How to Enforce an ACAT Order in the ACT

You won at ACAT. The tribunal made a money order in your favour. And then — nothing happened. The other side hasn't paid, and ACAT can't make them.

That disconnect catches most people off guard. ACAT decides disputes, but it has no power to seize assets, garnish wages, or freeze bank accounts. To actually collect the money, you need to take your order to the ACT Magistrates Court and use its enforcement tools.

Here's how the process works from start to finish.

Why ACAT Can't Enforce Its Own Orders

ACAT is an adjudicative body — it resolves disputes and issues binding orders, but it doesn't have a civil execution arm. There are no ACAT bailiffs, no tribunal-issued garnishee orders, no seizure powers.

Section 71 of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008 creates the bridge. It lets you register your ACAT money order in the Magistrates Court, where it gains the same legal force as a court judgment. Once registered, every enforcement tool available to judgment creditors opens up to you.

Step 1: Register the Order in the Magistrates Court

You'll need two documents:

• A sealed copy of your ACAT money order (get this from the ACAT Registry)
• An affidavit stating the exact amount still unpaid

File both at the ACT Magistrates Court Civil Registry at 4–6 Knowles Place, Canberra City. Registration is free — no court fee applies. Once filed, your tribunal order becomes an enforceable court judgment.

Step 2: Serve the Pre-Enforcement Notice

Before using any enforcement tool, you must serve the debtor with:

• A copy of the registered judgment
• Form 2.49 (Notice about Court order and enforcement options)

Then wait seven days. This mandatory waiting period gives the debtor one last chance to pay voluntarily. Filing an enforcement application before the seven days expire gets it rejected.

Step 3: Choose Your Enforcement Tool

The Magistrates Court offers several options depending on the debtor's circumstances:

Enforcement hearing — Compels the debtor to attend court and disclose their income, bank accounts, property, and debts under oath. Start here if you don't know what the debtor owns.

Earnings redirection order — Directs the debtor's employer to deduct a set amount from wages each pay period and send it to you. Works when the debtor has steady employment.

Debt redirection order — Freezes money in the debtor's bank account and redirects it to you. This is a one-time capture of whatever balance exists when the bank receives the order.

Seizure and sale order — Authorises the ACT Sheriff to attend the debtor's premises, seize personal property, and sell it at auction. The application fee is $176 for individuals, plus a $435 Sheriff execution fee.

Step 4: Collect and Close the Case

Track every payment against your running balance of principal, post-judgment interest, and recoverable court costs. When the debt is fully paid, file a Notice of Satisfaction / Paid Judgment with the Magistrates Court Registry and notify any third parties to discharge active redirection orders.

What the Guide Covers

The full Enforcing an ACAT Order in the ACT guide walks through each enforcement tool with the exact forms, fees, service rules, and timelines you need. It includes a post-judgment balance ledger, a proof-of-service tracker, and a decision matrix for choosing the right enforcement method based on your debtor's situation.

If you're dealing with an unpaid ACAT order, the guide gives you the procedural roadmap to collect what you're owed — without hiring a solicitor.

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