Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT):

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal was established by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) (AAT Act). Its purpose is to conduct independent reviews of decisions made by Australian Government ministers, departments and agencies, and in limited circumstances, decisions made by state government and non-government bodies based upon the “merits” of the decision. This means that the AAT takes a fresh look at the facts, law and policy relating to the decision.

The AAT does not have a general power to review decisions. It can only review a decision if an Act, Regulation or legislative instrument allows for the decision to be reviewed by the AAT.

The decisions that can be reviewed by the AAT include:

• Child support.
• Commonwealth workers’ compensation.
• Family assistance, paid parental leave, social security and student assistance.
• Migration and refugee visas and visa-related decisions.
• Taxation.
• Veterans’ entitlements.
• Australian Citizenship
• Bankruptcy.
• Civil Aviation.
• Corporations and Financial Services Regulation.
• Customs.
• Freedom of Information.
• The National Disability Insurance Scheme.
• Passports.
• Security assessments by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

The AAT has the power to:

• Affirm a decision.
• Vary a decision.
• Set aside a decision and substitute a new decision, or
• Remit a decision to the decision to the decision-maker for reconsideration.

The Divisions of the AAT are:

1. The Freedom of Information Division.
2. The Migration and Refugee Division.
3. The National Disability Insurance Scheme Division.
4. The Security Division.
5. The Social Services and Child Support Division.
6. The Taxation and Commercial Division.
7. The Veterans’ Appeals Division.
8. The General Division.

If you wish to discuss your AAT matter, we invite you to contact our firm by telephone on (02) 9233 4048 or send an email to info@navado.com.au. 

This webpage (and any material or wording appearing on this webpage) is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute any Legal Advice. It does not take into account your objectives, your instructions or all of the relevant facts and/or circumstances. Navado accepts no responsibility to any person who relies on the information provided on this website. We further refer you to our Disclaimer.