Administrative Review Tribunal (Miscellaneous Measures)

The Bill would amend the ART Act to improve the operation of provisions and the experience of applicants. For example, the Bill would make amendments to exclude the period between 24 December and 14 January from the calculation of the 28-day period from which a party can appeal a decision of the Tribunal to the Federal Court of Australia. This would align the ART Act with the Federal Court Rules 2011 and address practical difficulties and disadvantages to parties seeking to make an appeal over the holiday period.

Removing time limits to apply for review of certain Social Services decisions The Bill would amend legislation in the Social Services portfolio to remove the three‑month time limit to apply for both internal and Tribunal review of ABSTUDY or Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) debt decisions. This time limit is anomalous, and does not apply in reviews of debt decisions in relation to other social security payments. By removing the time limit from the ABSTUDY and AIC debt decisions, the Bill removes a potential barrier for individuals seeking review of government decisions.

(4) Schedule 2, items 115 to 119, page 35 (line 18) to page 37 (line 2), omit the items, substitute: 115 Paragraph 347(3)(a) Omit “7 days”, substitute “14 days”. [applications for review]

We have just heard Senator Cash refer to some deeply disturbing consequences arising from the haste with which this legislation was pushed through this place. Just to recap: this is in the context of women's safety in child support matters. Because of the passage of the administrative review tribunal legislation, Services Australia is now inadvertently in the position where every 28 days it is forced to manually review each customer file that is before the tribunal. It's a new requirement and an incredibly intensive requirement. It involves reviewing thousands of documents and applying redacti

Ability to change a decision once a matter is referred to the guidance and appeal panel A number of items in this Schedule make amendments to harmonise the application of section 31 of the ART Act where a decision has been referred to the guidance and appeals panel. Some legislation disapplies or applies contrary to the operation of section 31 of the ART Act, thereby allowing for a decision to be altered by the decision maker while the decision is before the Tribunal. The amendments provide that where a decision is before the guidance and appeals panel, section 31 of the ART Act applies to th

(1) Schedule 4, page 48 (after line 4), after item 5, insert: 5A At the end of section 237 Add: Registrar in each State, in the Australian Capital Territory and in the Northern Territory (3) The Principal Registrar must ensure that at least one registrar is appointed in each State, in the Australian Capital Territory and in the Northern Territory. 5B Section 243 Repeal the section, substitute: 243 Registries The Minister must cause such registries of the Tribunal to be established as the Minister thinks fit, but so that at least one registry shall be established in each State, in the A

The Administrative Review Tribunal (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2024 supports the establishment of the new Administrative Review Tribunal created by the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024. The ART Act commenced on 14 October last year. The miscellaneous measures bill completes the establishment of the tribunal by making technical amendments to 54 Commonwealth acts, including the ART Act, to support the efficient conduct of tribunal review and to ensure the legislation operates as intended. The bill makes minor amendments to the ART Act and other laws aimed at improving the fairness and