Disputes & Resolution in Australia

Essentials guide · Source-checked research48% of statements checked against a source30 checked against an official source0 checked against a secondary sourceChecked 2026-10-1913 held back until checked against an official source10 topics include AI-written statements, not source-checkedNot yet professionally reviewed

• A statutory cause of action for serious invasions of privacy, in Schedule 2 of the Privacy Act 1988, commenced on 10 June 2025; it covers intrusion upon seclusion and misuse of information.

  Federal; the plaintiff must show a reasonable expectation of privacy and that the public interest in privacy outweighs any countervailing public interest. Exemptions cover bodies including intelligence agencies and law enforcement bodies and, in some circumstances, journalists. The OAIC has no direct role in administering the tort.Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) · checked 2026-10-19

• Commercial cases are heard by the Federal Court of Australia, mainly on federal law such as corporations, competition and consumer matters, and by state and territory Supreme Courts, with the High Court of Australia as the final court of appeal.

  Federal and state courts; jurisdiction often overlaps in corporate matters.AI-written, not source-checked

• International commercial arbitration is governed by the federal International Arbitration Act 1974, which gives the UNCITRAL Model Law force of law in Australia.

  Federal; applies to international arbitrations seated in Australia.AI-written, not source-checked

• Domestic arbitration is governed by uniform Commercial Arbitration Acts enacted by each state and territory.

  Applies to arbitrations that are not international.AI-written, not source-checked

• Australia is a party to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.

  Acceded on 26 March 1975; in force for Australia from 24 June 1975.United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) · checked 2026-10-19

• Money judgments from countries listed under the federal Foreign Judgments Act 1991 can be registered for enforcement, judgments from New Zealand can be registered under the Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010, and other foreign judgments generally need a fresh action at common law.

  Federal.AI-written, not source-checked

• The Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) is the main institution for international arbitration, and court-referred and private mediation are widely used.

  AI-written, not source-checked

Read the full guide: Disputes and enforcement