Brisbane, 29 June 2011: Clayton Utz partner and global president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Professor Doug Jones AM today called on the Queensland Government to follow the lead of New South Wales and introduce the new Uniform Commercial Arbitration Act to help efforts to promote commercial arbitration as a viable alternative to litigation.
Professor Jones AM was speaking at the Queensland launch of his book 'Commercial Arbitration in Australia', by former Justice of the High Court, the Honourable Ian Callinan QC AC. The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General resolved last year to adopt the new Act, which introduces reforms that are aimed at encouraging the use of domestic arbitration as a genuine alternative to litigation for the resolution of disputes in Australia.
To date only New South Wales has passed legislation to adopt the Act, while Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania are in an advanced stage of passing uniform legislation.
Professor Jones said that Queensland risked being left behind in the dispute resolution stakes unless it followed the lead of other states. "Queensland businesses can only benefit from having an alternative to litigation which is expeditious, cost-effective and fair. Adopting this important legislation will help achieve that ," said Professor Jones AM.