All parties involved in a matter before QCAT are expected to appear and represent themselves. If you are a party to a dispute you are required to attend and participate in proceedings unless QCAT directs otherwise. There are some exceptions if a party is an entity or there are joint applicants.
What if a party is an entity?
State government agencies, corporations or other entities (for example associations, partnerships and trusts), cannot physically appear before QCAT, so they need a person to appear for them. There are special rules about who can appear for these entities.
State government agencies may appear at QCAT through an employee, officer or member of the agency. State government agencies do not need permission from QCAT for these people to appear for them.
Corporations and other entities (for example, associations, partnerships and trusts) may appear at QCAT through an officer of the entity, who the corporation or entity authorises to act for it in the proceeding. An officer of the corporation or entity includes an employee of the corporation or entity. Corporations and other entities do not need permission from QCAT for these people to appear for them.
For example, the entity does not need QCAT’s permission for that officer to appear for them, if all the officers of a corporation or another entity are solicitors.
The entity does not need to get QCAT’s permission for that officer to appear for the entity, if an officer who is also a solicitor has already been given permission to represent the entity.
In all cases, whoever appears is not representing or acting on behalf of the party – they are appearing as the party.
*Disclaimer – The above information was taken from the Queensland Civil & Administrative website as accurate in January 2023. If any changes are made by the court from that date they may not be reflected in this post.
