In October 2010, following the opening of the Australian Commercial Disputes Centre (see Legal update, Australia advances arbitral law reform), the Chief Justice of Victoria had indicated her support for an additional international dispute centre to be established in Victoria, presumably in Melbourne (see Legal update, Australia to get a further arbitration centre?).

On 26 July 2011, the two main bodies for the legal profession in Victoria, the Victorian bar and the Law Institute of Victoria, issued a joint press release entitled, Melbourne push for international dispute resolution centre, supporting the Chief Justice of Victoria by calling for the establishment of an Australian International Dispute Centre (Centre) in Melbourne.

The Victorian bar and Law Institute of Victoria argue that the Centre would build on the quality of local arbitrators and the work of the Victorian Supreme Court, which issued Practice Note No 2 of 2010 specifically for the continued support of arbitration. The Centre is intended to link in with others around Australia and the region. Some press reports suggest that if the Centre opens in Melbourne, then this could lead to further centres being established in other major Australian cities, such as Brisbane and Perth.

The Victorian bar and Law Institute submitted the press release with the support of the four leading arbitral organisations in Australia:

The press release was issued in support of a submission to the new Victorian government and the Commonwealth Attorney-General, for investment from the State and Commonwealth governments to support the establishment of the Centre.