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)