About the tribunals
The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) will amalgamate more than 15 of Queensland's existing tribunals into one, to provide a single gateway and increase the community's access to justice. The tribunal will commence operations on 1 December 2009.
When Government decided to establish the amalgamated Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, it also established a new policy to prevent any unnecessary increase in the number of separate review bodies being established. The policy guides decisions about whether a government decision should be subject to review, and if so, whether the review process should be internal and/or external. If the review is to be an external process, agencies must first consider conferring jurisdiction on the QCAT. Download the Administrative Review Policy.
Information about other tribunals in Queensland, including those that will be amalgamated into QCAT as of 1 December 2009, are detailed below.
The Anti-Discrimination Tribunal hears complaints of discrimination which have been referred to it by Queensland's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner. This tribunal will amalgamate into the new Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal from 1 December 2009.
The Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management is part of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. It provides dispute resolution and information services to the community titles sector which includes high rise apartment buildings, townhouse complexes, shopping complexes and business parks.
The Children Services Tribunal looks into government decisions about children and young people in the care of the Department of Communities (Child Safety). It gives you the right to have your say on these decisions in an informal and less structured way than a court. This tribunal will amalgamate into the new Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal from 1 December 2009.
The Commercial and Consumer Tribunal is part of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. It provides dispute resolution services for a wide range of industry groups and consumers including architects, body corporate and community management, builders, building and construction industry adjudicators, building certifiers, disability services, engineers, liquor and wine licensees, lotteries, manufactured home owners, motor dealers, property agents, plumbers and drainers, residential services providers, retirement village residents and tourism service providers. This tribunal will amalgamate into the new Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal from 1 December 2009.
The Guardianship and Administration Tribunal has the authority to appoint guardians and administrators for adults with impaired decision-making capacity. This tribunal will amalgamate into the new Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal from 1 December 2009.
The Land and Resources Tribunal deals with disputes about proposed resource development and other land management issues. The tribunal merged with the Land Court on 21 September 2007. All matters have been transferred to the Land Court, except for applications lodged under the Mineral Resources Act 1989 by 31 March 2003 to which native title (mining) provisions apply.
The Misconduct Tribunal can be established under Queensland law to hear and decide charges of a disciplinary nature of official misconduct against members of the police service and public service and appeals from particular decisions about charges of a disciplinary nature made against members of the police service and public service. This tribunal will amalgamate into the new Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal from 1 December 2009.
The Retail Shop Leases Registry and Tribunal is part of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. It administers the Retail Shop Leases Act 1994 which outlines the basic rules on which retail shop leases are drawn. The Act also provides for the resolution of retail tenancy disputes through mediation and tribunal hearing processes. This tribunal will amalgamate into the new Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal from 1 December 2009.
The Small Claims Tribunal deals with disputes between such people as consumers and tradespeople, landlords and tenants, or private individuals. This tribunal will amalgamate into the new Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal from 1 December 2009.
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