Administrative Appeals Tribunal Update

Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Update

On 16 December 2022, the Government announced reform to Australia’s system of administrative review. This reform will abolish the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and establish a new federal administrative review body.

All cases currently before the AAT will continue as usual while the reform is progressed, including all federal workers compensation matters being reviewed pursuant to the:

• Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988,
• Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992, and
• Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.

The government will introduce legislation in 2023 to abolish the AAT and create a new federal administrative review body.

Public consultation on the legislative arrangements for the new administrative review body has now concluded on 12 May 2023. The government is currently considering the submissions made.

As part of the reform, the government will appoint at least 75 additional members to the AAT to address the existing backlog of cases.

Further information can be found at: https://www.ag.gov.au/legal-system/new-system-federal-administrative-review

WLA 2023.