69Applicants may choose small claims procedure

#### 69 Applicants may choose small claims procedure (1) Proceedings are to be dealt with as small claims proceedings under this section if: (a) a person applies for an order (other than a pecuniary penalty order) under Division 1 from a magistrates court or the Federal Circuit Court; and (b) the order relates to an amount that another person is required to pay under this Act or an enforceable instrument; and (c) the person indicates, in the manner prescribed by the regulations or by the rules of the court, that he or she wants the small claims procedure to apply to the proceedings. Limits on award (2) In small claims proceedings, the court may not award more than $20,000. Procedure (3) In small claims proceedings, the court is not bound by any rules of evidence and procedure and may act: (a) in an informal manner; and (b) without regard to legal forms and technicalities. (4) At any stage of the small claims proceedings, the court may amend the papers commencing the proceedings if sufficient notice is given to any party adversely affected by the amendment. Legal representation (5) A party to small claims proceedings may be represented in the proceedings by a lawyer only with the leave of the court. (6) If the court grants leave for a party to the proceedings to be represented by a lawyer, the court may, if it considers appropriate, do so subject to conditions designed to ensure that no other party is unfairly disadvantaged. (7) For the purposes of this section, a person is taken not to be represented by a lawyer if the lawyer is an employee or officer of the person. Representation by an industrial association (8) The regulations may provide for a party to small claims proceedings to be represented in the proceedings, in specified circumstances, by an official of an industrial association. (9) However, if small claims proceedings are heard in a court of a State, the regulations may so provide only if the law of the State allows a party to be represented in that court in those circumstances by officials of bodies representing interests related to the matters in dispute.