About class actions

What is a class action?

Class actions provide a powerful voice to those who otherwise would be denied any measure of justice and redress. They are an important part of the legal system that enables disputes and claims involving potentially large numbers of people to be resolved in a single case, allowing ordinary Australians to hold large and powerful organisations accountable when they have engaged in serious misconduct.

How do class actions work?

Where seven or more people have claims that arise out of similar circumstances, a class action can be brought by one claimant on their own behalf and as a representative of others. The class action process saves time and expense and avoids the need for the courts to determine common issues of fact or law more than once, enabling disputes and claims involving large numbers of people to be resolved via a single case.

What are the benefits of joining a class action?

Class actions allow victims of mass wrongs to group together to protect their rights and fight for fair compensation. They allow the recovery of losses more fairly and efficiently, and at less individual cost.

Often, one individual lacks the resources to take on a large corporation. But if enough individuals have experienced the same wrongdoing, collectively they can become a powerful force and strong voice for justice.

Class actions are a force for greater corporate and social responsibility and accountability and all Australian consumers and businesses can potentially benefit from their outcomes.

What does it cost to join a class action?

Class actions are run on a 'no win, no fee'* fee basis and signing up will not expose you to any out of pocket costs, even if the legal proceedings are not successful. The law firm or litigation funder will bear the costs and the risks in running the case – not the participating group members.