Fair Trading Minister Linda Burney announced from today appeals against Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal (CTTT) decisions will be heard in the District Court and no longer in the Supreme Court.

Ms Burney said grounds for appeals against Tribunal decisions had not changed and could still be made only where a party was dissatisfied with a Tribunal decision on a question of law.

“This change will enable cheaper and faster appeals against decisions of the Tribunal,” she said.  

“Until today, all appeals to Tribunal decisions have been heard in the Supreme Court, which usually deals with disputes involving large amounts of money or proceedings involving difficult questions of law.

“The District Court deals with less complex disputes and proceedings involving claims of under $750,000, so it is a more appropriate venue to hear appeals about Tribunal decisions.

“The District Court can still transfer proceedings to the Supreme Court if important questions of law or public interest arise.

“To minimise any potential delays or disruption to matters that are already underway, any appeals already lodged in the Supreme Court that have been allocated a hearing date will be heard by the Supreme Court.

“Any appeals that have not yet been allocated a hearing date will be transferred to the District Court and the Court will advise the parties accordingly.”

The change formed part of a package of reforms contained in the Courts and Crimes Legislation Amendment Act 2008 passed by the NSW Parliament on 25 June 2008.

The change of jurisdiction to the District Court complements a range of other reforms to the Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal Act passed by Parliament on 24 June 2008, including:

• the establishment of a Professional Practice and Review Committee to advise on member training, complaints and performance management
• creation of a new Social Housing Division 
• enhanced qualification requirements for Tribunal members 
• other miscellaneous reforms to further streamline the Tribunal’s administrative procedures and allow it to provide better and faster services to the parties in dispute.

The Tribunal was set up in 2002 to provide an accessible and affordable dispute resolution forum for tenants, landlords, traders and consumers. Visit www.cttt.nsw.gov.au for more information.

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