In the appellate jurisdiction of the Queensland District Court, an appeal was lodged by Lisa Marie Holman against Nicholas Adrian Campbell, heard on March 22, 2024. The crux of the appeal lay in Holman's request for leave to appeal a decision by the Magistrates Court at Holland Park, which was presided over on October 12, 2023. The dispute originated from an employment claim, with the contention primarily revolving around the quantum of the claim. The Magistrates Court had determined the claim to be for $16,473.17, falling below the minor civil dispute limit of $25,000 as prescribed by the QCAT Act, necessitating the appellant to seek leave for the appeal.
Judge Kent KC, overseeing the appeal, sided with the respondent's arguments that leave to appeal should not be granted. His Honour highlighted that the case involved procedural orders rather than a dispute over substantive rights, applying principles that such appeals are sparingly granted to ensure the smooth administration of justice. The judge underscored that the appeal lacked merit, given that no identifiable error was made by the Magistrate in the original proceedings. Consequently, the application for leave to appeal was refused, and Holman was ordered to pay Campbell’s costs on an indemnity basis.