After the uncollected goods hearing

Options after the hearing

If you are unhappy with the decision in your uncollected goods case, or you did not attend the hearing, there may be steps you can take.

What you can do depends on whether your case was decided by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal or the Local Court.

Use the headings below to find the option that applies to you.

NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing

If you missed your hearing and want to re-open your case

If you applied to NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) and your case was dismissed because you missed the hearing, you can apply to NCAT to reinstate (re-open) your case.

You must apply within 7 days of the decision. 

If your case is reinstated, you will be given a new hearing. 

NCAT can only reinstate your case if you have a reasonable explanation for why you missed the hearing. 

You cannot apply if you were the respondent. 

For more information, see Apply to reinstate your case.

If you missed your hearing and want to cancel or change the decision

You may be able to apply to set aside or vary the decision within seven days, if: 

• all parties agree that the decision should be changed, or  
• you could not attend the hearing and your case was not adequately put to NCAT. 

If the decision is set aside or varied, you will be given a new hearing. 

If you are unsure whether you can apply to set aside or vary the orders, you should get legal advice.

For more information, see Apply to set aside or vary the decision.

If you attended your hearing but are unhappy with the decision  

If you are unhappy with the decision made by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), you may be able to appeal to the Appeal Panel of NCAT within 28 days. 

You may be able to appeal: 

• on a question of law 
• on any other question, with the leave (permission) of the Appeal Panel. 

For more information, see Appeal to the Appeal Panel.

If you are unhappy with the Appeal Panel's decision

If you are unhappy with the decision of the Appeal Panel, you may be able ask for leave (permission) to appeal to the Supreme Court within 28 days of the decision. 

You can only appeal on a question of law. 

The Supreme Court can’t review the merits of the NCAT decision. That is, whether the right decision was made in the circumstances. 

For more information, see Appeal to the Supreme Court of NSW.

Local Court hearing

If you’re unhappy with a registrar’s decision during the case 

If you are unhappy with a direction, order or action of the Registrar during your case, you may be able to apply for a review of the decision, within 28 days.

Before applying for a review, you should get legal advice.

For more information, see Apply for a review of a local court decision.

If you’re unhappy with the final judgment 

If you are unhappy with the final decision of the local court, you may be able to appeal within 28 days of the date of the decision.  In some circumstances, you may need the leave (permission) of the court to appeal.

Appealing the judgment won’t automatically stay (stop) the judgment from being enforced. You must apply for a 'stay of enforcement'.

Before filing an appeal, you should get legal advice. If your appeal is unsuccessful, it is very likely you will be ordered to pay the other party’s legal costs.

For more information, see Appeal a local court decision.

Last updated: July 2026