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The Administrative Appeals Tribunal gives people the opportunity to obtain independent review of administrative decisions made under Commonwealth laws. We review decisions made by Australian Government ministers, departments and agencies and, in limited circumstances, decisions made by state and territory government and non-government bodies.

When we review a decision, we take a fresh look at the facts, law and policy relating to the decision. We consider all the material before us, including new information that was not available to the original decision-maker, and decide what is the correct or preferable decision in the case.

The AAT consists of the President, who is a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, and the other members who may be appointed as Deputy Presidents, Senior Members and Members. The Registrar and staff assist the AAT to carry out our functions.

Established more than four decades ago, the AAT can now review decisions made under more than 400 laws. We most commonly review decisions relating to:

  • Australian citizenship
  • child support
  • family assistance and social security
  • migration and refugee visas
  • the National Disability Insurance Scheme
  • taxation
  • veterans’ entitlements, and
  • workers’ compensation under Commonwealth laws.

We also review a wide range of other decisions, such as decisions about aged care, bankruptcy, child care services, civil aviation, corporations and financial services regulation, customs, education regulation, freedom of information, paid parental leave, passports, and security assessments by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

Applications to the AAT are managed in one of eight divisions:

  • Freedom of Information Division
  • General Division
  • Migration and Refugee Division
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme Division
  • Security Division
  • Social Services and Child Support Division
  • Taxation and Commercial Division, and
  • Veterans’ Appeals Division.

Key caseload statistics

The AAT received 58,780 applications and finalised 40,040 applications in 2017–18. There were 53,282 applications on hand at 30 June 2018.

The number of applications lodged in 2017–18 was 14 per cent higher than the number lodged in 2016–17, which was 24 per cent higher than the number of lodgements in the previous year. Finalisations in the reporting period fell by five per cent from the 42,224 applications finalised in 2016–17.

The overall number of applications on hand at 30 June 2018 was 54 per cent higher than at 30 June 2017.

Caseload overview, 2015–16 to 2017–18

Bar chart providing a caseload overview in the ‘2015–16’ to ‘2017–18’ financial years. The table shows the number of applications lodged, finalised and on hand at year end.

The size of the AAT’s caseload varies considerably between divisions as shown in the table below. The majority of applications made in 2017–18 were in the Migration and Refugee Division and the Social Services and Child Support Division.

Lodgements, finalisations and cases on hand, 2017–18 – By division
DIVISION Lodgements % of totala Finalisations % of totala On hand % of totala
Freedom of Information 47 <1% 50 <1% 63 <1%
General 5,300 9% 5,234 13% 3,819 7%
Migration and Refugee 37,933 65% 17,960 45% 44,436 83%
National Disability Insurance Scheme 802 1% 441 1% 515 <1%
Security 7 <1% 10 <1% 8 <1%
Social Services and Child Support 13,435 23% 15,075 38% 2,698 5%
Taxation and Commercial 895 2% 790 2% 1,325 2%
Veterans’ Appeals 361 <1% 480 1% 418 <1%
TOTAL 58,780 100% 40,040 100% 53,282 100%

 

Our review processes vary according to the type of decision being reviewed. These differences reflect legislative requirements as well as particular approaches we use to manage the broad range of decisions we can review. Our procedures are designed to give an applicant and any other party to a review a reasonable opportunity to present their case.

A key feature of merits review is the opportunity for the applicant and any other party to give us new information that was not available to the original decision-maker. At different stages of the review process, we may invite or direct a party to give us information that will be relevant to the case.

In some types of reviews, we hold conferences or directions hearings to talk to the parties about the issues and give directions about what the parties must do and by when to progress the case. When a review involves more than one party, we usually help them try to reach an agreed outcome without the need for a hearing while ensuring steps are taken to prepare for a hearing in the event it cannot be resolved by agreement. As well as conferences, we use other types of alternative dispute resolution processes to try to resolve cases by agreement. In some types of reviews, the case is listed directly for a hearing.

Number of alternative dispute resolution processes, directions hearings and hearings, 2015–16 to 2017–18
EVENT TYPE 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18
Alternative dispute resolution processes (conferences, conciliations, case appraisals, mediations and neutral evaluations) 8,636 8,826 9,154
Directions hearings 2,788 2,669 3,054
Hearings 24,856 26,638 22,004

 

Applications made to us may be finalised in different ways. In 2017–18, the majority of applications were finalised by the Tribunal making a decision on the review, generally after conducting a hearing.

Mode of finalisation of applications for review of decisions, 2017–18a
Pie chart showing the mode of finalisation of applications for review of decisions in ‘2017–18’. Segments are ‘By decision’, ‘Withdrawn’, ‘No jurisdiction’, ‘By consent’, and ‘Dismissed by Tribunal’.

a ‘By decision’ are applications finalised by a decision of the AAT on the merits under section 43 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 or section 349 or 415 of the Migration Act 1958. ‘No jurisdiction’ are applications finalised on the basis that the decision is not subject to review by the AAT, the applicant does not have standing to apply for a review, the application has not been made within a prescribed time limit, the AAT has refused to extend the time for applying for a review or the application fee has not been paid. ‘By consent’ are applications finalised in accordance with terms of agreement reached by the parties under section 34D, 42A(1) or 42C of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act. ‘Dismissed by Tribunal’ are applications dismissed for failure to appear before the Tribunal, failure to proceed with an application or comply with a direction of the AAT or on the basis that the application is frivolous, vexatious, misconceived, lacking in substance, has no reasonable prospect of success or is an abuse of the process of the AAT.

The AAT changed the decision under review in 23 per cent of all applications finalised in 2017–18 compared with 26 per cent in 2016–17. Decisions are commonly changed because of the new information that was available to the AAT but not available to the original decision maker. A change in the applicant’s circumstances since the time of the original decision can also be relevant. The AAT may reach different conclusions when we apply the law and make a decision based on the information available at the date of the AAT hearing.

Performance

Timeliness

In 2017–18, 77 per cent of applications were finalised within 12 months of lodgement, two per cent above the target of 75 per cent.

Graphic showing the number of applications finalised in ‘2017–18’.

Judicial review outcomes

The AAT aims to have fewer than five per cent of all appealable decisions overturned by the courts. The number of appeals allowed by the courts in 2017–18 amounted to 3.1 per cent of all decisions made by the AAT in 2016–17.

Graphic showing the number of decisions set aside on appeal in ‘2017–18’.

Publication of decisions

The Tribunal published 4,918 decisions with written reasons in 2017–18, exceeding the target of 4,000 decisions.

decisions

More detailed information about the AAT and our operations is set out in our 2017-18 Annual Report, which is available on our website at http://www.aat.gov.au/about-the-aat/corporate-information/annual-reports.

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