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Courts

The court system in Tasmania is a two-tiered structure, consisting of:

• the Supreme Court; and
• the Magistrates Court.

The courts deal with criminal matters and civil disputes.

At the top of the court/tribunal pyramid sits the Supreme Court. Except in matters excluded from it by specific legislation, the Supreme Court has unlimited jurisdiction in civil matters under Tasmanian law and exclusive jurisdiction in criminal matters under Tasmanian law. It also has jurisdiction, although not exclusive, to deal with criminal matters and some civil matters arising under federal law.

The Magistrates Courts sit at numerous locations throughout the State and deal with:

• civil law cases involving amounts of up to $20,000;
• summary offences (offences for which the defendant does not have the option of trial by jury); and
• preliminary and committal hearings in criminal cases which eventually come before the Supreme Court.

 The Commonwealth judiciary may also have the power to review decisions by a state judiciary.

Tribunals

Tribunals are bodies established to adjudicate disputes in specific areas and in Tasmania include:

• the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal;
• the Mental Health Tribunal;
• the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal; and
• the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Tribunal.