Paratz made a member of the QCAT Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Former president of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies David Paratz has been appointed a member of QCAT by the Queensland Government.
David Paratz
Barrister Paratz will start work almost immediately on the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
QCAT is Queensland’s “super-tribunal”.
It began operation three years ago, amalgamating 18 tribunals and 23 jurisdictions into one tribunal.
QCAT works to actively resolve disputes and deliver justice in a way that is inexpensive, independent, efficient, expert, accessible and flexible.
It makes decisions on a very wide range of commercial, human rights and regulatory matters including:
· administration for adults matters
· administrative decisions
· anti-discrimination matters
· building disputes
· children and young people matters
· consumer disputes
· debt disputes
· guardianship for adults matters
· minor civil disputes
· occupational regulation matters
· other civil disputes
· residential tenancy disputes
· retail shop lease disputes
· tree disputes
There is an emphasis on the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution techniques such as Compulsory Conferences and Mediation to assist people to resolve disputes.
David Paratz was president of the QJBD from 1998-2007 and has been vice-president since 2008.
A former president of Brisbane Grammar School, Paratz has also represented the Jewish community on many multi-faith committees .
Paretz’s work as a barrister is focused in commercial mediation, a role he believes to be relevant to his new position on the Tribunal.
He told J-Wire: “I feel honoured to have been given this appointment.
QCAT is still relatively new, and most people are unaware of the significance and reach of its operations.
It handles an extraordinarily large body of work that was previously heard within the Court system.
For many ordinary people, most future dealings with legal issues will be handled through QCAT in the ordinary incidences of life – such as building or renting a house; a neighbourhood dispute over fences, or trees; running a small business and disputes as to leases or debts; guardianship issues as to older or special needs persons; regulation of a trade or profession; or challenging a decision of the Queensland Government or its agencies.”
He described it as worthwhile work that assists the community and ordinary people, and” seeks to do so in an inexpensive and speedy way”.
