Adam Carlton-Smith
Michelle Hall
Peter Lamont
Rebecca Roylance
Andre Dauwalder
Currently the Commercial and Consumer Tribunal (CCT) has jurisdiction to hear certain domestic and commercial building disputes. In 2009, what we like to call the Super Tribunal will be created which is to be formally known as the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT). The Queensland Government is to establish the QCAT to provide a single gateway to increase the community's access to justice.
The QCAT will amalgamate a number of existing tribunals into one across a wide variety of topics. The list includes the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, the Children Services Tribunal, the Guardianship and Administration Tribunal. In total, twenty-three tribunals and some of the functions of five other bodies are proposed to be amalgamated into the QCAT.
From 1 December 2009 the CCT will amalgamate into the QCAT. A new Act, being the QCAT Act is to be developed together with QCAT rules which will outline the detailed practices and procedures for QCAT.
As to how the QCAT will work in practice, particularly with respect to building matters – stayed tuned in 2009 as HopgoodGanim will provide updates when more information becomes available.
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