Costs orders in the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) in WA

On 9 December 2014, the State Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal) published a guide with respect to costs orders and the calculation of costs which may arise out of proceedings.

In this Alert, Special Counsel Karen Browne and Solicitor Catherine Smith provide an overview of circumstances and factors which may result in the Tribunal making costs orders, as well as the method of calculating costs.

Costs orders

Section 87 of the State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004 (WA) (SAT Act) gives the Tribunal the power to order costs. While the general starting point is that each party bears its own costs (section 87(1) SAT Act), the Tribunal does have the discretion to order a party to pay any or all of the costs of another party (section 87(2) SAT Act).¹