Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Strategic direction statement

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) conducts independent merits review of administrative decisions made by Australian Government ministers, departments and agencies and, in limited circumstances, state and territory government and non-government bodies. It can review decisions made under more than 400 acts and legislative instruments. The most common types of decisions reviewed relate to migration and protection (refugee) visas, family assistance and social security, child support, Commonwealth workers’ compensation, Australian citizenship, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, taxation and veterans’ entitlements.  

The Immigration Assessment Authority (IAA), a separate office within the AAT, provides a fast track review process in relation to certain decisions to refuse protection visas.

The AAT provides its services throughout Australia from registries located in the state capital cities, Canberra and on Norfolk Island.

The AAT’s rate of finalisation of cases has not kept pace with significant increases in lodgements experienced in recent years, particularly in applications for review of migration and refugee decisions. Applications relating to decisions made under the National Disability Insurance Scheme continue to increase steadily as the roll-out of the full scheme proceeds. Managing our caseload remains the key challenge for the AAT in 2019-20 and for the forward years.

In 2019-20 and the forward years, the AAT will continue to pursue initiatives in relation to the following strategic priorities:

• improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the AAT’s review processes, including maximising the use of technology;
• pursuing innovative strategies for managing our caseload;
• engaging with stakeholders and building public trust and confidence in our decisions;
• building capacity of AAT members and staff, and making the best use of our resources.