Last week saw the release of new Court One Protocols that will attempt to regulate remand proceedings at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

Where the Registry has been advised of a bail application prior to the date a specific time for the commencement of the application will be allocated. If the application is not ready to proceed at that time, the protocol warns, it may be adjourned to a further date.

Other issues include the formalising of a 12:30 call-over of unresolved matters and an expectation that all matters (excluding late remands) will be ready to proceed by 3 p.m. There’s a presumption that all listed matters will be finalised by 4 and that the Court will not sit beyond 5.

The 16-point document is signed by Chief Magistrate Ian Gray. It adds to the existing Magistrates’ Court of Victoria Listing Protocols.