Welcome to the Administrative Review Council

The role of the Administrative Review Council ‘is to ensure that our system of administrative review is as effective and significant in its protection of the citizen as it can be’.

RJ Ellicott QC
Attorney-General
15 December 1976 at the first meeting of the Council

The Council is ‘an effective body, providing useful and timely advice on administrative review matters’.

Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee Report on the Role and Functions of the Administrative Review Council, June 1997.

Administrative Review Council’s Annual Report for 2008-09

On Wednesday 28 October 2009, the Administrative Review Council’s Annual Report was tabled in the Australian Parliament.

Launch of the Council’s latest Publication

On 26 August 2009, the Attorney-General launched the Administrative Review Council’s revised Guide to Standards of Conduct for Tribunal Members. The Guide, first published by the Council in 2001, has been updated to reflect the evolving role of tribunals and the changing public expectations of tribunal members. The Council continues to focus on core administrative law values – respect for the law, fairness, independence, respect for persons, diligence and efficiency, integrity, and accountability and transparency – and is intended to assist and complement tribunal management in maintaining the high level of standards expected of tribunal members.

ARC Report No. 49

On 28 November 2008, the Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland, launched the Council’s latest report, ‘Administrative accountability in business areas subject to complex regulation’.

The report focuses on accountability and transparency in the development of business rules. It provides a useful framework of principles and suggested actions for government agencies, and industry and other non-government entities involved in business regulation. The report encompasses regulation by way of ‘black letter’ law and ‘soft law’ guidelines and codes.

Copies of the report can be obtained by contacting the Council’s Secretariat at arc.can@ag.gov.au.