New laws increasing the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal's (QCAT) jurisdictional limit from $25,000 to $100,000 for matters relating to motor vehicles will come into effect from 1 September 2019.
These amendments are intended to improve protections for consumers sold defective new or secondhand cars, motorbikes, caravans and motorhomes.
The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2019 or 'lemon laws', passed by State Parliament in April, will allow consumers with a faulty motor vehicle to pursue a claim through QCAT if a suitable resolution cannot be reached with the dealer or manufacturer.
The amendments will also restore 30-day or 1000 km warranties for consumers buying, from a dealer, a vehicle more than 10 years old or with 160,000 km or more on its odometer.
Attorney General and Minister for Justice Yvette D'Arth said that lifting the level for claims handled by QCAT provides consumers an easier and less expensive avenue to resolve legal disputes without the need to go to court.
We will publish more on these 'lemon laws' and their practical considerations as they come into force, later this year.
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