The Small Claims Division was established in 1985 to deal with minor claims and at June 2002 has a jurisdiction of up to $3,000.
The primary function of the magistrate hearing the claim is to attempt to bring the parties in a dispute to an acceptable settlement. If the magistrate cannot do so, he or she may determine the matter in dispute. Proceedings in this jurisdiction are private, straightforward and informal. Legal practitioners are excluded as a general rule, and the Magistrate may proceed without the formal rules of evidence.
There were 991 small claims filed during 2000-01, a decrease of 31.8% on 1995-96.
SMALL CLAIMS, ACTIVITIES, Tasmania
|
 | Claims filed |
| |
| Years | no. |
|
| 1995-96 | 752 |
| 1996-97 | 798 |
| 1997-98 | 803 |
| 1998-99 | 977 |
| 1999-2000 | 1,104 |
| 2000-01 | 991 |
Source: Department of Justice and Industrial Relations and Magistrates, Annual Reports. |
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