Source: http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/fullhtml/inforce/act+161+1998+pt.4-sec.34+0+Y
Timestamp: 2013-05-22 11:27:33
Document Index: 176360235

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 2', 'art 11', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 3', 'art 8', 'art 1', 'art 3', 'art 3']

Fair Trading Tribunal Act 1998 No 161
Repealed version for 30 November 2001 to 24 February 2002 (accessed 22 May 2013 at 21:27).
Does not include amendments by:Justices Legislation Repeal and
Amendment Act 2001 No 121 (not
commenced)Note:The Act was repealed by the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal Act
2001 No 82, sec 88 (a) with effect from
File last modified 25 February 2002.
Part 2 Establishment of Tribunal
6 Fair Trading Tribunal
7 Members of Tribunal
8 Appointment of members of Tribunal
9 Qualifications and terms of office of members
10 Functions of Chairperson
11 Functions of Tribunal members
Division 3 Organisation
12 Divisions of Tribunal
13 Constitution of Tribunal for particular
14 Sittings of Tribunal
Division 4 Assessors
16 Appointment of assessors
17 Inquiries by assessors
18 Assessors sitting with Tribunal
18A Costs of assessors
Division 5 Registrar and staff
19 Appointment of Registrar and staff
20 Functions of Registrar and Deputy Registrars
Part 3 Jurisdiction of Tribunal
21 General statement of jurisdiction
22 Other jurisdictions excluded in certain cases
23 Transfer of proceedings to other courts or
Part 4 Procedure of Tribunal
24 Application to Tribunal
25 Notice of application to be served on other
27 Procedure of Tribunal generally
28 Procedural directions
29 Amendments and irregularities
30 Proceedings on hearing to be conducted in
31 Circumstances in which hearing may be dispensed
32 Opportunity for parties to present case
33 Representation of parties
34 Interpreters
35 Oral evidence by telephone etc
36 Powers in relation to witnesses
37 Issue of summons
38 Witness may be apprehended
39 Contempt of Tribunal
39A Enforcement of certain Tribunal orders
40 Protection of practising legal practitioners, witnesses
41 Tribunal divided in opinion
42 Tribunal may reserve decision
43 Power to impose conditions
44 Powers when proceedings settled
45 Service of notice of decisions of Tribunal
46 Power to correct decisions of Tribunal
47 Recovery of amounts ordered to be paid (other than
48 Costs
Part 5 Alternative dispute resolution
Division 1 Conciliation and preliminary measures
49 Tribunal to promote conciliation
50 Preliminary conferences
Division 2 Mediation and neutral evaluation
52 Meaning of “mediation” and “neutral
53 Appointment of mediators and neutral evaluators
54 Referral by Tribunal
55 Costs of mediation and neutral evaluation
56 Agreements and arrangements arising from mediation or
neutral evaluation sessions
57 Privilege
58 Secrecy
59 Other measures not precluded
Part 6 Appeals and rehearings
60 Review by prerogative writ etc generally
61 Right of appeal to Supreme Court on question of
62 Referral of questions of law to Supreme Court
63 Rehearings
64 Original decision to operate unless otherwise
65 Privileged documents
66 Improper disclosure of information
67 Act to bind Crown
68 Seal of Tribunal
69 Authentication of documents
70 Proof of certain matters not required
71 Notices, service and lodgment of documents
72 Return of documents after proceedings concluded
73 Allowances and expenses of witnesses
75 Immunity of Tribunal members and others
76 Chairperson may furnish reports
78 Forms
79 Repeal of Commercial Tribunal Act
1984 No 98
80 Amendment of other Acts
81 Savings, transitional and other provisions
Schedule 1 Provisions relating to members of
Schedule 3 Provisions relating to mediators and neutral
An Act to establish a tribunal to adjudicate consumer and
commercial disputes; to repeal the Commercial Tribunal Act
1984 and to amend certain other Acts consequentially; and for
other purposes.Part 1 Preliminary1 Name of ActThis Act is the Fair Trading
Tribunal Act 1998.2 CommencementThis Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by
proclamation.3 Objects of ActThe objects of this Act are as follows:(a) to establish an independent Fair Trading Tribunal to determine
disputes in relation to matters over which it is given jurisdiction by an
(b) to ensure that the Tribunal is accessible, its proceedings are
efficient and effective and its decisions are fair, and
(c) to enable proceedings before the Tribunal to be determined in an
informal, expeditious and inexpensive manner.
4 DefinitionsIn this Act:assessor means an
assessor appointed under this Act.Chairperson
means the Chairperson of the Tribunal.Deputy
Tribunal.Deputy
Registrar means a Deputy Registrar of the Tribunal.exercise a
a power, authority or duty.legal
practitioner means a barrister, or solicitor, within the meaning of
1987.Registrar means
the Registrar of the Tribunal.senior member
means a senior member of the Tribunal.Tribunal means the
Fair Trading Tribunal established by this Act.5 NotesNotes included in the text of this Act do not form part of this
Act.Part 2 Establishment of TribunalDivision 1 Establishment and functions6 Fair Trading Tribunal(1) A Fair Trading Tribunal of New South Wales is established by this
Act.(2) The Tribunal has and may exercise such functions as are conferred
or imposed on it by or under this or any other Act or law.Note. The following Acts confer jurisdiction on the Tribunal:Consumer Claims Act
1998Consumer Credit Administration
Act 1995Consumer Credit (New South Wales)
Act 1995Credit Act
1984Credit (Finance Brokers) Act
1984Credit (Home Finance Contracts)
Act 1984Fair Trading Act
1987Home Building Act
1989Motor Dealers Act
1974Motor Vehicle Repairs Act
1980Travel Agents Act
19867 Members of TribunalThe Tribunal consists of the following members:(a) a Chairperson,
(b) a Deputy Chairperson or Deputy Chairpersons,
(c) senior members,
Division 2 Membership of Tribunal8 Appointment of members of Tribunal(1) The members of the Tribunal are to be appointed by the
Governor.(2) A member of the Tribunal may be appointed on a full-time basis or
a part-time basis.9 Qualifications and terms of office of members(1) A person is eligible to be appointed as the Chairperson or a
Deputy Chairperson only if the person is qualified to be a judge of the
District Court.(2) A person is eligible to be appointed as a senior member only if
the person is a legal practitioner, or is qualified to be admitted as a legal
practitioner, in New South Wales.(3) A person is eligible to be appointed as a member of the Tribunal
(other than the Chairperson, a Deputy Chairperson or a senior member) only if
the person has the qualifications or skills determined by the
Minister.(4) Schedule 1 has effect with respect to the members of the
Tribunal.10 Functions of Chairperson(1) The Chairperson is the executive officer of the Tribunal and is
Tribunal.(2) The Chairperson must:(a) monitor the operations of the Tribunal to ensure that those
operations are just, economical, informal and as speedy as practicable,
(b) allocate the work of the Tribunal among the members (including the
Chairperson) in accordance with directions under this
(3) Without limiting the operation of subsection (1), the Chairperson
may give directions as to:(a) the arrangement of the business of the Tribunal,
(b) the practice and procedure to be followed in, or for the purposes
of, proceedings before the Tribunal, or in alternative dispute resolution
procedures under this Act, and
(c) the places at which the Tribunal may sit, and
(d) the procedure of the Tribunal generally, and
(e) the procedure of the Tribunal at a particular place,
(f) any matter in respect of which the Chairperson is authorised by or
under this Act or any other law to give directions, and
(g) subject to this Act, the regulations and any other law—any
matter necessary or convenient to be determined by direction of the
Chairperson for carrying out or giving effect to this
(4) Subject to the regulations, the functions of the Chairperson
(other than a power of delegation under this section) may be delegated to any
member of the Tribunal or to the Registrar or another staff member of the
Tribunal.Note. Section 49 of the Interpretation
delegation of functions.11 Functions of Tribunal membersA member of the Tribunal has and may exercise the functions
conferred or imposed on the member by or under this or any other Act or
law.Division 3 Organisation12 Divisions of Tribunal(1) The Tribunal comprises the following Divisions:(a) the Commercial Division, in which the Tribunal’s
jurisdiction is to be exercised in respect of matters arising under any of the
following Acts:(i) the Consumer Credit
Administration Act 1995,
(ii) the Consumer Credit (New South
Wales) Act 1995,
(iii) the Credit Act
(iv) the Credit (Finance Brokers) Act
(v) the Credit (Home Finance
Contracts) Act 1984,
(vi), (vii) (Repealed)
(viii) the Travel Agents Act
and in respect of any matter prescribed by or under any Act,
(b) the Home Building Division, in which the Tribunal’s
jurisdiction is to be exercised in respect of any matter arising under the
Home Building Act 1989,
(c) the Motor Vehicles Division, in which the Tribunal’s
Consumer Claims Act 1998 in
connection with a motor vehicle, and
(d) the Consumer Claims Division, in which the Tribunal’s
(other than a matter in connection with a motor vehicle) and all other
matters, except as provided by subsection (2).
(2) An Act or law conferring jurisdiction on the Tribunal may provide
for that jurisdiction to be exercised in any specified Division of the
Tribunal.(3) In case of any doubt, the proper Division for dealing with any
matter may be determined by the Registrar.(4) Matters may be transferred between Divisions in accordance with
directions of the Chairperson.13 Constitution of Tribunal for particular
proceedings(1) For the purposes of any proceedings, the Tribunal may be
constituted by one, two or three of its members.(2) The Chairperson may give directions as to which members are to
constitute the Tribunal for the purposes of any particular proceedings or
class of proceedings.(3) In giving a direction as to the members who are to constitute the
Tribunal for the purposes of any particular proceedings, the Chairperson is to
have due regard to the degree of public importance or complexity of the
matters to which the proceedings relate.(4) A direction under this section in respect of particular
proceedings may be revoked, and another given in its place:(a) at any time after the giving of the direction and before the
commencement of the hearing of the proceedings, or
(b) if the member constituting the Tribunal (or, in the case of
proceedings before the Tribunal where it is constituted by two or more
members, one of those members) during the hearing of the proceedings, or after
the completion of the hearing but before the matter to which the proceedings
relate is determined:(i) ceases to be a member, or
(ii) ceases to be available for the purposes of the
at any time after the member ceases to be a member or to be
(5) The Tribunal, if reconstituted in accordance with subsection (4)
(b), may, for the purposes of the proceedings, have regard to any record of
the proceedings before the Tribunal as previously constituted, including a
record of any evidence taken in the proceedings.14 Sittings of TribunalMore than one sitting of the Tribunal, or of any Division of the
Tribunal, may be held at the same time.15 Annual report(1) As soon as practicable after 30 June (but on or before 31
December) in each year, the Chairperson must provide the Minister with a
report on the operations of the Tribunal for the period ending on 30 June in
that year.(2) The Minister is to lay the report, or cause it to be laid, before
report.Division 4 Assessors16 Appointment of assessors(1) The Chairperson may appoint any person whose name is on the list
compiled under Schedule 2 as an assessor for the purpose of particular
proceedings before the Tribunal.(2) An assessor has the functions conferred or imposed on an assessor
by or under this or any other Act or law.(3) Schedule 2 applies to and in respect of an assessor appointed
under this section.17 Inquiries by assessors(1) If proceedings are pending in the Tribunal, the Tribunal or the
Chairperson may, with the consent of the parties, direct that an inquiry into
any issue raised in, or other matter connected with, the proceedings be made
by a single assessor.(2) The assessor making such an inquiry is to make a report to the
Tribunal.(3) If a report is made to the Tribunal under this section, the
Registrar is to furnish a copy of the report to each of the parties as soon as
is practicable.(4) The Tribunal may adopt any findings or observations set out in a
report under this section.(5) An assessor, in making an inquiry under this section, has and may
exercise such functions as the regulations may
prescribe.(6) An assessor who has made an inquiry under this section in relation
to any proceedings is disqualified from further participation in those
proceedings unless the parties otherwise agree.18 Assessors sitting with Tribunal(1) If proceedings are pending in the Tribunal, the Tribunal may, in
determining the proceedings or any part of the proceedings, be assisted by one
or more assessors.(2) An assessor assisting the Tribunal under this section may assist
and advise the Tribunal, but is not to adjudicate on any matter before the
Tribunal.(3) The Tribunal may dispense with the services of an assessor at any
stage of the proceedings.18A Costs of assessors(1) Any costs payable to an assessor who has assisted the Tribunal in
proceedings are to be borne by the Tribunal, except to the extent that
regulations provide that the parties to the proceedings are to bear
them.(2) Regulations made for the purposes of this section may provide that
the parties are to bear the costs:(a) in the proportions that they may agree among themselves or,
failing agreement, in the manner ordered by the Tribunal,
(b) in any other manner prescribed by the
Division 5 Registrar and staff19 Appointment of Registrar and staff(1) A Registrar of the Tribunal and such Deputy Registrars and other
staff as may be necessary for the purposes of this Act may be employed under
1988.(2) The Tribunal may also employ staff. Part 2 of the Public Sector Management Act 1988
does not apply to or in respect of staff appointed under this
subsection.(3) The Chairperson may on behalf of the Tribunal enter into
arrangements with any government agency, or other body or person (whether in
the public or private sector) for the provision of assistance to the Tribunal
in connection with the exercise of its functions.20 Functions of Registrar and Deputy Registrars(1) The Registrar has the following functions:(a) to assist the Chairperson in managing the affairs of the Tribunal,
(b) such judicial, administrative or other functions as may be
conferred or imposed on the Registrar by or under this or any other Act or
(2) A Deputy Registrar may exercise the functions of the
Registrar:(a) as directed by the Registrar, and
(b) during the absence of, or a vacancy in the office of, the
(3) Anything done or omitted to be done by a Deputy Registrar in
exercising a function of the Registrar has effect as if it had been done or
omitted to be done by the Registrar.Part 3 Jurisdiction of Tribunal21 General statement of jurisdiction(1) The Tribunal has such jurisdiction to decide matters, and such
powers to make orders and otherwise exercise any function in connection with
any such decisions, as is conferred on it by any Act or
law.(2) Except as provided by any Act, the Tribunal has jurisdiction in
respect of a matter arising whether before or after the commencement of any
provision of this Act.22 Other jurisdictions excluded in certain cases(1) In this section, court means any court, tribunal,
board or other body or person (other than one prescribed by or under
subsection (2)) that:(a) is empowered under any other Act, or
(b) by consent of or agreement between two or more persons has
to decide or resolve any issue that is in dispute, whether through
arbitration or conciliation or any other means.(2) The definition in subsection (1) does not extend to:(a) a court, tribunal, board, body or person that, in relation to a
particular matter, is empowered by law to impose a penalty, admonition or
other sanction for a contravention of a law or for misconduct or breach of
discipline proved to have been committed in connection with that matter but is
not empowered to award or order compensation or damages in respect of that
(b) a court, tribunal, board, body or person prescribed, or of a class
prescribed, by the regulations.
(3) If, at the time when an application was made to the Tribunal in
accordance with this Act, no issue arising under the application was the
subject of a dispute in proceedings pending before a court, a court has no
jurisdiction to hear or determine such an issue.(4) Subsection (3) ceases to apply to the extent to which the
application concerned is dismissed for want of jurisdiction or
withdrawn.(5) Subsection (3) does not preclude a court of record from hearing
and determining any proceedings in which it is claimed that any order,
determination or ruling of the Tribunal is invalid for want of jurisdiction or
from making any order as a consequence of that
finding.(6) For the purposes of subsection (3), an issue arises under an
application made to the Tribunal only if the existence of the issue is shown
in the applicant’s claim or is recorded in the record made by the
Tribunal in accordance with this Act.(7) If, at the time when an application is made to the Tribunal in
accordance with this Act, an issue arising under the application was the
subject of a dispute in proceedings pending before a court, the Tribunal, on
becoming aware of those proceedings, ceases to have jurisdiction to hear or
determine the issue.(8) Subsection (7) ceases to apply to the extent to which the
proceedings concerned are dismissed or quashed by the court, or by another
court, for want of jurisdiction or without deciding the issue on its merits,
or withdrawn.(9) At a hearing of an application by the Tribunal, a finding or
decision made by a court, tribunal, board, body or person referred to in
subsection (2) (a) or prescribed under subsection (2) (b) is admissible as
evidence of the finding or decision.23 Transfer of proceedings to other courts or
tribunals(1) If all the parties so agree or the Tribunal of its own motion or
on the application of a party so directs, proceedings instituted in or before
the Tribunal must be transferred, in accordance with the rules of that court,
to a court that has jurisdiction in the matter and are to continue before that
court as if they had been instituted there.(2) If all the parties so agree or a court of its own motion or on the
application of a party so directs, proceedings instituted in or before the
court for a matter for which the Tribunal has jurisdiction must be transferred
to the Tribunal in accordance with the regulations and are to continue before
the Tribunal as if they had been instituted there.Part 4 Procedure of Tribunal24 Application to TribunalA person may, in the manner and within the time prescribed by or
under the enactment under which the application is made, apply to the Tribunal
to have a matter dealt with.25 Notice of application to be served on other
parties(1) The Registrar must cause notice of an application to the Tribunal
to be served on each party (other than the applicant) to the proceedings
within such time and in such manner as the Chairperson
directs.(2) It is sufficient compliance with this section if:(a) the Registrar directs a party to the proceedings to serve notice
of the application on another party on the Registrar’s behalf,
(b) notice is served on the other party in accordance with the
Chairperson’s directions referred to in subsection
26 Presiding member(1) This section applies in relation to proceedings before the
Tribunal where the Tribunal is constituted for the purposes of those
proceedings by two or three members.(2) If the Chairperson is one of the members of the Tribunal as
constituted for the purposes of the proceedings, the Chairperson is to preside
at the proceedings.(3) If the Tribunal as constituted for the purposes of the proceedings
does not include the Chairperson but includes a Deputy Chairperson, the Deputy
Chairperson is to preside at the proceedings.(4) If the Tribunal as constituted for the purposes of the
proceedings:(a) does not include the Chairperson or a Deputy Chairperson,
(b) includes one, and only one, senior
the senior member is to preside at the
proceedings.(5) If none of subsections (2)–(4) applies, the Chairperson is
to designate one of the members who constitute the Tribunal for the purposes
of the proceedings as the member who is to preside at the
proceedings.27 Procedure of Tribunal generally(1) The Tribunal may, subject to this Act, determine its own
procedure.(2) The Tribunal is not bound by the rules of evidence and may inquire
into and inform itself on any matter in such manner as it thinks fit, subject
to the rules of natural justice.(3) The Tribunal is to act with as little formality as the
circumstances of the case permit and according to equity, good conscience and
the substantial merits of the case without regard to technicalities or legal
forms.(4) The Tribunal is to take such measures as are reasonably
practicable to ensure that the parties to the proceedings before it
understand:(a) the nature of the assertions made in the proceedings and the legal
implications of those assertions, and
(b) the procedure of the Tribunal and any decision or ruling made by
the Tribunal that relates to the proceedings.
(5) The Tribunal:(a) is to act as expeditiously as is practicable,
(b) is to ensure, as far as practicable, that all relevant material is
disclosed to the Tribunal so as to enable it to determine all of the relevant
facts in issue in any proceedings, and
(c) may require evidence or argument to be presented in writing and
decide on the matters on which it will hear oral evidence or argument,
(d) in the case of a hearing—may require the presentation of the
respective cases of the parties before it to be limited to the periods of time
that it determines are reasonably necessary for the fair and adequate
presentation of the cases, and
(e) may require a document to be served outside the State,
(f) may adjourn proceedings to any time and place (including for the
purpose of enabling the parties to negotiate a settlement),
(g) may dismiss at any stage any proceedings before it for want of
prosecution by the applicant or at the request of the applicant,
(h) may dismiss at any stage any proceedings before it if it considers
the proceedings to be frivolous or vexatious or for any other reason that
appears to it sufficient.
(6) The Tribunal may, of its own motion or on application (whether
made before or after the expiry of the time limit concerned) by any person,
extend the period of time within which anything would otherwise be required by
or under this Act to be done.28 Procedural directions(1) Subject to any directions of the Chairperson, the member of the
Tribunal who presides, or is to preside, at proceedings before the Tribunal
may, at a directions hearing held for the purpose or otherwise, give
directions relating to procedure that, in the opinion of the member, will
enable costs to be reduced and will help to achieve a prompt hearing of the
matters in issue between the parties to the
proceedings.(2) The powers conferred by subsection (1) extend to enabling the
presiding member, if it appears just and expedient to do so, to direct that
several matters that are in some manner associated are to be heard and
determined together.(3) The functions of a member of the Tribunal under this section may,
to the extent prescribed by the regulations, be delegated to the
Registrar.29 Amendments and irregularities(1) The Tribunal may, in any proceedings before it, make any
amendments to any document filed in connection with the proceedings that the
Tribunal considers to be necessary in the interests of
justice.(2) Any such amendment may be made:(a) at any stage of the proceedings (including the commencement or
purported commencement of proceedings), and
(b) on such terms as the Tribunal thinks fit (including, subject to
this Act, terms as to costs).
(3) If a provision of this Act or the regulations is not complied with
in relation to the commencement (or purported commencement) of proceedings or
conduct of proceedings before the Tribunal, the failure to comply is to be
treated as an irregularity and does not nullify the proceedings, any step
taken in the proceedings or any decision in the proceedings unless the
Tribunal otherwise determines.(4) The Tribunal may, however, in dealing with any such irregularity,
wholly or partly set aside the proceedings, a step taken in the proceedings or
a decision in the proceedings.30 Proceedings on hearing to be conducted in
public(1) If proceedings before the Tribunal are to be determined by a
hearing, the hearing is to be open to the public, except as provided by this
section.(2) If the Tribunal is satisfied that it is desirable to do so by
reason of the confidential nature of any evidence or matter or for any other
reason, it may make any one or more of the following orders:(a) an order that the hearing be conducted wholly or partly in
(b) an order prohibiting or restricting the publication of the names
and addresses of witnesses appearing before the Tribunal,
(c) an order prohibiting or restricting the publication of evidence
given before the Tribunal, whether in public or in private, or of matters
contained in documents lodged with the Tribunal or received in evidence by the
(d) an order prohibiting or restricting the disclosure to some or all
of the parties to the proceedings of evidence given before the Tribunal, or of
the contents of a document lodged with the Tribunal or received in evidence by
the Tribunal, in relation to the proceedings.
with(1) The Tribunal may, with the consent of the parties to any
proceedings before it, determine the proceedings by considering the documents
or other material lodged with or provided to the Tribunal and without holding
a hearing, if it appears to the Tribunal that the issues for determination can
be adequately determined in the absence of the
parties.(2) The regulations may prescribe classes of matters or circumstances
in which the consent referred to in subsection (1) may be dispensed
with.32 Opportunity for parties to present caseThe Tribunal must ensure that every party to proceedings before
the Tribunal is given a reasonable opportunity:(a) to adduce evidence and otherwise present the party’s case
(whether at a hearing or otherwise), and
(b) to make submissions in relation to the issues in the
33 Representation of parties(1) Except to the extent that the Tribunal, in accordance with the
regulations, otherwise orders, a party to proceedings before the Tribunal has
the carriage of his or her own case, and is not entitled to be
represented.(2) In cases where an amount is claimed or disputed, representation by
a legal practitioner is not allowed if the amount does not exceed $10,000 (or
such other amount as may be prescribed by the regulations) unless the Tribunal
is of the opinion that the exceptional circumstances of the case warrant such
representation.(3) If, however, a party to the proceedings has been granted legal
assistance under Division 2 of Part 2 of the Fair Trading Act 1987, the parties
to the proceedings are entitled to be represented by a legal
practitioner.(4) A party to proceedings may, in accordance with the regulations,
apply to the Tribunal for permission to be represented in the proceedings or
in part of the proceedings.(5) Except as otherwise provided by the regulations, no person other
than a legal practitioner is entitled to demand or receive any fee or reward
for representing a party in proceedings before the
Tribunal.(6) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Tribunal
may appoint any other person it thinks fit to represent a party who appears to
the Tribunal to be an incapacitated person.(7) In this section:incapacitated person
means:(a) a minor, or
(b) a person who is totally or partially incapable of representing
himself or herself in proceedings before the Tribunal because the person is
intellectually, physically, psychologically or sensorily disabled, of advanced
age, a mentally incapacitated person or otherwise disabled,
(c) any other person of a class prescribed by the regulations for the
34 Interpreters(1) A person appearing before the Tribunal to give evidence may
request the Tribunal to appoint an interpreter for the purposes of
communication between the Tribunal and the person.(2) The Tribunal must comply with a request made by a person under
this section unless it considers that the person is sufficiently proficient in
spoken English.(3) If the Tribunal considers that a person appearing before it to
give evidence is not sufficiently proficient in spoken English, the Tribunal
must appoint an interpreter for the purposes of communication between the
Tribunal and the person, even though the person has not made a request under
this section.(4) In this section, interpreter includes a person
who interprets signs or other things made or done by a person who cannot speak
adequately for the purposes of giving evidence in
proceedings.35 Oral evidence by telephone etc(1) The Tribunal may allow a person to appear before the Tribunal, or
to give evidence, and may conduct any aspect of proceedings before it, by
telephone or closed-circuit television or by any other means of
communication.(2) If, when proceedings are held in public, a person appears or gives
evidence by a means allowed under subsection (1), the Tribunal must take such
steps as are reasonably necessary to ensure that the public nature of the
proceedings is preserved and that the rights of parties to the proceedings are
not prejudiced.36 Powers in relation to witnesses(1) The Tribunal may:(a) call any witness of its own motion, and
(b) examine any witness on oath, or by use of a statutory declaration,
(c) examine or cross-examine any witness to such extent as the
Tribunal thinks proper in order to elicit information relevant to the exercise
of the functions of the Tribunal in any proceedings, and
(d) compel any witness to answer questions which the Tribunal
considers to be relevant in any proceedings before
(2) If the Tribunal decides to call a person as a witness under
subsection (1) (a), the Tribunal may:(a) seek to procure the voluntary attendance of the witness before it
by notifying the person in such manner as it thinks appropriate in the
(b) issue a summons to compel the attendance of the person before
(3) Nothing in subsection (1) enables the Tribunal to compel a witness
to answer a question if the witness has a reasonable excuse for refusing to
answer the question.37 Issue of summons(1) A summons for the purposes of this Act may be issued by the
Registrar:(a) on the application of a party to the proceedings,
(b) at the direction of the Tribunal.
(1A) The fee prescribed by the regulations is payable for the issue of
proceedings.(2) Such a summons must be signed by the Registrar or as otherwise
prescribed by the regulations and may require the person to whom it is
addressed:(a) to attend and give evidence, or
(b) to attend and produce documents or other
or both.(3) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to
excusing, in prescribed circumstances, a person who produces documents or
other things in answer to a summons from attendance at the
Tribunal.(4) A person who, without lawful excuse, fails to comply with the
requirements of a summons is guilty of an offence.Maximum penalty: 100 penalty
units.(5) A summons may be served within or outside the
State.38 Witness may be apprehended(1) If any person served with a summons to attend before the Tribunal
fails to comply with the summons, the Chairperson or a Deputy Chairperson may,
on proof of the service of the summons, issue to such person as the
Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson appoints a warrant for the apprehension of
that person.(2) A warrant issued under subsection (1) authorises the apprehension
of the witness, the bringing of the witness before the Tribunal and the
detention of the witness in custody for that purpose until released by order
of the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson or the Supreme
Court.(3) The apprehension of any witness under this section does not
relieve the witness from any liability incurred by reason of non-compliance
with a summons to attend before the Tribunal.39 Contempt of Tribunal(1) A person is guilty of contempt of the Tribunal if:(a) the person fails to attend in obedience to a summons after having
been served with a summons to attend before the Tribunal as a witness,
(b) the person fails to produce any document or other thing in the
person’s custody or control that the person is required by a summons to
produce after having been served with a summons to attend before the Tribunal,
(c) the person refuses to be sworn or to make an affirmation or
refuses or otherwise fails to answer any question that is put to the person by
the Tribunal after being called or examined as a witness before the Tribunal,
(d) the person wilfully threatens or insults:(i) a member, assessor or officer of the Tribunal,
(ii) any witness or person summoned to attend before the Tribunal,
(iii) a practising legal practitioner or other person authorised to
appear before the Tribunal, or
(e) the person misbehaves himself or herself before the Tribunal,
(f) the person interrupts the proceedings of the Tribunal,
(g) the person obstructs or attempts to obstruct the Tribunal, a
member of the Tribunal or a person acting with the authority of the Tribunal
in the exercise of any lawful function, or
(h) the person publishes, or permits or allows to be published, any
evidence given before the Tribunal or any of the contents of a document
produced at a hearing that the Tribunal has ordered not to be published,
(i) the person publishes, or permits or allows to be published, any
evidence given before the Tribunal at a hearing held in private or any of the
contents of a document produced at a hearing held in private, except to an
officer or member of the Tribunal or as permitted by the Tribunal or by the
(j) the person does any other thing that, if the Tribunal were a court
of law having power to commit for contempt, would be contempt of that
unless the person establishes that there was a reasonable excuse for the
act or omission concerned.(2) The provisions of sections 199–203 of the District Court Act 1973 apply to and
in respect of contempt of the Tribunal, when constituted by (or by members
that include) the Chairperson or a Deputy Chairperson, in the same way as they
apply to and in respect of contempt of the District
Court.(3) If, when the Tribunal is constituted otherwise than as referred to
in subsection (2), it is alleged or it appears to the Tribunal that a person
is guilty of contempt of the Tribunal, the Tribunal may refer the matter to
the Supreme Court, which may dispose of the matter in such manner as it
considers appropriate.39A Enforcement of certain Tribunal orders(1) The Tribunal may, when making an order or later, give leave to the
person in whose favour the order is made to renew proceedings if the order is
not complied with within the period specified by the
Tribunal.(2) If an order has not been complied with within the period specified
by the Tribunal, the person in whose favour the order was made may renew the
proceedings to which the order relates by lodging a notice with the Tribunal
stating that the order has not been complied with.(3) The provisions of this Act apply to a notice lodged in accordance
with subsection (2) as if the notice were an application made in accordance
with section 24.(4) When a claim has been renewed in accordance with this section, the
Tribunal:(a) may make any other appropriate order under this Act as it could
have made when the matter was originally determined, or
(b) may refuse to make such an order.
(5) This section does not apply if the operation of an order has been
suspended.(6) A notice under this section must be in the form prescribed by the
regulations.40 Protection of practising legal practitioners, witnesses
and others(1) A practising legal practitioner or other person appearing before
the Tribunal on behalf of a party has the same protection and immunity as a
barrister has in appearing for a party in proceedings in the Supreme
Court.(2) Subject to this Act, a person summoned to attend or appearing
before the Tribunal as a witness has the same protection, and is, in addition
to the penalties provided by this Act, subject to the same liabilities, as a
witness in proceedings in the Supreme Court.41 Tribunal divided in opinion(1) If the Tribunal is constituted by more than one member for the
purposes of the determination of any proceedings and the members are divided
in opinion, the opinion of a majority is taken to be the decision of the
Tribunal.(2) However, a question of law (including the question whether a
particular question is a question of law) arising in proceedings constituted
by more than one member is to be decided in accordance with the opinion of the
member presiding at the proceedings.(3) If, on a matter other than a question of law, opinion is equally
divided, the opinion of the presiding member is taken to be the decision of
the Tribunal.42 Tribunal may reserve decision(1) The Tribunal may reserve its decision in any proceedings before
it.(2) A reserved decision of a member or members of the Tribunal may be
given:(a) by the member or members at a subsequent sitting of the Tribunal,
(b) if the decision of a member is set out in writing and signed by
the member—by being delivered by a member of the Tribunal,
(c) by the Registrar, at a time and place of which the parties have
been given reasonable notice, or
(d) by publication to the parties in a manner approved by the
43 Power to impose conditionsA power of the Tribunal to make an order or other decision
includes a power to make the order or other decision subject to such
conditions (including exemptions) as the Tribunal specifies when making the
order or other decision, except as may be provided to the contrary by any
other Act.44 Powers when proceedings settled(1) The Tribunal may, at any stage of proceedings before it, make such
orders (including an order dismissing the application that is the subject of
the proceedings) as it thinks fit to give effect to any agreed settlement
reached by the parties to the proceedings if:(a) the terms of the agreed settlement are reduced to writing, signed
by or on behalf of the parties and lodged with the Tribunal,
(b) the Tribunal is satisfied that it would have the power to make a
decision in the terms of the agreed settlement or in terms that are consistent
with the terms of the agreed settlement.
(2) The Tribunal may dismiss the application that is the subject of
the proceedings if it is not satisfied that it would have the power to make a
decision in the terms of the agreed settlement or in terms consistent with the
terms of the agreed settlement.45 Service of notice of decisions of Tribunal(1) The Tribunal must, within the time prescribed by the regulations,
give notice of its decision in a matter to the parties to the
proceedings.(2) If the regulations so require (or if a party to the proceedings,
within the time and in the manner prescribed by the regulations, requests the
Tribunal to do so), the Tribunal must also prepare a written statement of
reasons for its decision. The statement may be brief, but must:(a) set out the decision and the reasons for it,
(b) set out the findings on any material question of fact,
(c) refer to the evidence or any other material on which the findings
of fact were based.
(3) The Tribunal is to cause a copy of any statement prepared under
subsection (2) to be served on each party to the proceedings within the
prescribed time after the decision concerned was
made.46 Power to correct decisions of Tribunal(1) If, after the making of a decision by the Tribunal, the Tribunal
is satisfied that there is an obvious error in the text of a notice of the
decision or a written statement of reasons for the decision, the Tribunal may
direct the Registrar to alter the text of the notice or statement in
accordance with the directions of the Tribunal.(2) If the text of a notice or statement is so altered, the altered
text is taken to be the notice of the Tribunal’s decision or the
statement of its reasons, as the case may be.(3) Examples of obvious errors in the text of a notice of a decision
or a statement of reasons for a decision are where:(a) there is an obvious clerical or typographical error in the text of
the notice or statement, or
(b) there is an error arising from an accidental slip or omission,
(d) there is an inconsistency between the stated decision and the
(4) The powers of the Tribunal under this section may be exercised by
the Chairperson or by the member who presided at the proceedings to which the
decision relates.47 Recovery of amounts ordered to be paid (other than
penalties)(1) For the purposes of the recovery of any amount ordered to be paid
by the Tribunal (including costs, but not including a civil or other penalty),
the amount is to be certified by the Registrar.(2) A certificate given under this section must identify the person
liable to pay the certified amount.(3) A certificate of the Registrar that:(a) is given under this section, and
(b) is filed in the registry of a court having jurisdiction to give
judgment for a debt of the same amount as the amount stated in the
operates as such a judgment.48 Costs(1) The parties to a matter before the Tribunal are to bear their own
costs, except as provided by this section.(2) In cases where an amount is claimed or disputed, costs are not to
be awarded if the amount does not exceed $10,000 (or such other amount as may
be prescribed by the regulations) unless the Tribunal is of the opinion that
the exceptional circumstances of the case warrant an award of
costs.(3) Except as otherwise provided by the regulations or by any other
Act or law, in cases where an amount is claimed or disputed in the Commercial
Division or the Home Building Division, the Tribunal may award costs
if:(a) the amount claimed or disputed exceeds $10,000 (or such other
amount as may be prescribed by the regulations), and
(b) the parties were granted the right to legal
(4) The Tribunal may, however, in any case award costs in relation to
proceedings before it in any Division:(a) in respect of expenses incurred in obtaining professional or
expert services (other than legal services), if the amount ordered to be paid
by the Tribunal exceeds the amount prescribed for the purposes of this
paragraph, or
(b) in respect of expenses incurred in a manner or in circumstances
prescribed by the regulations, or
(c) in respect of any particular expenses, if it is satisfied that
there are special circumstances warranting an award of costs in respect of
(5) If costs are to be awarded, the Tribunal may:(a) determine by whom and to what extent costs are to be paid,
(b) order costs to be assessed on the basis set out in Division 6 of
Part 11 of the Legal Profession Act
1987 or on any other basis.
(6) In this section, costs includes:(a) costs of or incidental to proceedings in the Tribunal,
(b) the costs of or incidental to the
Part 5 Alternative dispute resolutionDivision 1 Conciliation and preliminary measures49 Tribunal to promote conciliation(1) Before making an order to determine a matter before it, it is the
duty of the Tribunal to use its best endeavours to bring the parties to the
proceedings to a settlement acceptable to all of
them.(2) If such a settlement is reached, the Tribunal must make orders
that give effect to the settlement to the extent permitted by this
Act.(3) Any statement or admission made before the Tribunal or any person
at a meeting or proceeding held for the purposes of subsection (1) is not
admissible at a hearing of the matter concerned or in any other legal
proceedings.50 Preliminary conferences(1) In addition to or in the course of any action taken under section
49, the Tribunal may, before commencing to hear and determine an application,
confer with, or arrange for a member of the Tribunal or the Registrar to
confer with, the parties to the proceedings and make any determination with
respect to the proceedings that is agreed to by the
parties.(2) If proceedings are referred under this section to a member or the
Registrar and the parties agree to the determination of the member or the
Registrar, the determination has effect as a decision of the
Tribunal.(3) If the proceedings are not determined under this section and the
matter proceeds to a hearing:(a) evidence is not to be given, and statements are not to be made,
concerning any words spoken or acts done at a conference held in accordance
with this section unless the parties otherwise agree, and
(b) any member who presided over a preliminary conference in respect
of the proceedings is not entitled to be a member of the Tribunal determining
the proceedings if any party to the preliminary conference objects, in the
manner and form prescribed by the regulations, to the member’s
(4) The Chairperson may direct that a preliminary conference is to be
held under this section in the case of any applications made to the Tribunal
of a kind specified in the direction.Division 2 Mediation and neutral evaluation51 DefinitionsIn this Division:mediation
this Division.mediator
means a person to whom the Tribunal refers a matter for mediation under this
Division.neutral evaluation
session means a meeting arranged for the neutral evaluation of a
matter under this Division.neutral
evaluator means a person to whom the Tribunal refers a matter for
neutral evaluation under this Division.52 Meaning of “mediation” and “neutral
evaluation”(1) In this Act, mediation means a
structured negotiation process in which the mediator, as a neutral and
resolution of the dispute.(2) In this Act, neutral
evaluation means a process of evaluation of a dispute in which the
neutral evaluator seeks to identify and reduce the issues of fact and law that
are in dispute. The neutral evaluator’s role includes assessing the
relative strengths and weaknesses of each party’s case and offering an
opinion as to the likely outcome of the
proceedings.53 Appointment of mediators and neutral evaluators(1) The Chairperson may appoint any person whose name is on the list
compiled under Schedule 3 as a mediator or neutral evaluator for the purpose
of particular proceedings pending in the Tribunal.(2) Mediators and neutral evaluators have the functions conferred or
imposed on them by or under this or any other Act or
law.(3) Schedule 3 has effect in respect of a mediator or neutral
evaluator appointed under this section.54 Referral by Tribunal(1) The Tribunal may, by order, refer a matter arising in proceedings
before it for mediation or neutral evaluation if the Tribunal considers the
circumstances appropriate.(2) The mediator or neutral evaluator may, but need not be, a person
whose name is on a list compiled under Schedule 3.55 Costs of mediation and neutral evaluation(1) The costs of mediation or neutral evaluation, including the costs
payable to the mediator or neutral evaluator, are to be borne by the Tribunal,
except to the extent that the regulations provide that the parties to the
proceedings are to bear them.(2) Regulations made for the purposes of this section may provide that
the parties are to bear the costs:(a) in such proportions as they may agree among themselves or, failing
agreement, in such manner as may be ordered by the Tribunal,
neutral evaluation sessions(1) The Tribunal may make orders to give effect to any agreement or
arrangement arising out of a mediation session or neutral evaluation
session.(2) Nothing in this Division affects the enforceability of any other
mediation session or neutral evaluation session, in relation to the matters
the subject of any such session.57 Privilege(1) In this section, mediation session
evaluation session includes any steps taken in the course of making
arrangements for the session or in the course of the follow-up of a
session.(2) Subject to subsection (3), the same privilege with respect to
produced in judicial proceedings exists with respect to:(a) a mediation session or neutral evaluation session,
(b) a document or other material sent to or produced to a mediator or
neutral evaluator, or sent to or produced at the Tribunal or the office of the
Registrar, for the purpose of enabling a mediation session or neutral
evaluation session to be arranged.
publication made:(a) at a mediation session or neutral evaluation session,
(c) as provided by section 58.
(4) Evidence of any thing said or of any admission made in a mediation
session or neutral evaluation session is not admissible in any proceedings
before any court, tribunal or body.(5) A document prepared for the purposes of, or in the course of, or
as a result of, a mediation session or neutral evaluation session, or any copy
of such a document, is not admissible in evidence in any proceedings before
any court, tribunal or body.(6) Subsections (4) and (5) do not apply with respect to any evidence
mediation session or neutral evaluation session and, in the case of a
document, all persons identified in the document, consent to the admission of
the evidence or document, or
connection with which a disclosure has been made under section 58
58 SecrecyA mediator or neutral evaluator may disclose information obtained
in connection with the administration or execution of this Division only in
any one or more of the following circumstances:(a) with the consent of the person to whom the information
referring any party or parties to a mediation session or neutral evaluation
session to any person, agency, organisation or other body and the disclosure
is made with the consent of the parties to the mediation session or neutral
evaluation session for the purpose of aiding in the resolution of a dispute
between those parties or assisting the parties in any other
59 Other measures not precludedNothing in this Division prevents:(a) the parties to proceedings from agreeing to and arranging for
mediation or neutral evaluation of any matter otherwise than as referred to in
this Division, or
Part 6 Appeals and rehearings60 Review by prerogative writ etc generally
excluded(1) Except as provided by this section, a court of record has no
jurisdiction to grant relief or a remedy by way of:(a) a judgment or order in the nature of prohibition, mandamus,
certiorari or other relief, or
(b) a declaratory judgment or order, or
(c) an injunction,
in respect of a matter heard and determined or to be heard or determined
by the Tribunal in accordance with this Act or in respect of any ruling, order
or other proceeding relating to such a matter.(2) A court is not precluded from granting relief or a remedy of a
kind referred to in subsection (1) in relation to a matter in which the
jurisdiction of the Tribunal to determine the matter was disputed, where the
ground on which the relief or remedy is sought is that:(a) the Tribunal gave a ruling as to its jurisdiction that was
(b) the Tribunal erred in refusing or failing to give a ruling as to
its jurisdiction when its jurisdiction was
(3) A court is not precluded from granting relief or a remedy of a
Tribunal has made an order, where the ground on which the relief or remedy is
sought is that:(a) the Tribunal had no jurisdiction to make the order,
(b) in relation to the hearing or determination of the matter, a party
to the claim had been denied natural justice.
law(1) A party to proceedings before the Tribunal may appeal to the
Supreme Court on a question of law against any decision of the Tribunal in
those proceedings, except where the regulations preclude such an
appeal.(2) The Supreme Court is to hear and determine the appeal and may make
such orders as it thinks appropriate in light of its
decision.(3) The orders that may be made by the Supreme Court on appeal include
(4) Regulations made for the purposes of subsection (1) may preclude
an appeal:(a) in cases where the amount claimed or disputed in the matter
concerned did not exceed $25,000 (or such other amount as may be prescribed),
(b) in cases of any prescribed class or
62 Referral of questions of law to Supreme Court(1) The Tribunal may refer a question of law arising in the
proceedings before the Tribunal to the Supreme Court for the opinion of the
Supreme Court.(2) The Supreme Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine any
question of law referred to it under this section.(3) If a question of law arising in any proceedings before the
Tribunal has been referred to the Supreme Court under this section, the
Tribunal is not:(a) to give a decision in the proceedings to which the question is
relevant while the reference is pending, or
(b) to proceed in a manner, or make a decision, that is inconsistent
with the opinion of the Supreme Court on the
(4) A referral under this section is to be made in accordance with
rules of the Supreme Court.63 Rehearings(1) Except where the regulations preclude the making of an application
under this section, a party to proceedings before the Tribunal may, in the
manner and within a time prescribed by the regulations, apply to the
Chairperson for an order directing that the matter be reheard by the Tribunal,
on the ground that the applicant may have suffered a substantial injustice
because:(a) the decision of the Tribunal was not fair and equitable,
(b) the decision of the Tribunal was against the weight of evidence,
(c) evidence that is now available was not reasonably available at the
(2) The Chairperson is not to grant the application unless, on the
face of the application, it appears to the Chairperson that the applicant may
have suffered a substantial injustice.(3) If the application is granted, the Chairperson is to determine the
constitution of the Tribunal in a manner appropriate for the purposes of the
rehearing, having regard to the circumstances of the case and the requirements
of natural justice.(4) The matter is to be dealt with as a hearing de novo by the
Tribunal as constituted under subsection (3).(5) Regulations made for the purposes of subsection (1) may preclude
the making of an application under this section:(a) in cases where the amount claimed or disputed in the matter
concerned exceeded $25,000 (or such other amount as may be prescribed),
ordered(1) Lodgment of an appeal or application for a rehearing under this
Part does not affect the operation of the decision the subject of the appeal
or application or prevent the taking of action to implement the decision,
except as provided by any other Act or as otherwise ordered under this
section.(2) An order staying the operation of a decision the subject of an
appeal or application under this Part may be made:(a) by the Supreme Court in connection with an appeal under section
61, or
(b) by the Chairperson in connection with an application under section
Part 7 Miscellaneous65 Privileged documents(1) Nothing in this Act requires the disclosure of a document if the
Tribunal or the Chairperson is satisfied that evidence of the document could
not be adduced in proceedings before a NSW court within the meaning of the
Evidence Act 1995 by reason
of the operation of any of the following provisions of that Act:(a) section 9 (Application of common law and equity), but only to the
extent that it preserves any privilege against the adducing of
(b) section 10 (Parliamentary privilege
preserved),
(c) Part 3.10 (Privileges) of Chapter 3.
(2) In this section:disclosure of a document
includes the following:(a) the provision of copies of the document,
(b) the granting of access to the document,
(c) the disclosure of the contents of the
includes a part of a document.66 Improper disclosure of informationA person must not disclose information obtained in exercising a
function under this Act unless the disclosure is made:(a) with the consent of the person to whom the information relates,
(b) in connection with the execution or administration of this Act,
(c) for the purpose of any legal proceedings arising out of this Act
or any report of such proceedings, or
(d) with other legal excuse.
both.67 Act to bind CrownThis Act binds the Crown.68 Seal of TribunalThe Tribunal is to a have a seal and that seal is to be judicially
noticed.69 Authentication of documents(1) Every document requiring authentication by the Tribunal is
sufficiently authenticated without the seal of the Tribunal if it is:(a) signed by the Chairperson, or a Deputy Chairperson or senior
member, or the Registrar, or
(b) authenticated in a manner prescribed by the
(2) Judicial notice is to be taken of the signature of the
Chairperson, a Deputy Chairperson, a senior member or the Registrar when
appearing on a document issued by the Tribunal.70 Proof of certain matters not requiredIn any legal proceedings, no proof is required (unless evidence to
the contrary is given) of:(a) the constitution of the Tribunal, or
(b) any decision of the Tribunal, or
(c) the appointment of, or the holding of office by, a member of the
71 Notices, service and lodgment of documents(1) For the purposes of this Act, a notice or document may be given to
a person (and a document may be served on a person):(a) in the case of a natural person—by:(i) delivering it to the person personally, or
(ii) leaving it at, or by sending it by post to, the residential or
business address, or other address for service, of the person that was last
known to the person giving or serving the document,
(b) in the case of a body corporate—by leaving it at, or by
sending it by post to, the head office, a registered office or a principal
office of the body corporate, or
(c) in the case of a Government Department—by leaving it at, or
by sending it by post to, any office of that Department addressed to the head
of the Government Department.
(2) A notice or other document may be served on the Tribunal by
leaving it at, or by sending it by post to (or a document that is required or
permitted to be lodged with the Tribunal may be lodged at):(a) the office of the Registrar, or
(b) if the Registrar has more than one office, any one of those
(3) Nothing in this section affects the operation of any provision of
any law or the rules of a court authorising a document to be served in a
manner not provided for by this section.(4) The regulations may:(a) provide for additional means of serving, giving or lodging any
notice or document, and
(b) provide that a notice or document of a class specified by the
regulations be served, given or lodged only in the prescribed
72 Return of documents after proceedings concludedThe Chairperson may cause a document or any other object provided
to the Tribunal for the purposes of any proceedings before it to be returned
to the person by whom it was provided if:(a) the proceedings before the Tribunal have concluded,
(b) the time within which an appeal from the decision of the Tribunal
in the proceedings may be lodged (or the period of an extension of time for
lodging the appeal) has expired with no appeal being
73 Allowances and expenses of witnesses(1) A person who is required to appear or give evidence before the
Tribunal is entitled to be paid such allowances and expenses as are
ascertained in accordance with a scale of allowances and expenses prescribed
by the regulations.(2) Subject to subsection (3), the allowances and expenses are to be
paid by the party at whose request a witness is
summoned.(3) The Tribunal may order that the allowances and expenses of a
witness referred to in subsection (2) be paid wholly or partly by the State
out of money otherwise lawfully available.74 Proceedings for offencesProceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations are
sitting alone.75 Immunity of Tribunal members and othersA member of the Tribunal, in the exercise of the functions of a
member, and the Registrar and Deputy Registrars, in the exercise of
jurisdiction or functions conferred, imposed or delegated by or under this or
any other Act, have the same protections and immunities as a judge of the
District Court.76 Chairperson may furnish reportsThe Chairperson may on behalf of the Tribunal provide reports to
the Minister or to the Director-General of the Department of Fair Trading
concerning any matter the Chairperson considers to be of importance in
relation to the administration of this Act or in relation to the jurisdiction
of the Tribunal or any matter falling within its
jurisdiction.77 Regulations(1) The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act,
out or giving effect to this Act.(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the regulations
may provide for the following:(a) the initiation of proceedings in the Tribunal,
(b) the means for, and the practice and procedure to be followed in,
the enforcement and execution of decisions of the
(c) the joinder, by the Tribunal or by a party to proceedings, of
(d) the circumstances in which matters may be heard ex parte or in
which default judgments may be obtained,
(e) the payment of interest on money adjudged by the Tribunal to be
payable and which remains unpaid,
(f) the functions of the Registrar or other officers under this Act,
including functions in relation to proceedings instituted before the
(g) records of the Tribunal and its proceedings,
(h) mediation and neutral evaluation,
(i) the provision by the Tribunal of statistical information and of
(j) the form of any summons or warrant under this
(k) the fees payable in respect of an application to the Tribunal
(including the waiver or refund of any such fees).
exceeding 10 penalty units.78 FormsThe Minister may approve the form of any document to be used for
the purposes of this Act or the regulations and that is not otherwise required
or permitted to be prescribed under this Act.79 Repeal of Commercial Tribunal Act
1984 No 98The Commercial Tribunal Act 1984 is
repealed.80 Amendment of other ActsEach Act specified in Schedule 4 is amended as set out in that
Schedule.81 Savings, transitional and other provisionsSchedule 5 has effect.82 Review of Act(1) The Minister is to review this Act to determine whether the policy
period of 2 years from the commencement of section
6.(3) A report on the outcome of the review is to be tabled in each
years.Schedule 1 Provisions relating to members of
Tribunal(Section 9)1 DefinitionIn this Schedule, judicial office means the office
of:(a) Magistrate, or
(b) Judge of the District Court, or
(c) Judicial Member of the Industrial Relations Commission,
(d) Judge of the Land and Environment Court, or
(e) Judge of the Supreme Court.
2 Terms of appointmentSubject to this Act, a member of the Tribunal holds office for
such period (not exceeding 5 years) as is specified in the instrument of the
member’s appointment, but is eligible for
re-appointment.3 Full-time member may serve on part-time basis(1) The Governor may, at the request of a member appointed on a
or her time to the duties of the office of member, except during any period
referred to in subclause (1).(3) Despite subclause (2), a member of the Tribunal may:(a) hold, and exercise the functions of, a judicial office or another
with the consent of the Chairperson.4 Remuneration(1) A member of the Tribunal appointed on a full-time basis is, while
working on a full-time basis, entitled to be paid:(a) remuneration in accordance with the Statutory and Other Offices Remuneration Act
(2) A member of the Tribunal appointed on a part-time basis or working
on a part-time basis is entitled to be paid:(a) such remuneration as is determined by the Minister,
(3) A member of the Tribunal who is the holder of a judicial office is
not, while receiving remuneration as such an officer, entitled to remuneration
under this Act.5 Provisions where judicial officer is holding office as
Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or senior member(1) The appointment of a person who is the holder of a judicial office
as the Chairperson or as a Deputy Chairperson or senior member, or service by
a person who is the holder of a judicial office as Chairperson, Deputy
Chairperson or senior member, does not affect:(a) the person’s tenure of that judicial office,
(b) the person’s rank, title, status, remuneration or other
rights or privileges as the holder of that judicial
(2) The person’s service as Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or
senior member is, for all purposes, taken to be service as the holder of that
judicial office.6 Chairperson holding office on another tribunal(1) Nothing in any Act or other law operates to disqualify:(a) a state tribunal member from also being appointed and holding
office as Chairperson of the Tribunal, or
(b) the Chairperson of the Tribunal from also being appointed and
holding office as a state tribunal member.
(2) However, if the Chairperson of the Tribunal is appointed to or
holds office as a state tribunal member, the latter office is taken to be a
part-time office only despite any provision made by or under any Act or other
law:(a) requiring the holder of the office to devote the whole of his or
her time to the duties of that office, or
(3) If the Chairperson of the Tribunal also holds office as a state
tribunal member, the Chairperson is not entitled to any remuneration payable
in respect of that office by or under any Act. However, nothing in this clause
affects any other right of the Chairperson to remuneration that is conferred
or recognised by this Act.(4) In this clause, state tribunal member
means a member of any tribunal (other than the Tribunal) established by an Act
of the Parliament of New South Wales.7 Vacancy in office(1) The office of a member of the Tribunal becomes vacant if the
(h) is removed from office under this
(2) The Governor may remove a member of the Tribunal from office for
incapacity, incompetence or misbehaviour.8 Acting Chairperson(1) If the Chairperson is absent from duty, the most senior Deputy
Chairperson or senior member is to be Acting Chairperson unless the Minister
makes an appointment under subclause (2).(2) The Minister may appoint a Deputy Chairperson or senior member to
be Acting Chairperson during the absence of the Chairperson from
duty.(3) The Minister may make any appointment for a particular absence or
for any absence that occurs from time to time.(4) An Acting Chairperson has the functions of the Chairperson and
anything done by an Acting Chairperson in the exercise of those functions has
effect as if it had been done by the Chairperson.(5) In this clause, absence from duty includes
a vacancy in the office of Chairperson.9 Appointment of acting Deputy Chairperson or acting senior
member for a period(1) The Governor may appoint, as an acting Deputy Chairperson or
acting senior member of the Tribunal, a person qualified for appointment as
such if satisfied that the appointment is necessary to enable the Tribunal to
exercise its functions effectively during the period of the
appointment.(2) The person’s appointment is for the period (not exceeding 12
months) specified in the instrument of appointment.(3) An acting Deputy Chairperson or acting senior member has the
functions of, and is taken to be, Deputy Chairperson or senior member, as the
case may be, subject to any conditions or limitations specified in the
instrument of appointment.10 Seniority(1) The members of the Tribunal have seniority according to the
following order of precedence:(a) the Chairperson,
(b) Deputy Chairpersons and senior members, according to the days on
which their appointments took effect or, if the appointments of 2 or more of
them took effect on the same day, according to the precedence assigned to them
by their instruments of appointment,
(c) other members according to the days on which their appointments
(2) If a person is re-appointed under this Act, the person’s
seniority is to be determined as if there had been no break in the
person’s service.11 Leave(1) The entitlement of a member of the Tribunal to annual and other
leave is to be as stated in the instrument of the member’s
appointment.(2) A member may be granted leave:(a) in the case of the Chairperson—by the Minister,
(b) in any other case—by the
(3) This clause is subject to clause 4.12 Superannuation and leave—preservation of
member means a member of the Tribunal who, immediately before
holding that office, was a public servant or an officer or employee of a
public authority declared by an Act or proclamation to be an authority to
which this clause applies.superannuation
a member of the Tribunal.(3) Service by the eligible member as a member of the Tribunal is
taken to be service as an officer in his or her previous employment for the
conferred.(4) The eligible member is to be regarded as an officer or employee,
scheme.(5) This clause ceases to apply to the eligible member if he or she
superannuation scheme.(6) An eligible member retains any rights to annual leave, extended or
long service leave and sick leave accrued or accruing in his or her previous
employment.(7) An eligible member is not entitled to claim, under both this Act
and any other Act, dual benefits of the same kind for the same period of
service.13 Effect of other Acts(1) The Public Sector Management Act
1988 (except Part 8) does not apply to the appointment of a
member of the Tribunal and the member is not, as a member of the Tribunal,
subject to that Act.(2) If by or under any Act provision is made:(a) requiring a person who is the holder of a specified office to
office and also the office of a part-time member of the Tribunal or from
accepting and retaining any remuneration payable to the person under this Act
as a part-time member of the Tribunal.14 OathsThe Governor may require oaths to be taken by the Chairperson and
any Deputy Chairperson or senior member of the
Tribunal.Schedule 2 Provisions relating to assessors(Section 16)1 Terms of appointmentAn assessor is to be engaged on a contract basis in accordance
with section 19 (2), and an assessor’s entitlements in respect of
remuneration, allowances and other matters are as stipulated in the relevant
contract of employment.2 Lists of persons eligible for appointment as
assessors(1) The Chairperson may compile a list or lists of persons considered
by the Chairperson to be suitable to be appointed as
assessors.(2) Different lists may be compiled for different types of matters or
to take account of any other factors.(3) A person may be included in a list under this clause only if the
person consents to being included in the list.(4) The Chairperson may amend or cancel any list compiled under this
clause for any reason that the Chairperson considers
appropriate.(5) The Chairperson is to review at least annually any list compiled
under this clause.3 Protection and immunities of assessorAn assessor of the Tribunal has, in the performance of functions
performed as an assessor, the same protection and immunities as a Judge of the
District Court.4 Effect of certain other Acts(1) The provisions of the Public
Sector Management Act 1988 do not apply to or in respect of
the appointment of an assessor and an assessor is not, as an assessor, subject
to that Act.(2) If by or under any Act provision is made:(a) requiring a person who is the holder of a specified office to
that office and also from being engaged as an assessor or, subject to
subclause (3), from accepting and retaining any remuneration payable to the
person under this Act as an assessor.(3) Subclause (2) does not operate to authorise an officer of a court
to accept or retain any remuneration payable to the officer as an
assessor.Schedule 3 Provisions relating to mediators and neutral
evaluators(Section 53)1 Terms of appointmentA mediator or neutral evaluator is to be engaged on a contract
basis in accordance with section 19 (2), and his or her entitlements in
respect of remuneration, allowances and other matters are as stipulated in the
relevant contract of employment.2 Lists of persons eligible for appointment as mediators or
neutral evaluators(1) The Chairperson may compile a list or lists of persons considered
by the Chairperson to be suitable to be appointed as mediators or neutral
evaluators.(2) Different lists may be compiled for different types of matters or
under this clause.3 Exoneration from liability for listed mediators and neutral
evaluatorsNo matter or thing done or omitted to be done by a mediator or
neutral evaluator subjects the mediator or neutral evaluator to any action,
liability, claim or demand if:(a) the matter or thing was done or omitted in good faith for the
purposes of a mediation session or neutral evaluation session under this Act,
(b) when the subject-matter of the mediation or neutral evaluation was
referred for mediation or neutral evaluation, the mediator’s or neutral
evaluator’s name was included in a list compiled under this
4 Effect of certain other Acts(1) The provisions of the Public
the appointment of a mediator or neutral evaluator and a mediator or neutral
evaluator is not, as a mediator or neutral evaluator, subject to that
Act.(2) If by or under any Act provision is made:(a) requiring a person who is the holder of a specified office to
that office and also from being engaged under this Act as a mediator or
neutral evaluator or, subject to subclause (3), from accepting and retaining
any remuneration payable to the person under this Act as a mediator or neutral
evaluator so engaged.(3) Subclause (2) does not operate to authorise an officer of a court
to accept or retain any remuneration payable to the officer as a mediator or
neutral evaluator.Schedule 4 (Repealed)Schedule 5 Savings, transitional and other
provisions(Section 81)Part 1 General1 Regulations(1) The regulations may contain provisions of a savings or
Acts:this Actthe Home Building Legislation
Amendment Act 2001, but only to the extent to which it amends
bodies means the following:(a) the Commercial Tribunal constituted under the
Commercial Tribunal Act
(b) a disputes committee constituted under section 34 of the Motor Dealers Act
(c) the Motor Vehicle Repairs Disputes Committee constituted under the
Motor Vehicle Repairs Act
3 Commercial Tribunal(1) On and from 1 March 1999:(a) no application may be made to bring any matter before a former
(b) a former body continues to exist, and any person holding office as
a member of the body concerned immediately before that date continues to hold
office as such, only for the purpose of the exercise by the body concerned of
its functions under clause 5.
(2) A former body is abolished:(a) when the last of its members ceases, in accordance with a notice
under clause 4, to hold office, or
(b) on 1 November 1999,
whichever is earlier.4 Members of former bodies(1) On a date on which notice is served on a member of a former body
by the Director-General, the member ceases to hold office as a member of that
body.(2) A member served with such notice is not entitled to any
compensation by reason of ceasing to hold office as a member of the body
concerned, but is eligible (if otherwise qualified) to be appointed as a
member of the Fair Trading Tribunal.4A Appeals concerning BSC insurance decisions(1) The Tribunal has the jurisdiction that the Commercial Tribunal
validly exercised.5 Pending proceedings(1) Proceedings before a former body that:(a) were instituted before 1 March 1999, and
(b) have not been finally determined by the former body before that
may be continued and determined as if this Act had not been enacted, and
for that purpose the provisions of any Act, statutory rule or other law that
would have applied to or in respect of the proceedings had this Act not been
enacted continue to apply.(1A) Subclause (1) ceases to have effect on 1 November
1999.(2) An order made under another Act by a former body, being an
order:(a) having effect immediately before 1 March 1999,
(b) made after that date in order to determine proceedings under this
is taken to be an order made by the Tribunal under the corresponding
provision of this Act and may be enforced
accordingly.5A Pending proceedings after 1 November 1999(1) If proceedings were instituted before 1 March 1999 but had not
commenced to be heard by a former body before 1 November 1999, the proceedings
are taken to have been duly instituted in the Tribunal (as constituted, or
reconstituted, in accordance with section 13 of this
Act).(2) If a former body had commenced to hear (but had not finally
determined) a matter before 1 November 1999, the Tribunal (as constituted, or
reconstituted, in accordance with section 13 of this Act) is to continue to
hear and determine the matter.(3) For the purposes of subclauses (1) and (2):(a) the Tribunal has and may exercise all the functions that the
former body had immediately before its abolition, and
(b) the provisions of any Act, statutory rule or other law that would
have applied to or in respect of the proceedings had this Act not been enacted
(4) For the purposes of proceedings heard under subclause (2), the
Tribunal may have regard to any record of the proceedings before the relevant
former body, including a record of any evidence taken in the
proceedings.6 References to former bodiesA reference in another Act, in an instrument made under an Act or
in any other document to any of the former bodies is to be read as a reference
to the Fair Trading Tribunal.7 Transfer of jurisdiction to Administrative Decisions
TribunalOn and from the commencement of section 11 of the Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act
1997, the jurisdiction of the Tribunal is vested in the
Administrative Decisions Tribunal.Part 3 Provisions consequent on enactment of Home Building Legislation Amendment Act
20018 Provisions consequent on enactment of Home Building Legislation Amendment Act
2001(1) Section 18A does not apply to proceedings in relation to which an
application had been made before the commencement of the
section.(2) Section 39A extends to proceedings in relation to which an
section.Historical notesThe following abbreviations are used in the Historical notes:
Am amended LW legislation website Sch Schedule Cl clause No number Schs Schedules Cll clauses p page Sec section Div Division pp pages Secs sections Divs Divisions Reg Regulation Subdiv Subdivision GG Government Gazette Regs Regulations Subdivs Subdivisions Ins inserted Rep repealed Subst substituted Table of amending instrumentsFair Trading Tribunal Act
1998 No 161. Assented to 14.12.1998. Date of commencement, Sch
4.10 and cl 7 of Sch 5 excepted, 1.3.1999, sec 2 and GG No 25 of 26.2.1999, p
972; Sch 4.10 was not commenced and was repealed by the Retail Leases Amendment Act 1998 No
169; date of commencement of cl 7 of Sch 5: not in force. This Act
1998No 169Retail Leases Amendment Act
1998. Assented to 14.12.1998.Date of commencement of Sch 2.2, 1.3.1999, sec 2 and GG No 25 of
26.2.1999, p 978.
Provisions) Act 1999. Assented to 7.7.1999.Date of commencement of Sch 1.13, assent, sec 2
Provisions) Act (No 2) 1999. Assented to 3.12.1999.Date of commencement of Sch 1.12, assent, sec 2
Provisions) Act 2000. Assented to 29.6.2000.Date of commencement of Sch 1.7, assent, sec 2
2001No 51Home Building Legislation
Amendment Act 2001. Assented to 17.7.2001.Date of commencement of Sch 10, 30.11.2001, sec 2 and GG No 180 of
23.11.2001, p 9337.
Provisions) Act 2001. Assented to 17.7.2001.Date of commencement of Sch 1.4, assent, sec 2 (2); date of commencement
Sec 6, noteAm 1999 No 31, Sch 1.13 [1].Sec 12Am 1999 No 31, Sch 1.13 [2].Sec 18AIns 2001 No 51, Sch 10 [1].Sec 37Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.7 [1].Sec 39AIns 2001 No 51, Sch 10 [2].Sec 46Am 2001 No 56, Sch 1.4.Sch 1Am 1999 No 94, sec 7 (3) and Sch 5, Part 3; 2000 No
53, Sch 1.7 [2].Sch 4Am 1998 No 169, Sch 2.2; 1999 No 31, Sch 1.13 [3]
[4]. Rep 2001 No 56, Sch 4.Sch 5Am 1999 No 31, Sch 1.13 [5]–[7]; 1999 No 85,
Sch 1.12 [1]–[4]; 2001 No 51, Sch 10 [3]–[5].