Significance

• The magistrates court tries most of the cases in Australia. Almost all criminal cases that do not call for a jury and civil cases under $75,000 are tried here. Each state has a magistrates court.
  
  

Monetary Rewards

• The Magistrates Court Civil Proceedings Act of 2004 establishes how the court must proceed in civil cases. In these cases, the prosecution seeks financial compensation. The act gives the court the authority to hand out monetary rewards as it sees fit.
  
  

Minor Cases

• The act includes a provision for minor cases with claims under $10,000. The object of the court in these cases is to reach a settlement both parties can agree on.
  
  

Appeals

• The act allows the parties to appeal. A party not involved with a minor case can appeal the magistrates court's decision to the district court. Each state has a district court, which is one tier above the magistrates court.