Administrative Review Tribunal to Commence in October

The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) will commence operations on 14 October 2024. The new, fit-for-purpose federal review body will replace the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

Legislation to abolish the AAT and replace it with the ART passed the Parliament in May 2024.

An effective administrative review system is essential for the tens of thousands of people who seek independent review of government decisions each year – decisions that have major and sometimes life-altering impacts on their lives.

The ART’s objective will be to provide administrative review that:

is fair and just
resolves applications in a timely manner, with as little formality and expense as possible
is accessible and responsive to the diverse needs of parties
improves the transparency and quality of government decision-making, and
promotes public trust and confidence in the Tribunal.

All matters currently before the AAT will continue as usual and will automatically transition to the ART upon its commencement. People who have applied to the AAT for review of a decision do not need to submit a new application, and all AAT decisions that have already been finalised will not be considered again by the ART.

The Honourable Justice Emilios Kyrou AO is the inaugural President of the ART. Justice Kyrou was appointed President of the AAT on 9 June 2023 following a transparent and merit-based selection process and will lead the new Tribunal through the transition and for the remainder of his term.

All ongoing and non-ongoing AAT staff will transition to the ART on its commencement on equivalent terms and conditions.

A central feature of the ART is a transparent and merit-based selection process for the appointment of non-judicial members, in accordance with the Guidelines for appointments to the AAT and informed by requirements set out in the ART Act.

Appointments of non-judicial Deputy Presidents

The Australian Government has appointed 6 new non-judicial Deputy Presidents to the AAT, in addition to the two previously announced on 21 June 2024.

The appointees will initially commence their terms at the AAT to ensure it maintains capacity to hear matters in the period prior to commencement of the ART. They will transition to the ART when it commences on 14 October 2024.

Each of these appointees were assessed as suitable for appointment by an independent selection panel through a transparent and merit-based process, which is a central feature of the reform.

The process for the current appointments was conducted in accordance with the Guidelines for appointments to the AAT and closely informed by requirements set out in the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024.

On behalf of the Government, I congratulate each of these members on their appointment to the AAT.

The Government will announce further appointments to the AAT and the ART in due course.

More information is available on the Attorney-General’s Department website.