Sheehy and Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland

The matter of *Sheehy and Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland* concerned an application to transfer proceedings between registries of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The applicant, Mr Sheehy, sought to have his application transferred from the Townsville registry to the Brisbane registry. The respondent, the Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland, opposed this transfer.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was to determine the relevant factors to be considered when deciding whether to transfer an application between registries, specifically balancing the interests of the parties against the efficient administration of justice. The Tribunal was required to assess whether the grounds presented by the applicant justified the transfer and whether the respondent's objections were sufficiently compelling to warrant refusal.

In reaching its decision, the Tribunal considered the principles governing the transfer of proceedings within the Tribunal. It weighed the applicant's reasons for seeking the transfer, including his residence and access to legal representation in Brisbane, against the Board's concerns regarding potential increased costs and logistical challenges. The Tribunal emphasised that the overarching consideration was the efficient administration of justice, which encompassed fairness to both parties and the effective use of the Tribunal's resources. The Tribunal ultimately found that the applicant had not demonstrated sufficient grounds to warrant the transfer, particularly given the availability of remote participation options and the potential disruption to the Board.