3Interpretation

### 3 Interpretation > *\[Section 3 Amended by No. 68 of 1994, s. 3 and Sched. 1 \]*In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears – > > > ***action*** means an action brought under this Act; > > > ***Administrator*** means the Administrator of the Magistrates Court; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 53 of 2003, s. 4, Applied:25 Sep 2003\]*](/view/html/inforce/2003-09-25/act-2003-053#GS4@Hpa@EN) > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 4 of 1997, s. 4, Applied:30 Mar 1998\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-30/act-1997-004#GS4@EN) ***assistant bailiff*** means a person appointed under [section 15A](#GS15A@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 4 of 1997, s. 4, Applied:30 Mar 1998\]*](/view/html/inforce/1998-03-30/act-1997-004#GS4@EN) ***bailiff*** means a person appointed under [section 15](#GS15@EN) and includes an assistant bailiff; > > > ***civil division*** means the Magistrates Court (Civil Division) established by this Act; > > > ***Court*** means the Magistrates Court exercising its civil jurisdiction in the civil division; > > > ***district*** means the area serviced by a registry; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 66 of 2007, Sched. 1, Applied:31 Dec 2008\]*](/view/html/inforce/2008-12-31/act-2007-066#JS1@Ja58@GC1@Hpa@EN) ***law practice*** has the same meaning as in the [Legal Profession Act 2007](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2007-024) ; > > > ***Magistrates Court*** means the Magistrates Court established by the [Magistrates Court Act 1987](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1987-045) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 6 of 2003, s. 35, Applied:01 Jul 2003\]*](/view/html/inforce/2003-07-01/act-2003-006#GS35@Hpa@EN) ***Magistrates Rule Committee*** means the committee referred to in section 15AC of the [Magistrates Court Act 1987](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1987-045) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 53 of 2003, s. 4, Applied:25 Sep 2003\]*](/view/html/inforce/2003-09-25/act-2003-053#GS4@Hpb@EN) ***minor civil claim*** means – > > > > > > (a) a claim or counterclaim for damages, or for the payment of money, if the amount claimed does not exceed $5 000 or any other amount as may be prescribed for the purpose of this definition; or > > > > > > > (b) any other claim prescribed in the regulations to be a minor civil claim; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 66 of 2007, Sched. 1, Applied:31 Dec 2008\]*](/view/html/inforce/2008-12-31/act-2007-066#JS1@Ja58@GC1@Hpb@EN) ***practitioner*** means an Australian legal practitioner; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 43 of 2006, s. 39, Applied:01 Jul 2007\]*](/view/html/inforce/2007-07-01/act-2006-043#GS39@EN) > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 43 of 2006, s. 39, Applied:01 Jul 2007\]*](/view/html/inforce/2007-07-01/act-2006-043#GS39@EN) ***prescribed amount*** means $50 000; > > > ***process*** means any document required to be filed, issued, given or served under this Act; > > > ***registrar*** means the Administrator, a district registrar or a deputy district registrar; > > > ***registry*** means a registry of the Magistrates Court; > > > ***regulations*** means the regulations made and in force under this Act; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 6 of 2003, s. 35, Applied:01 Jul 2003\]*](/view/html/inforce/2003-07-01/act-2003-006#GS35@Hpb@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 6 of 2003, s. 35, Applied:01 Jul 2003\]*](/view/html/inforce/2003-07-01/act-2003-006#GS35@Hpc@EN) > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 6 of 2003, s. 35, Applied:01 Jul 2003\]*](/view/html/inforce/2003-07-01/act-2003-006#GS35@Hpc@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 53 of 2003, s. 4, Applied:25 Sep 2003\]*](/view/html/inforce/2003-09-25/act-2003-053#GS4@Hpc@EN) ***rules of court*** means rules of court made for this Act by the Magistrates Rule Committee. > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 53 of 2003, s. 4, Applied:25 Sep 2003\]*](/view/html/inforce/2003-09-25/act-2003-053#GS4@Hpd@EN)