Community Disputes Resolution Act 2015 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 3 · Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals
17. Jurisdiction of tribunal
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A tribunal has jurisdiction only —
tribunal
“Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal” or “tribunal” means a District Court designated under section 14 as a Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal;
to hear and determine any action on a claim under section 4, whether the action was brought by a claimant or initiated pursuant to the Director-General’s application under section 17A; and
to exercise any function or make any order a court or a tribunal may make under this Act.
Where an action brought by a claimant includes a claim or matter which is not within the tribunal’s jurisdiction under subsection (1) (called in this section the non‑relevant claim), the tribunal must dismiss the action in its entirety if —
the claimant does not first withdraw, discontinue or abandon the non‑relevant claim; or
an application under section 20 is not first made to transfer the whole proceedings or the proceedings on the non‑relevant claim.
Except where this Act expressly provides otherwise, the tribunal’s jurisdiction does not extend to a claim under section 4 —
which exceeds the prescribed limit; or
which is brought more than 2 years after the cause of action has accrued.
Where the amount of a claim exceeds the prescribed limit, the claimant may abandon the excess amount and thereafter —
the amount of the claim is deemed to be within the prescribed limit;
the tribunal has jurisdiction to hear and determine the claim;
the claimant may not obtain in the claim any remedy or relief, in respect of the action, the value of which exceeds the prescribed limit; and
an order of the tribunal in relation to the claim will be in full discharge of all demands in respect of the claim.
The prescribed limit, in relation to the jurisdiction of the tribunal, is $20,000 or such other amount as the Minister may, after consultation with the Chief Justice, substitute by order in the Gazette.