Over 800 mediations were completed during the year, with 20 per cent conducted in regional Victoria.
The mediation settlement rate, at 83.1 per cent, was the highest result in the ten years of the VSBC’s role.
While two thirds of matters handled by the VSBC related to retail tenancy disputes, the VSBC also handled a signficant number of general commercial disputes, including supply chain, franchising, business purchase, distribution agreement and other disputes.
At a cost to each party of just $195 for most mediations, with high likelyhood of settlement, engaging with the VSBC makes good commercial sense. Mediations can be organised quickly, too, enabling the parties to ‘get back to business’ and not face the delay, the uncertainty, the stress and the cost of litigation.
The VSBC can be contacted on 13 VSBC (13 8722) or visit www.vsbc.vic.gov.au.
View Geoff Browne talking about the role of the Commissioner and the services his office provides, produced by the IPA, below:
