Child Support
In this case, a parent who was liable to pay child support had elected to estimate their annual income for the purposes of the child support assessment. The AAT was asked to review the Child Support Agency’s decision to refuse to accept the estimate.
Compensation
The main issue for the AAT in this case was to decide whether the applicant, a postman, had developed physical and psychological injuries during the course of his employment. Considering medical evidence, the AAT found that Australia Post were liable to pay compensation for the injuries and remitted the matter to Australia Post for reconsideration.
Migration and Refugee
The applicant applied for a Protection visa because he feared physical harm from a well-connected politician in his home country of Thailand. The applicant asked the AAT to review the Department of Home Affairs’ decision not to grant him a Protection visa.
The AAT was asked to review a decision by the Department of Home Affairs to refuse to grant a Partner visa to the applicant. The AAT was satisfied that the applicant and sponsor have a mutual commitment to a shared life as a married couple to the exclusion of all others, that the relationship is genuine and continuing and that they live together.
The applicant applied to the Department of Home Affairs for a visa extension. However, the applicant needed to establish exceptional circumstances. The Department refused to grant the visa. The AAT also found the applicant’s reasons did not form ‘an exception’ and affirmed the Department's decision.
Social Services (second review)
The applicant in this case was seeking the Disability Support Pension. The AAT had to establish whether the applicant’s impairments were diagnosed, treated and/or stabilised, and determine whether they were permanent.
Taxation and Commercial
The applicant had provided the NSW government with driverless trains that now run on the Sydney metro system. Seeking a Tariff Concession Order (TCO) to import driverless trains free of duty, the applicant asked the AAT to review the Comptroller-General of Custom’s decision not to issue the TCO.
Veterans' Entitlements
Veterans are entitled to a disability pension when they are incapable of undertaking remunerative work due to the impact of war-caused injuries. The issue in this case was whether the applicant was entitled to the disability pension at the special, intermediate or general rate.