{"id":"motor-accidents-compensation-appeal-tribunal-rules-1986","name":"MOTOR ACCIDENTS (COMPENSATION) APPEAL TRIBUNAL RULES 1986","slug":"motor-accidents-compensation-appeal-tribunal-rules-1986","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":177018,"registerId":"nt-motor-accidents-compensation-appeal-tribunal-rules-1986-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"MOTOR ACCIDENTS (COMPENSATION) APPEAL TRIBUNAL RULES 1986","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nMOTOR ACCIDENTS (COMPENSATION) APPEAL TRIBUNAL\nRULES 1986\nAs in force at 22 November 2017\nTable of provisions\n1 Citation ............................................................................................ 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\n4 Procedural ....................................................................................... 1\n4A Powers of Associate Judge ............................................................. 2\n5 Institution of reference to Tribunal ................................................... 2\n6 Answer............................................................................................. 2\n7 Mention before Tribunal ................................................................... 3\n8 Evidence by affidavit ........................................................................ 4\n9 Subpoenas ...................................................................................... 4\n11 Costs ............................................................................................... 5\n12 Rules of evidence ............................................................................ 5\n13 Administration of oath ...................................................................... 5\n14 Enforcement of orders ..................................................................... 5\n15 Issue of practice directions .............................................................. 6\n16 Approved forms ............................................................................... 6\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 22 November 2017\n____________________\nMOTOR ACCIDENTS (COMPENSATION) APPEAL TRIBUNAL\nRULES 1986\nRules under the Motor Accidents (Compensation) Act 1979\n1 Citation\nThese Rules may be cited as the Motor Accidents (Compensation)\nAppeal Tribunal Rules 1986.\n2 Commencement\nThese Rules shall come into operation at the expiration of 14 days\nfrom the date on which the making of the Rules is notified in the\nGazette.\n3 Definitions\nIn these Rules:\nparty means a party to a reference, and includes the Commission.\nreference means a matter referred to the Tribunal under\nsection 28D or 28E of the Act.\nRegistrar means the Registrar of the Tribunal.\n4 Procedural\n(1) A Registrar or an acting Registrar of the Supreme Court appointed\nunder the Supreme Court Act 1979 shall be the Registrar of the\nTribunal.\n(2) The Registrar must keep a register of each reference containing the\nfollowing information:\n(a) the name of the person making the reference;\n(b) the other parties to the reference;\n(c) the date the reference is lodged;\n(d) the date of the Tribunal hearing;\n\nMotor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal Rules 1986 2\n(e) the date of the Tribunal's decision;\n(f) the nature of the decision;\n(g) the other information the Registrar considers appropriate.\n(3) The Tribunal may, if it thinks fit, dispense with compliance with a\nrequirement of these Rules either before or after the occasion for\ncompliance arises.\n4A Powers of Associate Judge\nAn Associate Judge may exercise all the powers of the Tribunal\nunder these Rules other than the power to conduct the hearing of a\nreference.\n5 Institution of reference to Tribunal\n(1) A reference shall be instituted by giving to the Registrar:\n(a) notice in the approved form; and\n(b) a copy of all relevant documents in the possession of the party\ninstituting the reference.\n(2) A notice under subrule (1) shall be signed by the party instituting\nthe reference or a legal practitioner acting for that party and shall\ncontain an address for service not more than 15 kilometres from the\noffice of the Registrar where an answer, documents and written\ncommunications may be left for the party.\n(3) A copy of a notice referred to in subrule (1) shall be served on the\nother parties by the party instituting the reference within 7 days\nafter the date on which the notice is given to the Registrar or within\nsuch further period as the Tribunal may, on an application to it\nmade before or after the expiration of the 7 days, allow.\n6 Answer\n(1) A party may, where the party thinks it necessary, within 7 days from\nthe date of service of a notice referred to in rule 5, give the\nRegistrar:\n(a) an answer in the approved form; and\n(b) a copy of all relevant documents in the possession of the party\nmaking the answer.\n(2) An answer under subrule (1)(a) shall be signed by the party making\nthe answer or a legal practitioner acting for that party and shall\n\nMotor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal Rules 1986 3\ncontain an address for service not more than 15 kilometres from the\noffice of the Registrar where documents and written\ncommunications may be left for the party.\n(3) A copy of an answer referred to in subrule (1)(a) shall be served on\nthe other parties by the party making the answer within 7 days\nnotice of the date so fixed.\n7 Mention before Tribunal\n(1) After the expiration of the time for giving an answer under rule 6,\nthe Registrar shall fix a date for the mention of the reference before\nthe Tribunal and shall give the parties not less than 7 days notice of\nthe date so fixed.\n(2) At a mention before the Tribunal referred to in subrule (1), the\nTribunal may give such directions as in its opinion are expedient for\nthe speedy and inexpensive determination of the reference\nincluding, but not limited to any or all of the following:\n(a) dispensing with compliance, either in whole or in part, with the\nprovisions of the Evidence (National Uniform Legislation)\nAct 2011, the Evidence Act 1939 and the rules of evidence at\ncommon law;\n(b) requiring further particulars of the reference or answer to be\nprovided;\n(c) ordering the delivery of an answer in accordance with rule 6 to\nthe reference;\n(d) ordering mutual discoveries and inspection within a specified\ntime;\n(e) settling the issues for the hearing of the reference;\n(f) requiring a party who is injured as the result of an accident to\nsubmit himself for a medical examination;\n(g) fixing a date for further mention of the reference before the\nTribunal;\n(h) ordering that the hearing of the reference be by way of\naffidavit or oral evidence; or\n(j) fixing a date for hearing of the reference.\n\nMotor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal Rules 1986 4\n8 Evidence by affidavit\n(1) Where, pursuant to rule 7, the Tribunal directs that the hearing of a\nreference be by affidavit, then, unless a notice, in writing, requiring\ncross-examination of a person making an affidavit is served on the\nparty relying on the affidavit by the other party not less than 7 days\nbefore the date set down for the hearing of the reference, the\naffidavit shall be admissible as evidence for the purposes of the\nreference.\n(2) Unless the Tribunal otherwise directs, the Oaths, Affidavits and\nDeclarations Act 2010 applies to and in relation to an affidavit to be\nused in the hearing of a reference.\n9 Subpoenas\n(1) On the application of a party, the Registrar may issue a subpoena\nrequiring the attendance of a witness or the production of a\ndocument or thing at the hearing of a reference.\n(2) Where a person named in a subpoena for the production of a\ndocument or thing, being a subpoena requiring attendance before\nthe Tribunal, is not a party, the subpoena shall, unless the Tribunal\notherwise orders, permit the person to produce the document or\nthing to the Registrar not later than the day before the first date on\nwhich the person's attendance is required, instead of attending and\nproducing the document or thing as required by the subpoena.\n(3) Subrule (2) shall not apply to so much of a subpoena that requires\nthe person named to attend to testify at the hearing of the\nreference.\n(4) Where a person named in a subpoena is not a party and the person\nincurs substantial expense or loss in complying with the subpoena,\nthe Tribunal may order that the party who requested the issue of\nthe subpoena pay to the person an amount which is sufficeint to\ncompensate the person for such expense or loss as is reasonably\nincurred or lost by that person in complying with the subpoena.\n(5) The Tribunal may, on the application of a person named in a\nsubpoena, set aside the subpoena in whole or in part.\n(6) A notice of an application under subrule (5) shall be filed with the\nRegistrar and the person making the application shall serve a copy\nof the notice on the party at whose request the subpoena was\nissued.\n\nMotor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal Rules 1986 5\n11 Costs\n(1) Subject to these Rules and the Act, the costs of and incidental to a\nreference to and a proceeding before the Tribunal shall be at the\ndiscretion of the Tribunal.\n(2) Costs shall follow the event, unless the Tribunal otherwise orders.\n(3) In making an order as to costs, the Tribunal may make such further\norders as are necessary to give effect to its order, including, but not\nlimited to, an order:\n(a) that costs be taxed before the Registrar and the procedures to\nbe followed in taxing costs;\n(b) specifying the scale of costs to apply;\n(c) fixing a lump sum amount of costs; or\n(d) that a party pay the costs of a witness required to attend\nbefore the Tribunal.\n(4) Where it appears to the Tribunal that costs have been improperly,\nor without reasonable cause, incurred, or there has been a failure,\nwithout reasonable excuse, to comply with these Rules or an order\nof the Tribunal made pursuant to these Rules, the Tribunal may\npenalize the party at fault by making such order as to costs as it\nthinks fit.\n(5) Where the Tribunal orders a party to pay costs to another party,\nthat other party may recover those costs as if the order were a\njudgment for the payment of money given by the Supreme Court.\n12 Rules of evidence\nSubject to the Act and these Rules and a direction of the Tribunal\nmade in pursuance of rule 7(2)(a), the Evidence (National Uniform\nLegislation) Act 2011, the Evidence Act 1939 and the rules of\nevidence at common law shall apply to a hearing of a reference.\n13 Administration of oath\nA person who gives evidence before the Tribunal shall, unless the\nTribunal otherwise orders, do so under oath.\n14 Enforcement of orders\n(1) Subject to these Rules, and without limiting any other means of\nenforcement which may be available, the Tribunal may enforce an\norder made by it in the same manner as if the order had been made\n\nMotor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal Rules 1986 6\nby the Supreme Court and the Tribunal shall for the purposes of\nenforcing such an order have the same powers as those of the\nSupreme Court.\n(2) A party interested in the execution or enforcement of an order made\nby the Tribunal, ex parte, for directions as to the execution or\nenforcement of the order.\n(3) The Tribunal may, if it thinks fit, stay execution of an order made by\nit.\n15 Issue of practice directions\nSubject to the Act and these Rules, the Tribunal may for the\npurpose of regulating its practices and procedures, issue, from time\nto time, such practice directions as it thinks fit.\n16 Approved forms\nThe Registrar may approve forms for use under these Rules.\n\nENDNOTES\nMotor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal Rules 1986 7\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY\nKey to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nMotor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal Rules (SL No. 5, 1986)\nNotified 12 March 1986\nCommenced 27 March 1986 (r 2)\nAmendments of Motor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal Rules (SL No. 14,\n1998)\nNotified 1 July 1998\nCommenced 1 July 1998\nLegal Profession (Consequential Amendments) Act 2007 (Act No. 7, 2007)\nAssent date 17 May 2007\nCommenced s 10: 1 July 2007 (Gaz G26, 27 June 2007, p 3);\nrem: 17 May 2007\nTerritory Insurance Office and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2010 (Act No. 35,\n2010)\nAssent date 18 November 2010\nCommenced pt 4: 1 January 2011; rem: 18 November 2010 (s 2)\nOaths, Affidavits and Declarations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2010 (Act No. 40,\n2010)\nAssent date 18 November 2010\nCommenced 1 March 2011 (s 2, s 2 Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations Act\n2010 (Act No. 39, 2010) and Gaz G7, 16 February 2011, p 4)\nMotor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal Amendment (Evidence) Rules (SL\nNo. 6, 2013)\nNotified 1 May 2013\nCommenced 1 May 2013 (r 2)\n\nENDNOTES\nMotor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal Rules 1986 8\nTerritory Insurance Office (Sale) Act 2014 (Act No. 41, 2014)\nAssent date 28 November 2014\nCommenced pt 6, divs 1 and 2: nc (exp without commencing);\npt 6, div 3: 00:01hrs 1 January 2015 (Gaz S131,\n19 December 2014, p 8); rem: 28 November 2014 (s 2)\nSupreme Court Amendment (Associate Judges) Act 2017 (Act No. 18, 2017)\nAssent date 5 September 2017\nCommenced 22 November 2017 (Gaz S84, 21 November 2017, p 1)\n3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: rr 1, 4, 7, 8 and 12.\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\nr 3 amd No. 14, 1998, r 2\nsub Act No. 35, 2010, s 41\namd Act No. 41, 2014, s 53; Act No. 18, 2017, s 36\nr 4 amd No. 14, 1998, r 3; Act No. 35, 2010, s 42\nr 4A ins No. 14, 1998, r 4\namd Act No. 18, 2017, s 36\nr 5 amd No. 14, 1998, r 5; Act No. 7, 2007, s 16; Act No. 35, 2010, ss 43 and 48\nr 6 amd No. 14, 1998, r 6; Act No. 7, 2007, s 16; Act No. 35, 2010, ss 44 and 48\nr 7 amd No. 6, 2013, r 4\nr 8 amd Act No. 40, 2010, s 202\nr 9 amd Act No. 35, 2010, s 48\nr 10 rep Act No. 35, 2010, s 45\nr 11 amd No. 14, 1998, r 7\nr 12 amd No. 6, 2013, r 5\nr 16 sub Act No. 35, 2010, s 46\nsch amd Act No. 7, 2007, s 16\nrep Act No. 35, 2010, s 47","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available information, the legislation appears to remain focused on its original purpose — providing procedural rules for the Motor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal. There is no indication from the metadata provided that the scope has materially shifted from its 1986 origins, though the reprint number suggests amendments have been made over time."},"complexity_factors":["Limited information provided in the legislation text — the actual substantive rules and procedural requirements are not visible in the excerpt provided","Interaction with the parent Motor Accidents (Compensation) Act adds a layer of complexity requiring cross-referencing","Procedural tribunal rules can involve technical requirements around timeframes, filing, and standing (who has the right to appeal)","Northern Territory-specific legislation with limited secondary guidance or case law compared to larger jurisdictions","The legislation has been reprinted (REPM022R2), suggesting it has been amended over time, which may create complexity around which version applies to historical claims"],"plain_english_summary":"## Motor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal Rules 1986\n\nThis is a set of procedural rules that govern how appeals are handled before the **Motor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal** in the Northern Territory.\n\n**What does this mean in plain English?**\n\nIf you've been injured in a motor vehicle accident in the NT and you disagree with a decision about your compensation (the money you're owed to cover injuries, lost income, etc.), this legislation sets out the rules for how you can formally challenge (appeal) that decision before a specialised tribunal (an independent body that resolves disputes, similar to a court but less formal).\n\n**Who does this affect?**\n- People injured in motor vehicle accidents in the Northern Territory who are disputing compensation decisions\n- Insurers and government agencies involved in those compensation claims\n- Legal representatives appearing before the tribunal\n\n**Why does it matter?**\n- It defines the process, timelines, and procedures that must be followed when appealing a compensation decision — get the procedure wrong, and you could lose your right to challenge a decision\n- It ensures there is a fair, structured process for resolving disputes about motor accident compensation\n\n**Key things to note:**\n- These are procedural rules only — they don't determine *who* gets compensation, just *how* disputes about compensation are handled\n- The rules have been in force since 22 November 2017 (in their current reprinted form)\n- Administered by the Department of Treasury and Finance (NT)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: establishing procedural rules for the Motor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal. While it has been amended several times since 1986 (as shown in the endnotes), these amendments are technical updates—such as changing references from 'Master' to 'Associate Judge' and updating evidence legislation citations—rather than expansions of scope. The core function of regulating Tribunal procedure has not changed."},"complexity_factors":["Short length – only 16 rules across 6 pages","Minimal defined terms – only 3 definitions in rule 3 (party, reference, Registrar)","Straightforward procedural structure – follows logical chronological order from starting a case to enforcement","Limited cross-referencing – only references to the parent Act (Motor Accidents (Compensation) Act 1979) and standard evidence legislation","Simple conditional logic – mostly 'if X then Y' structures without nested exceptions","No schedules or elaborate appendices – just a basic table of provisions and endnotes showing amendment history"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese are the procedural rules that govern how appeals are handled by the Motor Accidents (Compensation) Appeal Tribunal in the Northern Territory. Think of them as the \"instruction manual\" for how to run a legal appeal about motor accident compensation claims.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **People appealing compensation decisions** – anyone who wants to challenge a decision made by the Motor Accidents Compensation Commission\n- **The Commission itself** – which defends its decisions\n- **Legal practitioners** – lawyers representing either side\n- **Witnesses** – people called to give evidence or produce documents\n\n**Key things the rules cover:**\n\n- **How to start an appeal** – you must file a notice with the Registrar (the Tribunal's administrator) within set timeframes, along with copies of relevant documents\n- **Responding to an appeal** – the other side has 7 days to file an \"answer\" (their formal response)\n- **Case management** – the Tribunal holds \"mentions\" (preliminary hearings) to set timelines, decide what evidence is needed, and streamline the process\n- **Evidence** – the Tribunal can relax normal evidence rules to keep things simple, and can allow evidence by written statement (affidavit) instead of live testimony\n- **Subpoenas** – formal orders requiring witnesses to attend or documents to be produced, with protections for non-parties who face substantial costs\n- **Costs** – the losing party usually pays, but the Tribunal has discretion to penalize bad behaviour (like running up costs unnecessarily)\n- **Enforcement** – Tribunal orders can be enforced as if they were Supreme Court judgments\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThese rules ensure that disputes about motor accident compensation are resolved fairly, efficiently, and without unnecessary legal technicalities. The Tribunal has flexibility to \"dispense with\" (ignore) its own rules when appropriate, which helps keep the process accessible for ordinary people while still maintaining fairness."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/motor-accidents-compensation-appeal-tribunal-rules-1986","history":"/api/acts/motor-accidents-compensation-appeal-tribunal-rules-1986/history","analysis":"/api/acts/motor-accidents-compensation-appeal-tribunal-rules-1986/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/motor-accidents-compensation-appeal-tribunal-rules-1986/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/motor-accidents-compensation-appeal-tribunal-rules-1986/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/motor-accidents-compensation-appeal-tribunal-rules-1986/documents"}}