WA State Administrative Tribunal: choose your next step

Which SAT situation are you dealing with?

The SAT Act distinguishes original proceedings from review of an existing decision. The jurisdiction guide helps identify the area, but the particular law must authorise the application and remedy. A fee category does not itself create a right to apply.

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Ordinary residential tenancy disputes and general consumer-debt claims do not automatically belong in SAT. Residential parks and retirement villages have separate schemes. Initial discrimination complaints ordinarily go to the Equal Opportunity Commission; vocational and some building complaints may start with the regulator. See matters outside SAT’s scope and obtain advice if the route or jurisdiction is uncertain.

Review, filing and service are separate steps

Under rule 9, the general review period is 28 days from the applicable statutory trigger, commonly the decision-maker giving the required notice. Deemed decisions and decisions under section 20(5) have different triggers; enabling legislation and special rules can change the position. Read the notice and governing law rather than counting from a search result’s generic “decision date”.

A late application may need an extension with reasons and evidence. The tribunal has qualified extension powers, but they can be excluded and cannot overcome every prejudice to another party. No universal deadline applies to all original applications; that does not mean it is safe to delay.

Use the official application route and applicable practice note. A proceeding commences when the executive officer accepts the application. eCourts records the electronic filing time; other permitted methods have receipt and business-day rules. Keep the acceptance record and follow fee/concession instructions. An unfinished form or an email enquiry is not a completed application.

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Sections 42 and 45 and rule 26 distinguish acceptance and service. For urgency, explain the reasons, provide supporting material and contact SAT on (08) 9219 3111 during business hours using the urgent application guidance. An urgent request does not guarantee a hearing or an order. A legal consultation does not file documents or extend time.

What can a directions hearing decide?

The official directions-hearing guide says final orders can be made where notified parties fail to attend, the parties consent to an outcome, or the tribunal considers the relevant evidence is available to decide. Prepare for more than a timetable discussion. Some matters proceed directly to a final hearing or are decided on documents.

Be ready to explain the dispute, the outcome you seek, the main issues, witnesses, evidence, expected hearing length, availability and any urgent orders. Identify interpreter, access and remote-participation needs early. Documents and witness statements may need to be filed and exchanged before a hearing, not simply brought on the day.

The review-proceedings practice note and original-proceedings practice note describe common steps but exclude specialist categories. There is no single timetable for every SAT matter. Your notice and actual directions control the date, attendance method and document timetable.

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SAT can permit telephone or video participation and can decide matters on documents. Confirm the actual arrangement; a request to change it or adjourn is not permission to miss the listing. Do not rely on older broad online guidance where your current orders say something different.

Lawyers, support people and mediation

Under section 39, parties generally may appear themselves or use a lawyer, while other representatives need an authorised category or tribunal agreement. Notify SAT using its representative guidance. A support person is not automatically entitled to speak for you.

Particular legislation and a valid no-legal-representation election in a qualifying minor proceeding can change those rights. Other minor-proceeding elections can affect hearings or appeals. Obtain advice before making an election; the statutory minor-proceeding amount is not SAT’s overall jurisdictional limit.

Mediation aims to resolve or narrow the dispute and may be ordered without consent. It is ordinarily private, but confidentiality is not absolute: section 55 has exceptions for agreed admission, orders/directions and specified proceedings. Settlement orders may be published. Do not assume every part of the case remains secret.

A tribunal-member mediator cannot take further part after mediation unless all parties agree. A member who presides at a compulsory conference has a different statutory restriction on later participation. Any consent orders must be within SAT’s legal powers; mediation does not guarantee settlement or a particular outcome.

Current SAT fees depend on the application

These Australian-dollar examples use the current regulations and official fee summary from 1 July 2026. Match the exact provision to the schedule first. The examples are not a total case quote, and “strata”, “planning” or “building” alone may not identify the correct fee.

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Other categories, later hearing days, document/transcript requests, experts and legal work can add expense. Exemptions and reduced fees have distinct rules. Eligible individuals include specified concession-card holders, relevant legal-aid recipients and people recognised on hardship or interests-of-justice grounds; entities have separate criteria. Apply with evidence before paying through eCourts, following SAT’s fee guidance. Reduced-fee recognition is not a general promise to waive every fee. Parties ordinarily bear their own costs, but legislation and tribunal orders can change that; adverse costs are possible.

After a decision or a missed hearing

Obtain the decision, reasons and dates immediately. A review of a government decision, a review after your absence and an appeal from SAT are different procedures. If you did not appear and were not represented at a relevant hearing, section 84 may permit review where you had a reasonable excuse. Its rules have short, technical time limits; seek advice promptly rather than assuming the ordinary 28-day appeal period applies.

Under section 105, an ordinary appeal needs leave and is generally on a question of law. It goes to the Court of Appeal if SAT included a judicial member, otherwise to the Supreme Court in its other jurisdiction. Ordinarily apply for leave within 28 days after the decision, or the qualifying section 78 written-reasons trigger; if leave is granted, the ordinary period to institute the appeal is 21 days after that day. Extensions, specific statutory routes, vocational exceptions and valid no-appeal elections can affect the position. See SAT’s appeal guidance.

An appeal does not itself suspend the SAT decision. Ask whether a Supreme Court stay is needed and available. Requesting reasons does not automatically restart every deadline; the statutory request conditions and timing matter.

If a monetary order is unpaid, section 85 provides for filing a certified order and an affidavit about the unpaid amount/default in a competent court. That particular filing is without charge under the section, but later enforcement is a separate process and may involve expenses. An order does not guarantee payment.

Official SAT contact and assistance

SAT’s registry is at Level 6, 565 Hay Street, Perth WA 6000. Telephone (08) 9219 3111 or 1300 306 017. Published counter and telephone enquiry hours are 8:30am–4:30pm. Confirm the venue or remote instructions on your notice before travelling.

Registry staff can assist with procedure, not legal advice on your case. Request interpreter assistance early. SAT arranges and pays for an interpreter where it considers an eligible party or witness needs one to participate or give evidence; confirm arrangements and availability rather than assuming immediate assistance.

Keep copies of applications, receipts, service records and orders. If circumstances become urgent or you cannot comply with a direction, contact the registry promptly and obtain advice on the application needed; silence or a private booking does not change the order.

Five things to prepare for SAT or legal advice

1. Collect the application, hearing notice, current orders, challenged decision and written reasons. Record when and how notices were given, filing/service dates and the next required step.
2. Identify the governing law, exact order sought and correct parties. For a review, include the original application and supporting material sent to the decision-maker.
3. Prepare a short dated chronology and an indexed set of relevant agreements, letters, invoices, records, plans or reports. Preserve originals and explain what each item proves.
4. List witnesses and experts, availability, interpreter/access needs, settlement options and who has authority to agree. Follow directions for exchanging evidence before the hearing.
5. Bring urgency evidence, proof of service, concession/financial material and questions about deadlines, stays, costs and representation. Confirm what is included in any initial consultation and what work needs a separate agreement.

This is a preparation checklist, not a complete filing specification or individual deadline calculation. Do not invent evidence or present an AI-generated account as a witness’s own recollection.

Official help and free legal information

Official information and community services may help you prepare. Ask about eligibility and available advice before a deadline; an enquiry does not stop time running.

Common questions before a SAT application or hearing

Related legal information