Small Claims Tribunals for Consumer Disputes in Australia by State

Australia has no single national consumer tribunal; each state and territory runs its own forum, with its own monetary limit and filing fees, and using the wrong one can waste a filing fee and delay a dispute.

This article summarises where a consumer can take an unresolved dispute in each Australian state and territory, current as at 21 July 2026. Monetary limits and fees change periodically; always confirm the current figures with the tribunal or court directly before filing. Where a cell below is left blank, it means the detail could not be independently confirmed against a primary source at the time of writing, not that no forum exists.

Start with the business, then the regulator, before a tribunal

A tribunal or court claim is generally a last resort. Most jurisdictions expect a consumer to have raised the problem directly with the business first, and often to have contacted the relevant state or territory consumer affairs regulator, before filing. See who to complain to about a consumer problem for that escalation path. The rest of this article assumes direct contact with the business has not resolved the dispute.

Confirmed forums, limits and fees by jurisdiction

Queensland: QCAT

In Queensland, a consumer claim against a business is generally heard in QCAT's Minor Civil Dispute jurisdiction, which covers claims up to $25,000. QCAT publishes a tiered filing fee schedule; for FY2026-27, the fee is $119 for a claim with no monetary amount specified, $96.30 for a claim up to $1,000, $164.30 for a claim between $1,000 and $10,000, and $405.60 for a claim over $10,000. QCAT can also make orders under the Fair Trading Act 1989 (Qld) and the ACL directly, including for the return of goods or payment of money.

Northern Territory: NTCAT

The Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT) hears consumer and trader disputes under its general civil jurisdiction, capped at $25,000. NTCAT's fees, confirmed as current at 1 July 2026, are tiered by claim size and by whether the applicant is an individual or a corporation: $129 (individual) or $160 (corporation) for a claim under $2,000; $259 or $324 for a claim between $2,000 and $10,000; and $518 or $648 for a claim over $10,000.

New South Wales: NCAT

New South Wales does not use a Magistrates or Local Court for most consumer disputes; it uses the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), through its Consumer and Commercial Division. NCAT's own published guidance on consumer claims states it can hear and decide a consumer claim dispute up to the value of $100,000, and can order payment of money, the fixing or replacing of faulty goods, or a refund with the goods returned. Applications must generally be made within 3 years of the problem arising, and the goods or services must have been supplied within the preceding 10 years. NCAT's FY2026-27 fees are tiered: $64 for an individual, $128 for a corporation, or $16 for a concession card holder, for a claim up to $10,000; $133, $266 or $33 respectively for a claim between $10,000 and $30,000; and $344, $688 or $86 respectively for a claim over $30,000.

Western Australia: the Magistrates Court, not SAT

Western Australia is a notable exception to the tribunal model used elsewhere. Consumer and trader disputes in WA are not heard by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT); they are heard by the Magistrates Court of Western Australia. The Magistrates Court's own published civil jurisdiction covers a Minor Case stream for claims up to $10,000, and a General Procedure stream for claims up to $75,000, alongside its separate jurisdiction for residential tenancy disputes up to $10,000 and recovery of real property up to a gross rental value of $75,000. A consumer confusing WA's forum with the tribunal model used in Queensland, NSW or the Northern Territory risks filing in the wrong place entirely.

Victoria: VCAT

Victoria hears consumer goods and services disputes through VCAT's Civil Claims List. VCAT's fees are set under the VCAT (Fees) Regulations 2026, applying a tiered schedule by claim size, but the exact current dollar amounts could not be independently confirmed for this guide at the time of writing. A consumer filing in VCAT should check VCAT's current published fees directly before applying, rather than relying on a figure from any secondary source.

South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT: not stated here

For South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, this guide deliberately does not state a specific tribunal, court or monetary limit. Consumer claims in these jurisdictions are handled through a court or tribunal system distinct from Queensland, the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria, but the exact current forum and monetary limit could not be independently confirmed against a primary government source at the time of writing. Stating an unverified forum or limit risks sending a reader to the wrong venue, so consumers in these three jurisdictions should contact the relevant regulator listed below directly, or their local courts registry, for current guidance before filing a claim.

This page provides general legal information about small claims and tribunal jurisdiction under the Australian Consumer Law, verified 21 July 2026. It is not legal advice about your own purchase or dispute. For advice on your situation, consult a legal practitioner admitted in the relevant Australian state or territory.

See who to complain to about a consumer problem for the steps to take before filing a tribunal claim, and faulty goods and your right to a refund for the underlying remedy rules a tribunal will apply. Return to the Australian Consumer Law hub for the full picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there one national small claims tribunal for consumer disputes in Australia?

No. Each state and territory runs its own forum for consumer disputes, with its own monetary limit, fee schedule and, in some cases, a court rather than a tribunal. There is no single Commonwealth consumer tribunal.

Does Western Australia use SAT for consumer claims?

No. Consumer and trader disputes in Western Australia are heard by the Magistrates Court of Western Australia, not the State Administrative Tribunal. The Magistrates Court hears Minor Case claims up to $10,000 and General Procedure claims up to $75,000.

What is NCAT's monetary limit for a consumer claim in NSW?

NCAT's own published guidance states it can hear and decide a consumer claim dispute up to the value of $100,000, through its Consumer and Commercial Division.

What tribunal hears consumer disputes in Queensland?

QCAT hears consumer disputes in its Minor Civil Dispute jurisdiction, capped at $25,000, with filing fees for FY2026-27 tiered from $96.30 up to $405.60 depending on the claim amount.

Why doesn't this guide give a forum or dollar limit for South Australia, Tasmania or the ACT?

Because those figures could not be independently confirmed against a primary government source at the time of writing. Rather than risk sending a reader to the wrong forum or an outdated limit, this guide leaves those cells blank and recommends contacting the relevant state or territory regulator directly.

Do I have to contact the business before going to a tribunal?

Most tribunals expect, and some formally require, that a consumer has tried to resolve the dispute directly with the business, and often with the relevant state or territory regulator, before filing an application.