Annual Report 2007-08
Reader's guide
The purpose of this Annual Report is to inform the Attorney-General, the Parliament, Tribunal users and the general public about the performance of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal during the period 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008.
The Tribunal's Organisational Plan 2007-08 sets out key result areas, goals and strategies that are linked to the outcome specified for the Tribunal in the Portfolio Budget Statements. That outcome is:
Improve the quality of administrative decision-making through the provision of a review mechanism that is fair, just, economical, informal and quick.
This report provides information on the Tribunal's performance in relation to this outcome and each of the key result areas identified in the Organisational Plan.
Chapter 1: The year in review
Chapter 1 comprises the President's overview and the Registrar's report. These two reports highlight significant events, issues and developments during the reporting year. Chapter 1 also includes the Tribunal's Organisational Plan for 2007–08 and a statement of achievements against the plan.
Chapter 2: Overview of the Tribunal
Chapter 2 sets out basic information about the Tribunal's role, functions and powers. It includes information about the Tribunal's members and staff, its organisational structure, case management process and the accessibility of the Tribunal.
Chapter 3: Workload and performance
Chapter 3 provides information and commentary on the Tribunal's workload and performance. It sets out summary statistical information on applications lodged and finalised in the reporting year and the number of applications on hand at 30 June 2008. It contains information on the Tribunal's performance in relation to the targets specified in the Portfolio Budget Statements and its performance against internal time standards. It also sets out information on complaints about the Tribunal and external scrutiny of the Tribunal's decisions and operations.
Chapter 4: Our users and our partners
Chapter 4 contains information on the achievement of the goals set out in the Tribunal's Organisational Plan in relation to its users and partners. It includes information on the initiatives undertaken during the reporting year to improve the Tribunal's practices and procedures and to better meet the needs of users. This chapter also provides information on the Tribunal's relationships with other organisations and the various activities undertaken during 2007-08 to increase awareness and understanding of the Tribunal and its role.
Chapter 5: Our people and our organisation
Chapter 5 provides information on the achievement of the goals set out in the Tribunal's Organisational Plan in relation to its people and the organisation. It also contains a range of other information relating to human resource management within the Tribunal and the administration of the Tribunal generally.
The audited financial statements of the Tribunal are set out after Chapter 5, commencing at page 55. There are also ten appendixes which include more detailed information on aspects of the Tribunal and its operations. They include profiles of the Tribunal's members, more detailed statistical information on the Tribunal's workload and performance and summaries of decisions of interest. A complete list of appendixes is provided in the table of contents.
The following tools may assist in finding information in this report - the table of contents at page iv, a compliance index at page 162 and an alphabetical index at page 165. An electronic version of this Annual Report is available from the Tribunal's website at www.aat.gov.au/CorporatePublications/AnnualReport.htm. Further information about the Tribunal is available from the Tribunal's homepage, at www.aat.gov.au.
Enquiries, comments or requests for further information about this Annual Report may be addressed to:
Registrar
Principal Registry
Administrative Appeals Tribunal
GPO Box 9955
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Telephone: (02) 9391 2491
Fax: (02) 9391 2578
Email: annrep@aat.gov.au