Part 1: Introductory provisions Section 1: Overview
This section sets out the overall purpose and structure of the Act. Subsection (1) of this section sets out that the Act provides for a process of arbitration to be available to resolve disputes about relief for the tenant from payment of certain debts due to the landlord under a business tenancy. These debts are described as "protected rent debts" throughout the Act and resolution by arbitration is available in those cases where the tenant and landlord are not able to reach mutual agreement.
	Subsection (2) introduces the different provisions of the Act and explains what they provide for:
Sections 2 to 6 of Part 1 provide definitions of key terms used for the purposes of this Act;
Part 2 establishes a process of statutory arbitration which can lead to awarding the tenant relief from payment of a protected rent debt;
Part 3 provides for temporary restrictions on the availability of certain remedies that would otherwise be available to a landlord, and of certain insolvency measures that would otherwise be available to the parties, in relation to a protected rent debt.
	Subsection (3) clarifies that nothing in the Act affects the ability of tenants and landlords at any time to reach agreement on the payment of a protected rent debt (or any other matter relating to the tenancy), nor does it prevent such an agreement having effect and being enforced. This means that while the Act enables relief from payment of protected rent debt through arbitration, it does not prevent the parties to a business tenancy from agreeing relief from payment through another process, whether before or during the arbitration process. Where they do reach agreement, arbitration under this Act is not be available.