Last updated · Reviewed by the Claim Done team · Not legal advice
QCAT vs NCAT vs VCAT — Which Tribunal Do You Need?
Australia has a civil and administrative tribunal in every state and territory. They are designed to handle disputes without the cost and formality of going to court. Which tribunal you use usually depends on where the dispute arose. If you and the other party live in different states, a state tribunal may not be able to hear the claim, and it may need to go to a court.
Australian tribunal comparison
| Tribunal | State | Civil claim limit | Approx. filing fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAT (NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal) | New South Wales | $100,000 (consumer claims; business and private debts go to the Local Court) | $64 – $344 |
| VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) | Victoria | No cap stated (small claim $15,000 or less) | $67.40 – $673.50 |
| QCAT (Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal) | Queensland | $25,000 | $96.30 – $405.60 |
| Magistrates Court (SAT does not hear consumer or debt claims) | Western Australia | $10,000 (minor case); $75,000 (consumer/trader) | $199.50 – $797 (individual) |
| Magistrates Court (SACAT hears tenancy, not consumer or debt claims) | South Australia | $12,000 (minor civil); $100,000 (general) | $186 (minor civil action) |
| ACAT (ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal) | Australian Capital Territory | $25,000 | $93 – $707 |
| NTCAT (NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal) | Northern Territory | $25,000 | See NTCAT's fees page |
NCAT — New South Wales
NCAT’s Consumer and Commercial Division hears consumer claims up to $100,000. A business or private debt goes to the Local Court instead (Small Claims Division up to $20,000). A lawyer or agent needs NCAT’s permission (leave). Most hearings for smaller claims are conducted by phone or video conference. NCAT also handles tenancy disputes, building matters and professional conduct complaints.
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VCAT — Victoria
VCAT hears disputes about goods and services you bought or sold in its Civil Claims List; its pages state no upper cap, and a small claim is $15,000 or less. For a goods and services claim under $15,000 you generally cannot have a lawyer. VCAT is frequently used for retail tenancy, building, and veterinary complaints.
QCAT — Queensland
QCAT’s Minor Civil Disputes division handles claims up to $25,000. Parties are generally self-represented. QCAT also handles tenancy matters, consumer disputes, and anti-discrimination complaints. Hearings are increasingly conducted online, which is convenient for regional applicants.
Do you need a lawyer at a tribunal?
No — and in most divisions, legal representation is actually restricted. Australian civil and administrative tribunals are specifically designed to be accessible without legal representation. The hearing process is informal, and the tribunal member (not a judge) assists both parties to present their case.
What to prepare for a tribunal application
- Application form — specific to your state’s tribunal
- Evidence bundle — invoices, contracts, photos, correspondence
- Witness statement — your first-person account of events
- Your letter of demand — if you sent one, it shows you tried to resolve the dispute first
Claim Done prepares everything — $97
Claim Done’s Programmatic Algorithms draft your claim to match your state tribunal’s application form, for you to check and copy into it or attach, with a witness statement drafted from your account (in New South Wales, an outline you complete in your own words, as NCAT Procedural Direction 7 requires). Start your application — $97.
Filing fees and waiting times
Fees change every 1 July and waiting times vary by tribunal. For the 2026-27 fees and each step, see our NCAT, VCAT, QCAT, ACAT, Western Australia and South Australia pages, each checked against the official sites.
Can I use a different state’s tribunal?
No. You generally file in the state or territory where the dispute arose, for example where the contract was made or performed. You cannot choose a more convenient state. If you and the other party live in different states, a state tribunal may not be able to hear the claim, and a court is the usual route. Claim Done’s chat asks where you both are and tells you if your claim may need to go to a court.
Complete tribunal application package — all states — from $97
What changes when your case is properly prepared
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can I have a Tribunal Application drafted for me instead of writing it myself?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) drafts a Tribunal Application from the answers you give about your situation for a flat $97 AUD. You read and confirm the draft, then the final PDF is emailed to you. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=tribunal-application. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a Tribunal Application cost, and how long does it take?
$97 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. It covers every Australian state and territory.
Does Claim Done lodge the application with the tribunal or court?
No. Claim Done drafts the documents; you lodge them yourself and pay the tribunal's or court's own filing fee directly to it. The draft names the right tribunal or court and Act for your state.
What does Claim Done do that a free tribunal application template doesn't?
It sets out your claim to match your state's tribunal or court application (for a New South Wales debt, a Local Court statement of claim) under the right Act, with a witness statement drafted from your account (in New South Wales, the outline NCAT requires) and the documents you mention referred to as numbered exhibits. You read every word, change it or ask for a redraft (two are included), then lodge it yourself.