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A new “super-tribunal” for New South Wales: NCAT
Administrative Law News | February 2013
A new multi-divisional tribunal having jurisdiction in a vast array of civil matters promises to streamline and simplify dispute resolution and the management and regulation of professionals and trades across New South Wales.
Pursuant to the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Bill 2012 (NSW), which is currently before the NSW Parliament, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal [“NCAT”] is expected to commence operations on 1 January 2014.
NCAT will replace 23 existing State Tribunals, including the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal (CTTT), the Dental Tribunal, the Administrative Decisions Tribunal (ADT), the Nursing and Midwifery Tribunal, and the Guardianship Tribunal.
According to NSW Attorney General Greg Smith SC:
"The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) will be a one-stop shop for almost all state tribunals, ranging from relatively small bodies such as the Chinese Medicine Tribunal through to the much larger Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal… Enabling tribunals to exist as a network, rather than in isolation will improve the quality, consistency and transparency of services."The work of the new super-tribunal will be administered by 5 separate divisions, covering the following areas:
- Consumer matters and home building matters
- Administrative decisions and “equal opportunity” matters
- Occupational and regulatory matters
- Guardianship cases, and
- Victims compensation and related matters.
An internal appeals panel within NCAT will also allow for the quick and easy review of NCAT decisions, which under the existing system of numerous tribunals is a proverbial nightmare to navigate!
If you have a dispute with a supplier, customer, client, tradesperson or professional, please contact Forum Law today to discuss the most appropriate dispute resolution process for your matter.
