Issuing a subpoena to MLA
Last updated: 8th October 2026
Meat & Livestock Australia Limited (ABN 39 081 678 364 / ACN 081 678 364) (MLA) is the declared industry marketing and research body for the Australian red meat and livestock industry, responsible for delivering research, development, adoption, marketing, market insights and market access activities for the sector.
MLA provides the following general guidance to assist parties intending to serve a subpoena on MLA. This information is provided for general information only, may be amended at any time without notice, is not legal advice, is not a substitute for the rules of the issuing court, and does not waive any rights, privileges or objections available to MLA. MLA does not produce documents or information otherwise than in response to a subpoena or other lawful authority.
From time to time, MLA receives subpoenas issued from a range of Australian jurisdictions. Issuing parties are responsible for complying with the rules of the issuing court.
Before issuing a subpoena
Before serving a subpoena, confirm you have the correct entity. MLA handles subpoenas relating to its research, development and adoption programs, as well as its marketing, market insights and market access activities.
Subpoenas relating to livestock movement records, National Vendor Declarations, the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) or the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program should be directed to Integrity Systems Company Limited; see Issuing a subpoena to Integrity Systems.
Subpoena enquiries
Operational and procedural enquiries should be directed to MLA Legal:
Tel: 02 9463 9333 or 1800 023 100
Email: info@mla.com.au
Early engagement is encouraged and may assist both MLA and the issuing party to:
- understand the nature and scope of the request;
- confirm whether the requested material is likely to exist;
- identify any anticipated issues with scope, format or timing; and
- enable MLA to provide indicative cost estimates and processing timeframes.
Any early engagement is on a without prejudice basis and does not limit either party's rights. Contacting MLA does not waive or vary formal service requirements, and any disclosure is subject to valid service and the rules of the issuing court.
Addressing the subpoena
Subpoenas must be addressed to the correct legal entity, and should be addressed as follows:
The Legal Officer
Meat & Livestock Australia Limited
Level 1, 40 Mount Street
NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2060
Service of the subpoena
Subpoenas must be served in accordance with the rules of the issuing court. MLA may be unable to comply with subpoenas that are served out of time or otherwise not validly served.
MLA's preferred method of service, where permitted by the rules of the issuing court, is by email to the address below.
Email: A clear PDF copy of the sealed subpoena (bearing the seal or stamp of the issuing court) may be emailed to info@mla.com.au. The emailing of a copy does not of itself constitute valid service, and does not constitute acceptance of, or agreement as to, the manner of service unless expressly agreed by MLA in writing (and permitted by the rules of the issuing court).
Hard copy: Where physical, personal or postal service is required by the rules of the issuing court, a hard copy should be served personally on, or sent by pre-paid post to, the address above.
MLA encourages electronic production where possible to reduce printing, postage and handling costs and to support timely compliance.
Conduct money and compliance costs
A reasonable amount of conduct money must be provided with the subpoena in accordance with the rules of the issuing court. Cheques should be made payable to “Meat & Livestock Australia Limited”. Electronic funds transfer payment details can be provided on request.
MLA requires reimbursement of its reasonable costs and expenses incurred in complying with a subpoena, in accordance with the rules of the issuing court.
MLA's reasonable costs of complying with a subpoena are charged at $200 + GST per hour for time spent searching for, extracting, compiling, reviewing and producing material. Where physical production is required, printing, postage and handling costs are payable in addition. Costs are assessed having regard to the scope, volume and complexity of the request. The rate set out above applies from the "Last updated" date and is reviewed periodically.
On request, MLA may provide an estimate of likely compliance costs prior to commencing work. MLA may require payment of estimated compliance costs before commencing work or producing material.
Information required to locate material
To enable identification and retrieval of the material requested, subpoenas must:
- include a clear and definitive date range (start date and end date), expressed in DD/MM/YYYY format and inclusive of both dates, for the requested material (open-ended or undefined timeframes may result in objection or delay);
- identify the relevant MLA program or activity (for example, a research, development and adoption program, or a marketing, market insights or market access activity) and, where applicable, the project identifier; and
- clearly describe the categories of material sought with sufficient particularity.
Requests framed solely by general subject matter, without identifying the relevant MLA program, activity or project, or without identifying the categories of material sought with sufficient particularity, may not be sufficient to enable MLA to locate responsive material and the subpoena may be subject to objection or require clarification.
Types of material held by MLA
MLA invests in and administers a portfolio of research, development and adoption programs, as well as marketing, market insights and market access activities. Subpoenas issued to MLA should therefore be confined to information, documents and materials created or held by MLA in connection with those programs and activities.
In that context, MLA may hold information, documents and materials including, without limitation:
- project and program governance records;
- approved project proposals;
- event and workshop materials;
- funding agreements; and
- documents evidencing MLA's role as funder and/or contracting counterparty.
Material that MLA does not hold includes, without limitation:
- individual producers' commercial or personal records;
- livestock movements, traceability or identification records (which are administered by Integrity Systems); or
- data from the levy payer register (such as contact details, levies paid or transaction volumes).
Privacy and confidentiality
MLA handles personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles. MLA will disclose personal, sensitive or confidential information in response to a subpoena only to the extent the disclosure is required or authorised by or under an Australian law or a court or tribunal order, or is otherwise permitted under the Australian Privacy Principles.
Where a subpoena seeks information that is personal, sensitive, commercially confidential or that affects third parties, MLA may (amongst other things) notify the issuing party of confidentiality or sensitivity concerns, notify the affected person or entity so that they may consider their own position, produce material in redacted form, object to production, or apply to the issuing court for directions or for orders limiting access or inspection, in accordance with the rules of the issuing court.
Grounds for objection or scope limitation
MLA reserves the right to object to or to apply to the issuing court to set aside or vary, or for directions in relation to, subpoenas that, without limitation:
- are not properly addressed or served;
- do not allow reasonable time for compliance;
- seek material that is not relevant to an issue in the proceeding, or that is sought without any legitimate forensic purpose;
- seek material not in MLA’s possession, custody or control;
- contain terms that are overly broad, vague or unclear;
- would require MLA to create a document that does not exist, compile a bespoke report or undertake data analysis;
- would impose an oppressive or disproportionate burden on MLA having regard to the scope of the request;
- would require disclosure of material subject to confidentiality obligations;
- are issued for an improper purpose; or
- request privileged material.
Updates to this guidance
This guidance is updated from time to time. The version identified by the "Last updated" date above supersedes all prior versions.
