---
title: "Prepare a Northern Territory adjudication application or the 15-working-day response"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/construction-and-infrastructure/draft-the-payment-schedule-and-adjudication-response/northern-territory"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A11-SOP-NT-2"
practice_area: "Construction & Infrastructure"
tier: "red"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["NT"]
last_reviewed: "2026-09-23"
---

# Prepare a Northern Territory adjudication application or the 15-working-day response

> Extract the day the application was served, the parties to be served and the contract documents attached into a service list.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/construction-and-infrastructure/draft-the-payment-schedule-and-adjudication-response/northern-territory  
Last reviewed: 2026-09-23

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Construction & Infrastructure](https://ailawframework.com/practice/construction-and-infrastructure.md) |
| Human involvement | Red: Lawyer writes; AI may check, clarify or collect data |
| How AI is used | Extract the day the application was served, the parties to be served and the contract documents attached into a service list. |
| What the lawyer must review | Settle the application or response Approve what is served; the service list does not decide the contents |
| Written for | Northern Territory |
| Applies to | [Draft the payment schedule and adjudication response](https://ailawframework.com/practice/construction-and-infrastructure/draft-the-payment-schedule-and-adjudication-response.md) |

## Checking plan

**Lawyer-led judgement**

Section 29 gives 15 working days after service of the application to serve a written response. Section 33 defines the prescribed time for a determination as 10 working days, and allows the adjudicator to add 5 working days. A suspension notice under section 44 must be given at least 3 working days before the stated date.

- What the AI does: Extract the day the application was served, the parties to be served and the contract documents attached into a service list.
- What the lawyer does: Settle the application or the response, choose who must be served, and approve the document that goes out.
- Who reviews: Lawyer competent in the matter and this security-of-payment statute
- Basis: Read on 22 September 2026 from the Queensland reprint current from 28 May 2026, the Western Australian compilation, the South Australian authorised PDF marked version 10.12.2011, the Northern Territory reprint as in force at 25 May 2024, and the linked government pages. Confirm the instrument is still current.
- Why: The traffic light follows the consequence of using the wrong statute, or the wrong day, for a payment claim, payment schedule or adjudication.
- Restriction: The lawyer leads this decision. Assistance stays inside the preparation described for the task.

## Checks the lawyer makes

1. Prepare the application under section 28: contract or extracts, the payment claim, and the submissions relied on. Serve it on each other party and on the adjudicator or prescribed appointer in section 28(1)(c), inside the 65 working days worked out in the companion task.
2. For a party who is served, serve the written response within 15 working days after the date of service, on the applicant, on every other party already served, and on the adjudicator or the prescribed appointer.
3. Record the prescribed time in section 33 as 10 working days after service of the response, or 10 working days after the last day for a response. The adjudicator may add 5 working days under section 33(2B). If the time ends without a dismissal or a determination, a further application is within 20 working days under section 39(2)(b).
4. If payment under a determination is missed, a section 44 notice must state the suspension date and be given at least 3 working days before that date. Do not shorten that to 3 calendar days.

## Notes

- Suggested working checks from the linked public source. Read that source before you rely on the check. This is not a record that the check has been done.

## Practical guide

Jurisdiction: Northern Territory

**Deliverable**: An adjudication application that meets section 28, or a response served within 15 working days under section 29, with the service list attached.

**Inputs**

- The payment claim and the facts that make it a payment dispute
- The construction contract or the relevant extracts
- The Act, sections 28, 29, 33 and 44
- The Northern Territory Government construction-dispute page

**Example**: The application is served on the other party on a working day. Section 29(1) requires that party to prepare a written response and serve it within 15 working days after the date of service, on the applicant, on any other party already served, and on the appointed adjudicator or, if none is appointed, on the prescribed appointer. If a response is served, section 33 gives the adjudicator 10 working days after the date of service of the response. The adjudicator may add 5 working days under section 33(2B).

**Stop and escalate when**

- The response is timed at 10 business days because that is a Western Australian adjudication response. Section 29(1) says 15 working days after the date of service.
- The government page “28 days” is used for a further application after a deemed dismissal. Section 39(2)(b) says 20 working days after the previous application is taken to be dismissed.
- A suspension notice is given on 3 calendar days because the government page says “at least three days’ notice”. Section 44(2)(c) says the notice must be given at least 3 working days before the stated date.
- The prescribed time is taken from the government page without opening section 33. The Act defines it as 10 working days after service of the response, or 10 working days after the last date for a response if none is served.

Checked 2026-09-22.

## Sources

- [Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004 (NT), as in force at 25 May 2024, official Word text](https://legislation.nt.gov.au/api/sitecore/Act/Word?id=11703) (checked 2026-09-22)
- [Northern Territory legislation: Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act 2004](https://legislation.nt.gov.au/en/Legislation/CONSTRUCTION-CONTRACTS-SECURITY-OF-PAYMENTS-ACT-2004) (checked 2026-09-22)
- [Northern Territory Government: Get help to resolve a construction dispute](https://nt.gov.au/property/building/make-a-complaint-or-settle-a-dispute/construction-contracts-and-resolving-disputes/get-help-to-resolve-a-construction-dispute) (checked 2026-09-22)

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*