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Administrative Appeals Tribunal

AAT

1 July 1976 – 14 October 2024

The Commonwealth's general administrative merits review tribunal, which reviewed decisions made under several hundred Commonwealth laws, including taxation, social security, veterans' entitlements, migration and refugee, freedom of information and security assessment decisions.

How it came into existence

Began operating on 1 July 1976 under the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, following the recommendations of the Kerr Committee (1971). It was a new body whose jurisdiction was conferred by individual Acts and grew steadily as specialist review bodies were folded into it.

Legislation: Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975

Changes during its life

  1. 1 July 2015Reorganised into divisions, including the Migration and Refugee Division and the Social Services and Child Support Division, when the merits review tribunals were amalgamated into it.
  2. 16 December 2022The Government announced that the tribunal would be abolished and replaced by a new federal administrative review body.
  • Absorbed Taxation Boards of Review · 1 July 1986
    • Review of objections to taxation assessments

    The boards' jurisdiction passed to the new Taxation Appeals Division of the tribunal.

  • Absorbed Security Appeals Tribunal · 1995
    • Review of adverse and qualified ASIO security assessments

    Became the AAT's Security Appeals Division.

  • Absorbed Migration Review Tribunal · 1 July 2015
    • Review of migration and visa decisions
  • Absorbed Refugee Review Tribunal · 1 July 2015
    • Review of protection visa decisions
  • Absorbed Social Security Appeals Tribunal · 1 July 2015
    • First-tier review of social security, family assistance and child support decisions
  • Took over functions from Repatriation Review Tribunal · 1 January 1985
    • Final merits review of repatriation pension and entitlement decisions

How it ended

Abolished on 14 October 2024, when the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 was repealed by the Administrative Review Tribunal (Consequential and Transitional Provisions No. 1) Act 2024; its pending reviews, staff and functions passed to the new Administrative Review Tribunal.

Main functions

  • Merits review of Commonwealth administrative decisions
  • Taxation and commercial review (from 1986)
  • Final merits review of veterans' entitlement decisions
  • Review of ASIO security assessments (from 1995)
  • Migration and refugee review (from 2015)
  • Social services and child support review (from 2015)
  • Freedom of information review

Where it sits

Last in the portfolio of Attorney-General's Department.

Lineage

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Sources

Primary sources