containers, foodstuffs (including drinks) or any other article (at the discretion of a Security Officer or Court Guide) capable of being used to cause damage to, or interfere with, the operation of the Court.
The cloaking facilities at the Ground Floor and Level 2 Forecourt entrances are available for storing these items.
Any electronic devices (e.g. mobile phone, iPad, iPod, camera, recording device etc.) that have not been approved for use within the Court are required to be cloaked at the entry to a sitting court.
Security Screening
The Court may, at any time, require persons entering the Court building to walk through a metal scanning device and also require any items in the possession of a person to be passed through an x-ray scanning device. Any person who fails, or refuses, to comply with this requirement may be refused entry into the Court building.
The Court may also require a person to present any bags, containers or other items in the possession of the person for inspection by a security officer or Court Guide. Any person who fails, or refuses, to comply with this requirement may be refused entry or asked to leave the building.
Security Screening
The CE&PR has approved a Security Complaints Policy which is required under the Court Security Act 2013 (Cth) which was made in consultation with the Marshal and others. (PDF)
A short documentary on the High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia's Information Publication plan.
Photographs
The High Court permits members of the public to take photographs inside the Court building and courtrooms, and outside the building in the Court precinct, during non-sitting periods for private purposes.
A person shall not use a camera for commercial purposes within the building without the permission of the Chief Executive or a person authorised by the Chief Executive. If photographs are taken in public areas of the Court and precinct for commercial purposes, permission may be granted on the basis that the Court receives an unlimited irrevocable and worldwide licence to reproduce the images for the Court's purposes.
Photographs may not be taken in any sitting courtroom without the permission of the Justices of the Court. Permission may be granted on a case-by-case basis in exceptional circumstances, such as when a Justice retires and another is sworn in at a ceremonial sitting.
Audio and film recording – sitting courtrooms
Cameras, radios, pagers, tape players, tape recorders, mobile phones and any other electronic equipment are required to be surrendered at the door of a sitting courtroom, and a receipt is given. No audio recordings of proceedings are permitted by anyone other than Court staff. Transcripts of hearings are available within a day or two of most hearings, and where citations are referred to, the relevant extracts are included in the transcript.
On rare occasions, the Court permits film crews to film the commencement of a sitting, i.e. the arrival of the Justices and them sitting at the bench, the Court staff positioned in the Court, and the barristers and solicitors at their tables in the courtroom. Permission may be granted on condition that the footage is shared with other television networks and a copy given to the Court with an unlimited irrevocable worldwide licence to use the footage.
Audio and film recording - public areas of the Court and precinct other than sitting courtrooms
The High Court considers request for commercial and private filming inside the public areas of the Court on a case by case basis. No filming for commercial purposes may occur within the building without the permission of the Chief Executive or a person authorised by the Chief Executive.
The Court permits filming and photography in the precinct outside the building provided the footage or images are not intended to be used for extremist or unlawful purposes.
Audio and film recording – private areas of the Court building
It is up to individual Justices as to whether filming may occur in their chambers.
Filming is not permitted in other private areas of the Court for security reasons.