Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 6 Hansard (23 May) . . Page.. 1774 ..

3

groups, such as those already mentioned above, should go elsewhere. To that end, to call the Tribunal the Consumer and Small Claims Tribunal, would give a false impression that the change is only orientated towards individuals in their capacity as consumers, when it is intended that the Tribunal benefit the whole ACT community.

Additionally, for many people the word "Court" conjures up images of traditional courts and legalistic procedures. Therefore, I believe, it is important for this body to be known as a Tribunal. Referring to a Court can often create a "mind set" which discourages people from using the Small Claims Court to resolve disputes. This point was made by consumer groups when it was proposed that the word Tribunal should replace the word Court. I would expect that this change will encourage members of the ACT community to feel less inhibited in taking action and asserting their rights in the small claims jurisdiction of the Tribunal.

Mr Speaker, I would now like to turn to discuss a number of reforms to the small claims jurisdiction that will increase the powers and improve the procedures of the Tribunal.

It is important that the resolution of matters be expedited as much as possible. To that end, the Bill will enable a legally qualified member of the Tribunal's staff or of a court, to be appointed as a Referee to the Tribunal. The Referee will determine matters that are less than $1,000. A decision of the Referee will be final, subject to a right of appeal on the same basis as other Tribunal decisions. I know of no

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .