Fact sheet: the new Administrative Review Tribunal

The Administrative Review Tribunal will commence operation on Monday, 14 October 2024. It will replace the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

The new Tribunal can review the same types of decisions as the AAT. It will be user-focused, accessible, independent and fair. The legislation makes changes in response to what people told us was working well, and what needed to be improved, in the AAT

What does this mean for you?

If you have an existing review before the AAT

You do not need to do anything. Your matter will be automatically transferred to the new Tribunal. The Tribunal will be at the same addresses and have the same staff. The new laws apply from 14 October, but the Tribunal will deal with your matter in a way that is efficient and fair

If the AAT has made a decision

AAT decisions will not be considered again in the new Tribunal. You can apply to the federal courts for a review of the AAT decision, if the decision was made in the last 28 days (35 days for migration decisions) or you ask the court for an extension of time. The letter you got from the AAT with the decision will have more information about this.

If the AAT decision was in the Social Security and Child Support Division, you can ask the Tribunal to review the decision a second time, if the AAT decision was made in the last 28 days or you ask the Tribunal for an extension of time. The letter you got from the AAT with the decision will have more information about this.

If you want to seek review of a government decision, but have not yet applied to the AAT

Up until 14 October, you can apply to the AAT for review of that decision. Your application will automatically transfer to the new Tribunal when it commences.

From 14 October, you can apply to the new Tribunal. This includes if the decision was made before 14 October. Your notice of decision will tell you how long you have to apply, or you may be able to ask the Tribunal for an extension of time. For information about how to apply, visit the AAT website.

What else do I need to know?

The new Tribunal will mostly work in the same way as the AAT, but there are changes to make it better. For example, the new Tribunal:

• has more resources to deal with matters more quickly
• must consider accessibility and user needs in how it approaches reviews
• has more ways to keep reviews moving efficiently, including registrars being able to help with management of proceedings
• has a new guidance and appeals panel, which can consider reviews that have wider impacts for a lot of people, and can review some Tribunal decisions a second time if there might have been a mistake

More information

For more information, visit the AAT website. This website will automatically go to the new Tribunal website from 14 October.

If you have questions about your case, please call the AAT on 1800 228 333.

For information about the reform to Australia’s system of administrative review, go to the Attorney-General’s Department website.