Meeting of ARC 25 May 2026 – Statement of Meeting Outcomes

MEETING OF ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW COUNCIL

25 May 2026

STATEMENT OF MEETING OUTCOMES

Statement of Position 

1. The Council discussed the steps required to finalise and publish its Statement of Position on agency implementation of court and tribunal decisions.

Social Security Inquiry 

2. The Council continued to develop Inquiry recommendations and discussed the steps required to finalise the Inquiry report.

Migration Inquiry

3. The Council noted the progress of the Inquiry and discussed responses to the public consultation, which will be published on the Council’s webpage.

Inquiry on the Commissioner of Taxation’s Recovery of Family Assistance Debts 

4. The Council noted the progress of the Inquiry and discussed potential recommendations. 

Closing the Gap and administrative law

5. The Council discussed whether there may be opportunities to undertake work, within the scope of its statutory functions, that contributes to the Closing the Gap Priority Reforms and their underlying principles. 
6. The Council agreed to obtain further information about existing government projects and partnerships, and to consider whether there are any areas relevant to administrative decision-making and review that would benefit from the Council’s input. 

Administrative Review Council publication: What decisions should be subject to merit review?

7. The Council discussed correspondence received from the Attorney-General which enclosed a letter from the Chair of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation seeking advice on whether the Council was considering updating its 1999 publication entitled ‘What decisions should be subject to merit review?’ (Guideline). 
8. The Council agreed to review and update the Guideline as part of its 2026-27 work program.