Implementing committal reform

Commencing on 28 December 2025, the Justice Legislation Amendment (Committals) Act 2025 will introduce significant changes to the conduct of committal proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria (MCV). These changes will alter how serious criminal matters move through the stages of the Magistrates’ Court. 

Under the new legislation, cases are required to be managed in a particular way by the Magistrates’ Court, depending on which category a case falls into.  

A committal hearing may not be held in committal proceedings where a person is charged with a sexual offence, a family violence offence or a charge of stalking under section 21A(1) of the Crimes Act 1958 or where a person is charged with certain offences required to be committed to the Supreme Court under part 4.6A of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (CPA). 

To support implementation of the reforms, the Magistrates Court Criminal Procedure Amendment (Committals) Rules 2025 (Amended Rules) come into operation on 28 December 2025 and amend the Magistrates Court Criminal Procedure Rules 2019 (MCCP Rules).  

Transition period 

There is a transition period that will apply to committal cases. During the transition: 

• Cases where there has been a filing hearing in the Magistrates’ Court before 28 December 2025 will continue to be heard in accordance with chapter 4 of the CPA operative pre-28 December 2025 and the MCCP Rules. 

• Cases where a filing hearing is heard on or after 28 December 2025 will be subject to the new committals framework set out in the CPA as at 28 December 2025 and the Amended Rules. 

Key changes to processes and procedures as a result of the committal reforms 

At the Filing Hearing of a case, it is expected that the parties will be able to identify what category of offences the charges fall into: sex offence, family violence offence, stalking or part 4.6A of the CPA.  

The Filing Hearing checklist required to be completed and provided to the Court by the prosecution will also be updated to seek this confirmation as to the class of case.  

At least 7 days before the committal mention hearing, a case direction notice must be filed with the court by the parties in all cases. The relevant form to be filed will depend on which category a case falls into. These forms are included in the Amended Rules. 

Parties should prepare and file a Form 32, Form 32A, and Form 32B as is relevant to their case.  

Chief Magistrate Practice Direction No. 1 of 2025 will also be amended to clarify the process for physical appearance of an accused in custody: 

• Where a practitioner seeks to have an accused in custody appear in person at the committal mention, they must make an application pursuant to section 42L(1) of the Evidence Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1958 at least 7 days prior to the committal mention. 

• Where a practitioner seeks to have an accused in custody appear in person at the committal hearing, they must make an application pursuant to section 42L(1) of the Evidence Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1958 at the committal mention. 

Visit the committal proceedings page for more information.