Glossary
Legal glossary: state terms from A to Z
The same legal idea often has a different name in each state. This glossary explains the terms used in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, such as the local name for a protection order, tribunal or regulator, plus common Commonwealth terms.
A
- ART Commonwealth
- Administrative Review Tribunal. Reviews many government decisions on their merits, including most visa refusals and cancellations.Source: Administrative Review Tribunal(opens in a new tab)
- AVO New South Wales
- Protection order: Apprehended violence order: an apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) or an apprehended personal violence order (APVO)
B
- Bankruptcy notice Commonwealth
- A notice issued by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) requiring a person to pay a final judgment debt of $10,000 or more, generally within 21 days of service.Source: Australian Financial Security Authority(opens in a new tab)
- BPC Victoria
- Building regulator: Building and Plumbing Commission (replaced the Victorian Building Authority on 1 July 2025)
- Building Commission NSW New South Wales
- Building regulator: Building Commission NSW
C
- CTP scheme New South Wales
- Motor accident scheme: Compulsory third party (CTP) green slip scheme under the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017, regulated by SIRA
- CTP scheme Queensland
- Motor accident scheme: Compulsory third party (CTP) insurance scheme regulated by the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC)
D
- DVO Queensland
- Protection order: Domestic violence order (a protection order or a temporary protection order)
F
- Fair Work Commission Commonwealth
- The national workplace tribunal. It deals with unfair dismissal and general protections dismissal applications, which must be made within 21 days of the dismissal taking effect.Source: Fair Work Commission(opens in a new tab)
- FCFCOA Commonwealth
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Decides divorce, parenting and property cases under the Family Law Act 1975, and some general federal law matters such as bankruptcy and migration judicial review.Source: Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia(opens in a new tab)
- FVIO Victoria
- Protection order: Family violence intervention order (a personal safety intervention order applies where the parties are not family members)
L
- Land Use Victoria Victoria
- Land titles registry: Land Use Victoria, the Victorian land titles registry (searched through LANDATA)
- Limitation period Commonwealth
- The time limit for starting a court case. Each state sets its own periods for most claims, so the deadline depends on where the claim arises.
N
- NCAT New South Wales
- Tenancy tribunal: NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Consumer and Commercial Division
- NSW LRS New South Wales
- Land titles registry: NSW Land Registry Services
- NSW workers compensation New South Wales
- Workers compensation: NSW workers compensation scheme, regulated by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) with icare as the Nominal Insurer
Q
- QBCC Queensland
- Building regulator: Queensland Building and Construction Commission
- QCAT Queensland
- Tenancy tribunal: Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (after dispute resolution through the Residential Tenancies Authority)
- QRO Queensland
- State revenue office: Queensland Revenue Office
R
- Revenue NSW New South Wales
- State revenue office: Revenue NSW
S
- SRO Victoria
- State revenue office: State Revenue Office Victoria
- Statutory demand Commonwealth
- A formal demand under the Corporations Act 2001 for a company to pay a debt of at least $4,000. The company has 21 days after service to pay or apply to set it aside.Source: Federal Court of Australia(opens in a new tab)
T
- TAC Victoria
- Motor accident scheme: Transport Accident Commission (TAC) scheme
- Titles Queensland Queensland
- Land titles registry: Titles Queensland, the Queensland titles registry
V
- VCAT Victoria
- Tenancy tribunal: Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Residential Tenancies List
W
- WorkCover Victoria
- Workers compensation: Victorian WorkCover scheme, administered by WorkSafe Victoria
- WorkCover Queensland Queensland
- Workers compensation: Queensland workers' compensation scheme (WorkCover Queensland and licensed self-insurers)
This glossary is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ between states and change over time.
Compare the rules across states with the protection order guide, claim limits guide and time limits checker.