The Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Additional Jurisdictions) Bill 2024 has been tabled in Parliament today.
The Bill includes transferring jurisdiction to TASCAT from the Property Agents Tribunal and making various miscellaneous amendments to improve TASCAT's procedures and create greater consistency.
The Bill's reforms also transfers jurisdiction for a range of administrative appeals from the Magistrates Court to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Guy Barnett, said that under the 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, the Government is continuing to modernise Tasmania's justice system.
"The Administrative Appeals Division of the Magistrates Court was established by legislation in 2001, when Tasmania did not have a single civil and administrative tribunal to hear reviews of administrative decisions," the Attorney-General said.
"Now that the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has been in operation for a number of years, it is sensible for these reviews to be transferred to the Tribunal's jurisdiction, as is the practice in the rest of Australia.
"The Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal plays a vital role in our justice system and present an avenue for Tasmanians to seek justice.
"By cutting red tape and better streamlining their processes we can make their functioning even more efficient, allowing them to assist more Tasmanians.
"Furthermore, the Bill includes a legislative response to recommendation 18.13 of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government's Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings.
"I want to thank you all stakeholders and interested community members who contributed their feedback on the draft Bill during the public consultation period."
A fact sheet on the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Additional Jurisdictions) Bill 2024 is available on the Parliament website.
