Access to Transcript
Commencing Monday 22 June 2026, ordering arrangements for Transcript will change. Please see How to order below for further details.
The Federal Court of Australia Listed Entity (the Entity) is managing new arrangements required for court recording and transcription services following the contracted transcript provider, VIQ Solutions Pty Ltd (VIQ), entering into voluntary administration in March 2026.
On 3 June 2026, the Courts were advised by the Administrators that VIQ operations would be winding down. Since that time the Entity and the Administrators have negotiated the timeframe for the wind down of services to the courts.
As a result of those negotiations, orders for FCA and FCFCOA transcript will be accepted by VIQ until 30 June 2026, however a new method for ordering transcript is being implemented. Please see How to order transcript below.
A significant amount of planning and work has been undertaken by the Entity on the contingency and longer-term arrangements to minimise any impact to the delivery of transcript services resulting from a winding down of VIQ’s operations.
The contingency arrangements involve a panel of on-shore transcript service providers, and a panel of transcriptionists managed in-house. Under the contingency arrangements, the courts will have access to and control of all data and recordings related to transcript production.
Longer-term arrangements will be focused on a low-cost model for transcript services for all litigants, including those most disadvantaged or at risk, at the core of its design.
Who can order transcript in a Federal Court proceeding
A party involved in a proceeding (or person representing an involved party), a non-involved party and the media may purchase the whole, or a part, of a transcript in a proceeding from the Court's authorised transcript providers, unless the Court has ordered or directed that a transcript:
- is, in whole or in part, confidential or the subject of restrictions on access or
- may not be published or reproduced without leave of the Court.
A transcript of the Court's draft judgment or orders in a proceeding cannot be supplied by a transcript provider.
Copyright in all transcripts belongs to the Commonwealth of Australia and, subject to the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) and any order or direction of the Court. Transcripts cannot be shared between parties or distributed to any other recipients.
A party or person must not use a recording device for the purpose of making a transcript or record of the evidence or submissions at a hearing.
Accessing audio
Recordings of Federal Court proceedings are not available other than by order or direction of the Court.
Microsoft Teams and Webex recordings are not available other than by order of the Court.
How to order transcript
From Monday 22 June 2026 new arrangements for ordering transcript will be in place.
All orders for transcript of a Court hearing must be made by completing the following form: FCA Official Transcript Request Form
These orders will be managed by the Registry Services' Recording and Transcript Team. The team will triage and distribute orders to the panel of transcript service providers.
Upon receiving the order, the Recording and Transcript Team will:
- process proof of identity
- check there is no restriction on the transcript being released
- submit the order to a panel transcript service provider
The transcript will be released to the ordering party on payment of the fee to the transcript service provider.
Any queries regarding transcript services should be directed to: transcripts@fedcourt.gov.au
Fees
Charges for transcript are set by the transcript service providers engaged to deliver these services.
VIQ services winding down
Any queries regarding VIQ’s Administration including its staffing arrangements, should be directed to the Administrators of VIQ.
| Phone: | 1800 287 274 |
| Website: | VIQ Solutions |
