Queensland Consolidated Acts

QUEENSLAND CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL ACT 2009 - SECT 29

29 Ensuring proper understanding and regard

(1) The tribunal must take all reasonable steps to—

(a) ensure each party to a proceeding understands—

(i) the practices and procedures of the tribunal; and

(ii) the nature of assertions made in the proceeding and the legal implications of the assertions; and

(iii) any decision of the tribunal relating to the proceeding; and

(b) understand the actions, expressed views and assertions of a party to or witness in the proceeding, having regard to the party’s or witness’s age, any disability, and cultural, religious and socioeconomic background; and

(c) ensure proceedings are conducted in a way that recognises and is responsive to—

(i) cultural diversity, Aboriginal tradition and Island custom, including the needs of a party to or witness in the proceeding who is from another culture or linguistic background or is an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander; and

(ii) the needs of a party to, or witness in, the proceeding who is a child or a person with impaired capacity or a physical disability.

(2) The steps that can be taken for ensuring a person understands something mentioned in subsection (1) (a) include, for example—

(a) explaining the matters to the person; or

(b) having an interpreter or other person able to communicate effectively with the person give the explanation; or

(c) supplying an explanatory note in English or another language.