GUYRA-based member of the NSW Legislative Council Scot MacDonald is claiming something of a personal victory and a win for Armidale as a new “super tribunal” takes effect this week.
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He sat on an upper house inquiry into consolidating a range of state tribunals and was pleased when the government adopted its recommendations.
There is now one tribunal instead of 22 and it aims to provide a simple, quick and effective process for resolving disputes, supervising occupations and reviewing executive action.
The senate committee based its model on the one used in Victoria.
“We followed their template really,” Mr MacDonald said. “But as regional members we wanted it on the condition people in regional areas had to have access at an affordable price.”
Armidale’s McCarthy Building on Faulkner Street houses NSW Fair Trading and this office will now be an access point for the consumer and commercial division of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
“It’s a good thing for Armidale to have an easy access point,” Mr MacDonald said. “I think it’s important. I’m chuffed to get the outcome we asked for and that regional towns like Armidale aren’t left out.”
The office will not deal with all divisions of the tribunal but Mr MacDonald said consumer and commercial issues account for “70 or 80 per cent” of the work done by the state’s tribunals.
People will also be able to take matters of agricultural tenancy to the Armidale office.
