The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) have made minor amendments to QCAT Practice Directions No. 4 and 5 of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 emergency.

QCAT Practice No. 4 of 2020

A minor amendment has been made to QCAT Practice Direction No. 4 of 2020 – COVID-19 Arrangements for QCAT matters (other than Guardianship and Urgent MCD Tenancy matters) from Monday, 30 March 2020.

This amendment reflects that: “Any other hearing (including appeal) which has been listed to be heard at 259 Queen Street, Brisbane on any date between 6 April 2020 and 31 July 2020 shall be adjourned to be fixed.”

QCAT Practice Direction No. 5 of 2020

A further two minor amendments have been made to QCAT Practice Direction No. 5 of 2020.

This direction relates to arrangements for non-urgent minor civil dispute hearings and has been amended at [6] and [8].

In the first amendment, where an applicant has received the Hearing Advice, an applicant has 14 days to either file any further evidence to the Tribunal while informing the Tribunal by email of the date on which the documents were given to the respondent, or inform the Tribunal that they have no additional evidence to give to the hearing.

The second amendment relates to respondents filing a counter-application against the applicant. Within 14-days receiving the respondent’s documents and submissions, the applicant must file any further evidence they wish to submit along with an email of the date these documents were given to the respondent, or inform the tribunal that they have no further evidence to submit.

These amendments are in effect as of 15 May 2020.

A full list of the amended QCAT Practice Directions can be found here: https://www.qcat.qld.gov.au/about-qcat/covid-19

Source: QCAT | Updates to QCAT Practice Directions

19 May 2020