NT Security of Payment Deadline Calculator
Calculate Northern Territory Construction Contracts Act deadlines: notice of dispute, payment due date and the 65 working day adjudication window.
This tool provides general estimates only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, contact Vitt Legal for a consultation — expert, transparent legal advice.
How the calculator works
- You choose the state or territory where the work was done and who you are claiming from. Security of Payment laws are state-based, so the deadlines differ.
- From the date you served your payment claim, it counts forward the working days allowed for the payment schedule and the due date for payment, skipping weekends and any Christmas–New Year days the Act excludes.
- Depending on how the other side responded, it works out the last day to give a notice of intention (where one is required) and to apply for adjudication.
- Where a rule could not be confirmed from an official source, the calculator does not guess: it tells you to confirm that step with a lawyer.
Rules last checked .
Northern Territory Security of Payment rules
Northern Territory (NT)
Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT)
- Which contracts
- The NT uses a different model: the Act implies payment terms only where the contract is silent, and adjudication runs from when a 'payment dispute' arises. High value contracts (at or above the prescribed amount) may contract out.Source: Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT), reprint as in force 25 May 2024
- Counting working days
- Working days exclude weekends, public holidays and 25 December to 7 January.Source: Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT), reprint as in force 25 May 2024
- Time limit to serve a payment claim
- The Act sets no general time limit for serving a claim; the contract governs.Source: Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT), reprint as in force 25 May 2024
- Responding to a claim
- If the contract is silent: a notice of dispute within 10 working days after receiving the claim (implied provision). Otherwise the contract governs.Source: Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT), reprint as in force 25 May 2024
- Due date — claiming from the principal
- The contract date, but payment terms longer than 30 working days are read down to 30 (s 13). If the contract is silent, 20 working days after receiving the claim.Source: Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT), reprint as in force 25 May 2024
- Due date — claiming from a head contractor
- The contract date, but payment terms longer than 30 working days are read down to 30 (s 13). If the contract is silent, 20 working days after receiving the claim.Source: Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT), reprint as in force 25 May 2024
- Homeowner (owner-occupier) contracts
- How the Act applies to a homeowner's contract was not reviewed — confirm with a lawyer.Needs confirmation with a lawyerSource: Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT), reprint as in force 25 May 2024
- Adjudication — schedule for less than claimed
- Within 65 working days after the dispute arises — here, when the claim is rejected or disputed (s 28).Source: Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT), reprint as in force 25 May 2024
- Adjudication — scheduled amount not paid
- Within 65 working days after the dispute arises — here, when the amount is due and not paid in full (s 28).Source: Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT), reprint as in force 25 May 2024
- Adjudication — no schedule and not paid
- Within 65 working days after the amount claimed falls due and is not paid in full (s 28).Source: Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT), reprint as in force 25 May 2024
- In the NT the respondent's reply is a 'notice of dispute', not a 'payment schedule'. The calculator uses the same inputs for both.
Security of Payment deadlines by state
Maximum periods under each Act. A contract can shorten the payment schedule and due date periods. Adjudication periods run from the event shown.
| State | Payment schedule | Adjudication: schedule for less | Adjudication: no schedule | Claim time limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIC | 10 business days | 10 business days after receipt | Notice within 10 days of due date, 5-day second chance, then 5 business days | 6 months after practical completion (or contract, if later) |
| NSW | 10 business days | 10 business days after receipt | Notice within 20 days of due date, 5-day second chance, then 10 business days | 12 months after work last done (or contract, if later) |
| QLD | 15 business days | 30 business days after receipt | 30 business days | 6 months after work last done (or contract, if later) |
| WA | 15 business days | 20 business days after receipt | Notice within 20 days of due date, 5-day second chance, then 20 business days | 6 months after work last done (or contract, if later) |
| SA | Confirm with a lawyer | Confirm with a lawyer after receipt | Confirm with a lawyer | Confirm with a lawyer |
| TAS | 10 business days | 10 business days after receipt | Notice within 20 days of due date, 5-day second chance, then 10 business days | 12 months after work last done (or contract, if later) |
| ACT | 10 business days | 10 business days after receipt | Notice within 20 days of due date, 5-day second chance, then 10 business days | 12 months after work last done (or contract, if later) |
| NT | 10 working days | 65 working days after receipt | 65 working days | Set by the contract |
What this calculator does not cover
- Public holidays. They are not skipped, so a real deadline can be a day or more later than shown.
- Earlier deadlines set by your contract, beyond the due date you enter.
- Final payment claims, performance security and retention claims, and adjudication responses.
- Contracts signed before the current rules started (see “Which contracts” for each state).
- Whether your payment claim or schedule is valid, or whether the Act covers your contract at all.
- South Australian dates, which could not be confirmed against the current Act.
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