Construction Occupations Registrar v Bates (No 2)

The appeal before the ACT Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal (ACAT) concerned the interpretation of the *Building Act 2004* (ACT). The Construction Occupations Registrar, the appellant, sought costs against the unsuccessful respondent.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether there were sufficient reasons to depart from the usual rule that costs follow the event, meaning the unsuccessful party should bear the costs of the successful party.

The Tribunal found that no exceptional circumstances were demonstrated by the respondent to justify deviating from the standard costs order. Consequently, the Tribunal ordered that the respondent pay the appellant’s costs of the appeal.