Should the Disputes Tribunal's financial jurisdiction be increased from $30,000 to $60,000?
The bill amends the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988 to double the maximum value of claims the Disputes Tribunal can hear, from $30,000 to $60,000. A new filing fee applies to claims above $30,000.
MPs’ arguments for and against the bill
Why support it
Supporters argued the change closes a "justice gap" by giving people with claims between $30,000 and $60,000 an affordable forum, since taking such claims to the District Court is uneconomic due to legal and court costs.
Supporters said the tribunal is quicker and cheaper than a court, with one of the fastest disposal rates, and that shifting higher-value claims to it could relieve pressure on the District Court system.
Supporters argued it would empower small businesses and individuals to pursue disputes they might otherwise abandon, and keeps pace with rising claim values over time.
Why oppose it
Critics said the tribunal's informality is harder to justify at $60,000, noting referees are not required to be legally qualified, are not bound to apply strict law, and decisions can only be appealed for procedural unfairness rather than legal error.
Critics noted the proposed $468 filing fee exceeds the $260 cost of filing a much larger claim in the District Court, calling it a mismatch.
Critics said the Disputes Tribunal, unlike the courts, offers no hardship waiver of the filing fee, which could be a barrier for people unable to afford it.
These are claims MPs made in Parliament’s debate — not verified facts.
Full bill summary & link to official bill page
The Disputes Tribunal is a low-cost, informal forum where people resolve everyday civil disputes — such as faulty goods, unpaid bills or minor property damage — without lawyers, with cases decided by a referee rather than a judge. This bill amends the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988 to double the maximum value of claim the Tribunal can hear, from $30,000 to $60,000, so larger disputes can be settled cheaply and quickly instead of having to go to the District Court. A new filing fee applies to claims above $30,000.
It is a Government bill advanced by the Ministry of Justice; the previous limit had stood since 2009 and no longer reflected inflation. Supporters argue it widens affordable access to justice, eases pressure on congested courts, and lets ordinary people pursue moderate claims without costly legal representation. Critics note the Tribunal operates without formal rules of evidence or lawyers, so deciding higher-value disputes this way may reduce procedural safeguards and consistency compared with a court hearing before a judge.