In most cases, you will need to pay a fee when you lodge a complaint with the Commissioner.
Section 72(2) of the Act provides as follows:
The Commissioner may-
The Attorney-General has approved the Commissioner fixing a fee of $110 (including GST) for the lodging of a written complaint, and requiring the payment of that fee before he considers that complaint.
If a complainant complains about more than one practitioner, then the fee will be payable in relation to each practitioner unless the Commissioner decides otherwise.
In some circumstances, the Commissioner may decide to waive the payment of any such fee.
The Commissioner has a discretion to waive fees in a particular case.
On application, the Commissioner will waive the payment of a fee if the complainant provides:
The Commissioner may also consider other applications by a complainant for a fee waiver due to financial hardship or special circumstances. To consider an application as to special circumstances, the complainant will need to explain briefly what those circumstances are and if necessary provide evidence in support. To consider an application as to financial hardship, the complainant will need to provide at least one (and ideally more) of the following supporting information and documentation:
If the Commissioner does not approve an application for fee waiver, the complainant must pay the fee in full before the Commissioner will consider the complaint.
The Commissioner will refund any fee that a complainant has paid if:
The Commissioner also has a complete discretion to refund any fee that has been paid in any other circumstances.