An Act to establish an Administrative Appeals
Tribunal
Part I—Preliminary
1 Short title
This Act may be cited
as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975.
2 Commencement
This Act shall come
into operation on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.
2A Tribunal’s objective
In carrying out its
functions, the Tribunal must pursue the objective of providing a mechanism of
review that:
(a) is accessible;
and
(b) is fair, just,
economical, informal and quick; and
(c) is proportionate
to the importance and complexity of the matter; and
(d) promotes public
trust and confidence in the decision‑making of the Tribunal.
3 Interpretation
(1) In this Act, unless the
contrary intention appears:
adduce includes give.
agency party means a party who is:
(a) the Secretary of
a Department; or
(b) the Chief
Executive Medicare; or
(c) the Chief
Executive Centrelink; or
(d) the Child Support
Registrar.
alternative dispute resolution
processes means procedures and services for the
resolution of disputes, and includes:
(a) conferencing; and
(b) mediation; and
(c) neutral
evaluation; and
(d) case appraisal;
and
(e) conciliation; and
(f) procedures or
services specified in the regulations;
but does not include:
(g) arbitration; or
(h) court procedures
or services.
Paragraphs (b) to (f) of this
definition do not limit paragraph (a) of this definition.
ASIO affiliate has the same meaning as in the Australian Security Intelligence
Organisation Act 1979.
ASIO employee has the same meaning as in the Australian Security Intelligence
Organisation Act 1979.
authorised member means a member who has been authorised by the President under
section 59A for the purposes of the provision in which the expression
occurs.
authorised officer means an officer of the Tribunal who has been authorised by the
President under section 59B for the purposes of the provision in which the
expression occurs.
authority of Norfolk Island means an authority, tribunal or other body, whether incorporated or
not, that is established by a Norfolk Island enactment.
authority of the Commonwealth means an authority, tribunal or other body, whether incorporated or
not, that is established by an enactment.
Chief Executive Centrelink has the same meaning as in the Human Services (Centrelink) Act
1997.
Chief Executive Medicare has the same meaning as in the Human Services (Medicare) Act
1973.
child support first review means a proceeding that is or would be a proceeding in the Social
Services and Child Support Division on application for AAT first review within
the meaning of the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988.
Commonwealth agency means a Minister or an authority of the Commonwealth.
CSC
(short for Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation) has the same meaning as in
the Governance of Australian Government Superannuation Schemes Act 2011.
Deputy President means a member appointed as a Deputy President of the Tribunal.
enactment means:
(a) an Act;
(b) an Ordinance of a
Territory other than the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory
or Norfolk Island; or
(c) an
instrument (including rules, regulations or by‑laws) made under an Act or under
such an Ordinance;
and includes an enactment as amended by
another enactment.
Note: See also subsection 25(8)
(Norfolk Island enactments).
engage in conduct has the same meaning as in the Criminal Code.
full‑time member means a member who is appointed as a full‑time member.
immigration advisory service means a body that provides services in relation to the seeking by
non‑citizens (within the meaning of the Migration Act 1958) of
permission to enter or remain in Australia.
Judge means:
(a) a Judge of a court
created by the Parliament; or
(b) a person who has
the same designation and status as a Judge of a court created by the
Parliament.
member means:
(a) the President; or
(b) a Deputy
President; or
(c) a senior member;
or
(d) any other member
(of any level referred to in subsection 6(3)).
non‑presidential member means a member other than a presidential member.
Norfolk Island enactment means:
(a) an enactment
(within the meaning of the Norfolk Island Act 1979); or
(b) an instrument
(including rules, regulations or by‑laws) made under such an enactment;
and includes a Norfolk Island enactment
as amended by another Norfolk Island enactment.
officer of the Tribunal means:
(a) the Registrar; or
(b) a person
appointed as an officer of the Tribunal under section 24PA.
part‑time member means a member who is appointed as a part‑time member.
person who made the decision has a meaning affected by:
(a) if a review of
the decision is or would be an AAT first review within the meaning of the A
New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999—section 111B
of that Act; and
(b) if a review of
the decision is or would be an AAT first review within the meaning of the Paid
Parental Leave Act 2010—section 224A of that Act; and
(c) if a review of
the decision is or would be an AAT first review within the meaning of the Social
Security (Administration) Act 1999—section 142A of that Act; and
(d) if a review of
the decision is or would be an AAT first review within the meaning of the Student
Assistance Act 1973—section 311A of that Act.
President means the President of the Tribunal.
presidential member means the President or a Deputy President.
proceeding, in relation to the Tribunal, includes:
(a) an application to
the Tribunal for review of a decision; and
(b) an application to
the Tribunal under subsection 28(1AC); and
(c) an application to
the Tribunal for review of a taxing of costs; and
(d) an application to
the Tribunal for a costs certificate under section 10A of the Federal
Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981; and
(e) an application to
the Tribunal under subsection 62(2) of the Freedom of Information Act
1982; and
(f) any other
application to the Tribunal under this Act or any other Act; and
(g) any matter
referred to the Tribunal for inquiry and/or review under this Act or any other
Act; and
(h) an incidental
application to the Tribunal made in the course of, or in connection with, an
application or proposed application, or a matter, referred to in a preceding
paragraph.
Registrar means the Registrar of the Tribunal.
second review: a review by the Tribunal of a decision is or would be a second
review if another enactment:
(a) authorises an
application to be made for review of the decision; and
(b) designates the
review as an AAT second review.
security assessment or assessment has the same meaning as in the Australian
Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979.
senior member means a senior member of the Tribunal (of either level referred to
in subsection 6(3)).
State includes the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital
Territory.
Tribunal:
(a) means the
Administrative Appeals Tribunal established by this Act; and
(b) in relation to a
proceeding, means the Administrative Appeals Tribunal so established as
constituted for the purposes of the proceeding; and
(c) includes a
member, or an officer of the Tribunal, exercising powers of the Tribunal.
(2) Where a board, committee
or other unincorporated body constituted by 2 or more persons is empowered by
an enactment to make decisions, this Act applies as if that board, committee or
other body were a person empowered to make those decisions.
(3) Unless
the contrary intention appears, a reference in this Act to a decision includes
a reference to:
(a) making,
suspending, revoking or refusing to make an order or determination;
(b) giving,
suspending, revoking or refusing to give a certificate, direction, approval,
consent or permission;
(c) issuing,
suspending, revoking or refusing to issue a licence, authority or other
instrument;
(d) imposing a
condition or restriction;
(e) making a
declaration, demand or requirement;
(f) retaining, or
refusing to deliver up, an article; or
(g) doing or refusing
to do any other act or thing.
4 Extension to external Territories
This Act extends to
every external Territory.
Part II—Establishment of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
Division 1—Establishment of Tribunal
5 Establishment of Tribunal
There is hereby
established an Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
5A Membership
The Tribunal consists
of the following members:
(a) the President;
(b) Deputy
Presidents;
(c) senior members;
(d) other members.
Division 2—Members of Tribunal
6 Appointment of members of Tribunal
(1) The members shall be
appointed by the Governor‑General.
(2) A Judge who is to be
appointed as a member of the Tribunal is to be appointed as the President or a
Deputy President.
(3) A person (other than a
Judge) who is to be appointed as a member of the Tribunal is to be appointed
as:
(a) a Deputy
President; or
(b) a senior member
(level 1); or
(c) a senior member
(level 2); or
(d) a member (level
1); or
(e) a member (level
2); or
(f) a member (level
3).
(4) A member (other than a
Judge) shall be appointed either as a full‑time member or as a part‑time
member.
7 Qualifications for appointment
President
(1) A person must not be
appointed as the President unless the person is a Judge of the Federal Court of
Australia.
Deputy President
(2) A person must not be
appointed as a Deputy President unless the person:
(a) is a Judge of the
Federal Court of Australia or the Family Court of Australia; or
(b) is enrolled as a
legal practitioner (however described) of the High Court or the Supreme Court
of a State or Territory and has been so enrolled for at least 5 years; or
(c) in the opinion of
the Governor‑General, has special knowledge or skills relevant to the duties of
a Deputy President.
Senior members and other members
(3) A person must not be
appointed as a senior member or other member unless the person:
(a) is enrolled as a
legal practitioner (however described) of the High Court or the Supreme Court
of a State or Territory and has been so enrolled for at least 5 years; or
(b) in the opinion of
the Governor‑General, has special knowledge or skills relevant to the duties of
a senior member or member.
7A Appointment of a Judge as a
presidential member not to affect tenure etc.
The appointment of a
Judge as a presidential member, or service by a Judge as a presidential member,
whether the appointment was or is made or the service occurred or occurs before
or after the commencement of this section, does not affect, and shall be deemed
never to have affected, his or her tenure of office as a Judge or his or her
rank, title, status, precedence, salary, annual or other allowances or other
rights or privileges as the holder of his or her office as a Judge and, for all
purposes, his or her service, whether before or after the commencement of this
section, as a presidential member shall be taken to have been, or to be,
service as the holder of his or her office as a Judge.
8 Term of appointment
(3) Subject to this Part, a
member holds office for such period of at most 7 years as is specified in the
instrument of appointment, but is eligible for re‑appointment.
(4) A member who is a Judge
ceases to hold office as a member if he or she ceases to be a Judge.
(7) Subject to this Part, a
member holds office on such terms and conditions as are determined by the
Minister in writing.
9 Remuneration and allowances
(1) A member, other than a
member who is a Judge, shall be paid such remuneration as is determined by the
Remuneration Tribunal, but, if no determination of that remuneration by the
Remuneration Tribunal is in operation, he or she shall be paid such
remuneration as is prescribed.
(2) A member to whom subsection (1)
applies shall be paid such allowances as are prescribed.
(3) Subsections (1) and
(2) have effect subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.
10 Acting appointments
Acting President
(1) The Minister may, by
written instrument, appoint a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia to act as
the President:
(a) during a vacancy
in the office of President (whether or not an appointment has previously been
made to the office); or
(b) during any
period, or during all periods, when the President:
(i) is
absent from duty or from Australia; or
(ii) is,
for any reason, unable to perform the duties of office.
Note: For rules that apply to
acting appointments, see sections 33AB and 33A of the Acts
Interpretation Act 1901.
Acting member (other than President)
(2) The Minister may, by
written instrument, appoint a person to act as a member (other than the
President) during any period, or during all periods, when:
(a) a full‑time
member is absent from duty or from Australia; or
(b) a part‑time
member is unavailable to perform the duties of office.
Qualification for acting appointment
(3) A person must not be
appointed to act in an office under subsection (1) or (2) unless the
person meets the requirements in section 7 for appointment to the office.
Extension of acting appointment
(5) Where a person has been
appointed under subsection (2), the Minister may, by reason of a pending
proceeding or other special circumstances, direct, before the absent or
unavailable member ceases to be absent or unavailable, that the person so
appointed shall continue to act under the appointment after the member ceases
to be absent or unavailable until he or she resigns the appointment or the
Governor‑General terminates the appointment, but a person shall not continue to
act by virtue of this subsection for more than 12 months after the member
ceases to be absent or unavailable.
(6) Where a person has been
appointed under this section to act as a member during the absence or unavailability
of a member and the member ceases to hold office without having resumed duty or
become available to perform the duties of his or her office, the period of
appointment of the person so appointed shall, subject to this Act, be deemed to
continue until he or she resigns the appointment, the appointment is terminated
by the Governor‑General or a period of 12 months elapses from the day on which
the absent or unavailable member ceases to hold office, whichever first
happens.
Terms and conditions of acting appointment
(7) Subject to this Part, a
person (other than a Judge) appointed to act in an office under subsection (2)
is to act on such terms and conditions as the Minister determines in writing.
10A Delegation
(1) The Minister may, by
signed instrument, delegate to the President any or all of the Minister’s
powers or functions under this Act.
(2) The President may, by
signed instrument, delegate to a member any or all of the President’s powers or
functions under this Act or another enactment.
(3) The Registrar may, by
signed instrument, delegate to an officer of the Tribunal or a member of the
staff of the Tribunal any or all of the Registrar’s powers or functions under
this Act or another enactment.
(4) In exercising powers or
performing functions under a delegation, the delegate must comply with any
directions of the delegator.
10B Oath or affirmation of office
A person who is
appointed or re‑appointed after the commencement of this section as a member
shall, before proceeding to discharge the duties of his or her office, take
before the Governor‑General, a Justice of the High Court or a Judge of another
federal court or of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory an oath or
affirmation in accordance with the form in Schedule 2.
11 Outside employment
(1) A full‑time member must
not engage in paid employment outside the duties of his or her office without
the President’s approval.
(2) A part‑time member must
not engage in any paid employment that, in the President’s opinion, conflicts
or may conflict with the proper performance of his or her duties.
(3) This section does not
apply in relation to the holding by a member of an office or appointment in the
Defence Force.
12 Leave of absence
(1) A full‑time member has
the recreation leave entitlements that are determined by the Remuneration
Tribunal.
(2) The President may grant
a full‑time member leave of absence, other than recreation leave, on the terms
and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise that the Minister determines.
(3) The President may grant
leave of absence to a part‑time member on the terms and conditions that the
President determines.
13 Termination of appointment (not
Judges)
(1) The Governor‑General may
terminate the appointment of a member if an address praying for the
termination, on one of the following grounds, is presented to the Governor‑General
by each House of the Parliament in the same session:
(a) proved
misbehaviour;
(b) the member is
unable to perform the duties of his or her office because of physical or mental
incapacity.
(2) The Governor‑General may
terminate the appointment of a member if:
(a) the member:
(i) becomes
bankrupt; or
(ii) takes
steps to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent
debts; or
(iii) compounds
with one or more of his or her creditors; or
(iv) makes
an assignment of his or her remuneration for the benefit of one or more of his
or her creditors; or
(b) the member is a
full‑time member and is absent, except on leave of absence, for 14 consecutive
days or for 28 days in any 12 months; or
(c) the member is a
part‑time member and is unavailable, except on leave of absence, to perform the
duties of his or her office for more than 3 months; or
(d) the member
contravenes section 11 (outside employment); or
(e) the member fails,
without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 14 (disclosure of
interests).
(3) The Governor‑General may
terminate the appointment of a member assigned to the Migration and Refugee
Division if the member has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in an
immigration advisory service.
(4) The appointment of a
member may not be terminated other than in accordance with this section.
(5) This section does not
apply in relation to a member who is a Judge.
14 Disclosure of interests by
members
(1) If a member who is, or
is to be, a member of the Tribunal as constituted for the purposes of a
proceeding before the Tribunal has a conflict of interest in relation to the
proceeding, the member:
(a) must disclose the
matters giving rise to that conflict:
(i) to
the parties; and
(ii) to
the President (or, if the member is the President, the Minister); and
(b) must not take
part in the proceeding or exercise any powers in relation to the proceeding
unless the parties and the President (or, if the member is the President, the
Minister) consent.
(2) For the purposes of this
section, a member has a conflict of interest in relation to a proceeding before
the Tribunal if the member has any interest, pecuniary or otherwise, that could
conflict with the proper performance of the member’s functions in relation to
the proceeding.
(3) If the President becomes
aware that a member who is, or is to be, a member of the Tribunal as
constituted for the purposes of a proceeding before the Tribunal has a conflict
of interest in relation to the proceeding, the President:
(a) may, if the
President considers it appropriate, direct the member not to take part in the
proceeding; and
(b) if the President
does not give such a direction—must ensure that the member discloses the
matters giving rise to the conflict to the parties.
15 Resignation
(1) A member may resign his
or her appointment by giving the Governor‑General a written resignation.
(2) The resignation takes
effect on the day it is received by the Governor‑General or, if a later day is
specified in the resignation, on that later day.
Part III—Organisation of the Tribunal
Division 1—Divisions of the Tribunal
Subdivision A—Divisions of the Tribunal
17A Divisions of the Tribunal
The Tribunal is to exercise
powers conferred on it in the following Divisions:
(aa) Freedom of
Information Division;
(a) General Division;
(b) Migration and
Refugee Division;
(c) National
Disability Insurance Scheme Division;
(d) Security
Division;
(e) Social Services and
Child Support Division;
(f) Taxation and
Commercial Division;
(g) any other
prescribed Division.
17B Allocation of business to
Divisions
(1) The Tribunal’s powers in
relation to a proceeding before the Tribunal are to be exercised:
(a) in the Division
prescribed for such a proceeding; or
(b) if no Division is
prescribed for a proceeding—in the Division that the President directs.
(2) Despite subsection (1),
the following powers of the Tribunal may be exercised by the Tribunal only in
the Security Division:
(a) the powers of
review in respect of applications referred to in section 54 of the Australian
Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979;
(b) the power under
the Archives Act 1983 to review a decision of the Archives in respect of
access to a record of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.
Subdivision B—Assignment of members to Divisions
17C Assignment of members to
Divisions
(1) The Minister must assign
a non‑presidential member to one or more Divisions of the Tribunal.
(2) Before the Minister does
so, the Minister must consult the President in relation to the proposed
assignment.
(3) An assignment may only
be varied with the consent of the member concerned.
(4) A non‑presidential
member may exercise, or participate in the exercise of, powers of the Tribunal
only in a Division to which the member is assigned.
(5) If the assignment
is made in writing, the assignment is not a legislative instrument.
17CA Assignment to Freedom of
Information Division
The Minister must not
assign a member to the Freedom of Information Division unless the Minister is
satisfied that the member:
(a) has training,
knowledge or experience relating to the Freedom of Information Act 1982;
or
(b) has other
relevant knowledge or experience that will assist the member in considering
matters relating to the operation of that Act.
17D Assignment to Migration and
Refugee Division
Before assigning a
member to the Migration and Refugee Division, the Minister must consult the
Minister administering the Migration Act 1958 in relation to the
proposed assignment.
17E Assignment to National
Disability Insurance Scheme Division
(1) Before assigning a
member to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Division, the Minister must
consult the Minister administering the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Act 2013 in relation to the proposed assignment.
(2) The Minister must not
assign a member to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Division unless the
Minister is satisfied that the member:
(a) has training,
knowledge or experience relating to disability; or
(b) has other
relevant knowledge or experience that will assist the member in considering
matters relating to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
17F Assignment to Security Division
The Minister must not
assign a member to the Security Division if the member is or has been:
(a) the Director‑General
of Security; or
(b) an ASIO employee
or ASIO affiliate.
Note: See also subsections 19E(3)
and 19F(3).
17G Assignment to Social Services
and Child Support Division
Before assigning a
member to the Social Services and Child Support Division, the Minister must
consult the Minister administering the Social Security (Administration) Act
1999 in relation to the proposed assignment.
17H Assignment to Taxation and
Commercial Division
Before assigning a
member to the Taxation and Commercial Division, the Minister must consult the
Treasurer in relation to the proposed assignment.
17J Validity
Sections 17A to 17H
do not affect the validity of any exercise of powers by the Tribunal.
Subdivision C—Division heads and Deputy Division heads
17K Division heads
Assignment of Division heads
(1) The Minister may assign
a Deputy President to be the head of one or more Divisions of the Tribunal.
(2) Before the Minister does
so, the Minister must consult:
(a) the President;
and
(b) any Minister
required by sections 17D to 17H to be consulted in relation to the
assignment of a member to the Division.
(3) The Minister must not
assign a person to be the head of a Division if the person could not be
assigned to that Division because of section 17CA, subsection 17E(2)
or section 17F.
(4) If the assignment
is made in writing, the assignment is not a legislative instrument.
(5) An assignment under subsection (1):
(a) must be for the
duration, or the remaining duration, of the person’s appointment as a Deputy
President; and
(b) may be varied,
with the person’s consent; and
(c) cannot be
revoked.
Function of Division heads
(6) The head of a Division
has the function of assisting the President in the performance of the
President’s functions by directing the business of the Tribunal in the
Division.
Acting Division heads
(7) The Minister may, by
written instrument, assign a Deputy President or senior member to act as the
head of a Division during any period, or during all periods, when the head of
the Division is absent from duty or from Australia. Such an assignment is taken
to be an appointment to act for the purposes of the Acts Interpretation Act
1901.
17L Deputy Division heads
Assignment of deputy Division heads
(1) The Minister may assign
a Deputy President or a senior member to be the deputy head of one or more
Divisions of the Tribunal.
(2) Before the Minister does
so, the Minister must consult:
(a) the President;
and
(b) any Minister
required by sections 17D to 17H to be consulted in relation to the
assignment of a member to the Division.
(3) The Minister must not
assign a person to be the deputy head of a Division if the person could not be
assigned to that Division because of section 17CA, subsection 17E(2)
or section 17F.
(4) If the assignment
is made in writing, the assignment is not a legislative instrument.
(5) An assignment under subsection (1):
(a) must be for the
duration, or the remaining duration, of the person’s appointment as a Deputy
President or senior member; and
(b) may be varied,
with the person’s consent; and
(c) cannot be
revoked.
Function of deputy Division heads
(6) The deputy head of a Division
has the function of assisting the head of the Division in the performance of
the head of the Division’s functions.
Acting deputy Division heads
(7) The Minister may, by
written instrument, assign a member to act as the deputy head of a Division during
any period, or during all periods, when the deputy head of the Division is
absent from duty or from Australia. Such an assignment is taken to be an
appointment to act for the purposes of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
Division 2—Arrangement of business of Tribunal
18A Arrangement of business
Subject to this Act and
the regulations, the President is responsible for ensuring:
(a) the expeditious
and efficient discharge of the business of the Tribunal; and
(b) that the Tribunal
pursues the objective in section 2A.
18B President’s
directions—arrangement of business
(1) The President may give
written directions in relation to any or all of the following:
(a) the operations of
the Tribunal;
(b) the procedure of
the Tribunal;
(c) the conduct of
reviews by the Tribunal;
(d) the arrangement
of the business of the Tribunal;
(e) the places at
which the Tribunal may sit.
(1A) Before the President does
so, the President must consult the head of any Division to which the direction
would apply.
(2) A failure by the
Tribunal to comply with a direction does not invalidate anything done by the
Tribunal.
(3) If the Tribunal deals
with a proceeding in a way that complies with the directions given under this
section, the Tribunal is not required to take any other action in dealing with
the proceeding.
(4) Without limiting subsection (1),
directions may deal with matters relating to the provision of documents under
sections 37 and 38AA, including any or all of the following matters:
(a) documents that are
or are not required to be lodged under paragraph 37(1)(b) and subsection 38AA(1);
(b) documents that
are or are not required to be lodged under subsection 37(1AAB) for the
purposes of second reviews;
(c) lodgement of
documents for the purposes of subsection 37(1AB);
(d) lodgement of
additional copies of documents;
(e) documents that
are to be given to other parties under subsection 37(1AE).
18C Sittings of Tribunal
Sittings of the
Tribunal are to be held from time to time as required, in such places in
Australia or an external Territory as are convenient.
Division 3—Constitution of Tribunal
Subdivision A—General
19A President’s
directions—constitution
(1) The President may give
written directions in relation to:
(a) the members who
are to constitute the Tribunal for the purposes of a proceeding; and
(b) if there is more
than one such member—the member who is to preside.
(2) Paragraph (1)(b)
does not apply to a proceeding in the Security Division.
19B Constitution
(1) The Tribunal as
constituted for the purposes of a proceeding:
(a) must not have
more than 3 members, unless another provision of this Act or another enactment
provides otherwise in relation to the proceeding; and
(b) must not have
more than one member who is a Judge.
(2) At any time before the
hearing of a proceeding commences, the powers of the Tribunal in relation to
the proceeding may be exercised by the President or an authorised member.
(3) Subsection (2) does
not apply in relation to the following powers:
(a) the power under
section 34J (circumstances in which hearing may be dispensed with);
(b) the power under
section 43 (Tribunal’s decision on review);
(c) the power under
section 59 (advisory opinions);
(d) a power that a
provision of this Act (except this section) or another enactment requires or
permits to be exercised by:
(i) one
or more persons specified by the provision; or
(ii) the
Tribunal constituted in a way specified by the provision.
Note: Examples of powers covered by
subparagraph (3)(d)(i) are the powers under sections 19A, 33 and
43AA. Examples of powers covered by subparagraph (3)(d)(ii) are the powers
under section 19C.
(4) This section does not
apply in relation to a proceeding in the Security Division (see Subdivision B).
19C Constitution for review of
taxing of costs
(1) The Tribunal as
constituted for the purposes of an application for review of a taxing of costs
in another proceeding must be constituted by:
(a) the member who
constituted the Tribunal for the purposes of the other proceeding; or
(b) if the Tribunal
was constituted by more than one member for the purposes of the other
proceeding—the member who presided for those purposes.
(2) However, the Tribunal is
to be constituted as directed by the President if the member referred to in subsection (1):
(a) has stopped being
a member; or
(b) is for any reason
unavailable; or
(c) has been directed
by the President not to take part in the review.
(3) The President must not
give directions that would result in none of the members who constituted the
Tribunal for the purposes of the other proceeding constituting the Tribunal for
the purposes of the review, unless the President is satisfied that it is in the
interests of justice to do so.
19D Reconstitution
Before hearing commences
(1) At any time before the
hearing of a proceeding commences, the President may revoke a direction under
subsection 19A(1) in relation to the proceeding and give another such
direction.
After hearing commences
(2) At any time after the
hearing of a proceeding commences and before the Tribunal determines the
proceeding, the President may revoke a direction under subsection 19A(1)
in relation to the proceeding and give another such direction, if:
(a) the member, or
one of the members, who constitutes the Tribunal for the purposes of the
proceeding:
(i) stops
being a member; or
(ii) is
for any reason unavailable; or
(iii) is
directed by the President not to take part in the proceeding; or
(b) the President
considers that doing so is in the interests of achieving the expeditious and
efficient conduct of the proceeding.
(3) Subsection (2) does
not apply in relation to a proceeding in the Security Division.
(4) The reconstituted
Tribunal must continue the proceeding. For this purpose, it may have regard to
any record of the proceeding before the Tribunal as previously constituted
(including a record of any evidence taken in the proceeding).
President’s directions
(5) The President must not
give a direction referred to in subparagraph (2)(a)(iii) unless the
President:
(a) is satisfied that
it is the interests of justice to do so; and
(b) has consulted the
member concerned.
(6) The President must not,
for the purposes of subsection (2), revoke a direction under subsection 19A(1)
in relation to a proceeding and give another such direction unless the
President:
(a) is satisfied that
it is in the interests of justice to do so; and
(b) has consulted
each member who as a result ceases to be a member of the Tribunal as
constituted for the purposes of the proceeding.
(7) In giving directions for
the purposes of this section, the President must have regard to the Tribunal’s
objective in section 2A.
Subdivision B—Security Division
19E Constitution of Security
Division
Scope
(1) This section applies to
a proceeding in the Security Division other than a proceeding to which section 19F
applies, but has effect subject to subsection 65(2) of the Australian
Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979.
Constitution of Security Division
(2) The Security Division is
to be constituted by a presidential member and 2 other members.
(3) The presidential member
must not participate in the proceeding if the presidential member is or has
been:
(a) the Director‑General
of Security; or
(b) an ASIO employee
or ASIO affiliate.
Presiding member
(4) The presidential member
is to preside at a hearing of the proceeding.
Reconstitution
(5) At any time after the
hearing of a proceeding commences and before the Tribunal determines the
proceeding, the President may revoke a direction under subsection 19A(1)
in relation to the proceeding and give another such direction, in accordance
with this section, if a member constituting the Tribunal for the purposes of
the proceeding is for any reason unavailable.
(6) The reconstituted
Tribunal must continue the proceeding. For this purpose, it may have regard to
any record of the proceeding before the Tribunal as previously constituted
(including a record of any evidence taken in the proceeding).
19F Constitution of Security
Division for proceedings to review certain Archives decisions
Scope
(1) This section applies to
a proceeding in the Security Division in relation to a review of a decision of
the Archives under the Archives Act 1983 relating to a record of the
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.
Constitution of Security Division
(2) The Security Division is
to be constituted by:
(a) 3 presidential
members; or
(b) a presidential
member alone.
(3) A presidential member
must not participate in the proceeding if the presidential member is or has
been:
(a) the Director‑General
of Security; or
(b) an ASIO employee
or ASIO affiliate.
Presiding member
(4) If the Tribunal is
constituted by 3 presidential members, the person who is to preside at a
hearing of the proceeding is:
(a) if the President
is one of the members—the President; or
(b) if the President
is not one of the members but one or more Judges is—the most senior (or only)
Judge; or
(c) if paragraphs (a)
and (b) do not apply—the Deputy President whom the President directs to
preside.
Reconstitution
(5) At any time after the
hearing of a proceeding commences and before the Tribunal determines the
proceeding, the President may revoke a direction under paragraph 19A(1)(a)
in relation to the proceeding and give another such direction, in accordance
with this section, if a member constituting the Tribunal for the purposes of
the proceeding ceases to be available.
(6) The reconstituted
Tribunal must continue the proceeding. For this purpose, it may have regard to
any record of the proceeding before the Tribunal as previously constituted
(including a record of any evidence taken in the proceeding).
Part IIIA—Management of the Tribunal
Division 1—Management responsibilities of President and Registrar
24A Management of administrative
affairs of Tribunal
(1) The President is
responsible for managing the administrative affairs of the Tribunal.
(2) However, the President
is not responsible under subsection (1) for matters relating to the
Tribunal under:
(a) the Public
Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013; or
(b) the Public
Service Act 1999.
(3) The Registrar is not
subject to direction by the President in relation to the Registrar’s
performance of functions, or exercise of powers, under the Acts referred to in subsection (2).
(4) However, the Registrar
must consult with the President in relation to the Registrar’s performance of
those functions or exercise of those powers.
24B Registrar of the Tribunal
In the management of
the administrative affairs of the Tribunal, the President is assisted by the
Registrar of the Tribunal.
Division 1A—Application of the finance law
24BA Application of the finance law
For the purposes of the
finance law (within the meaning of the Public Governance, Performance and
Accountability Act 2013):
(a) the following
group of persons is a listed entity:
(i) the
Registrar;
(ii) the
staff of the Tribunal referred to in subsection 24N(1); and
(b) the listed entity
is to be known as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal; and
(c) the Registrar is
the accountable authority of the listed entity; and
(d) the persons
referred to in paragraph (a) are officials of the listed entity; and
(e) the purposes of
the listed entity include the Registrar’s function to assist the President in
the management of the administrative affairs of the Tribunal (see section 24B).
Division 2—Appointment, powers etc. of Registrar
24C Appointment of Registrar
The Registrar is
appointed by the Governor‑General on the nomination of the President.
24D Powers of the Registrar
(1) The Registrar has power
to do all things necessary or convenient to be done for the purpose of
assisting the President under section 24B.
(2) In particular, the
Registrar may act on behalf of the President in relation to the administrative
affairs of the Tribunal.
(3) The President may give
the Registrar directions regarding the exercise of his or her powers under this
Part.
24E Remuneration of Registrar
(1) The Registrar is to be
paid the remuneration and allowances determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.
(2) If there is no
determination in force, the Registrar is to be paid such remuneration as is
prescribed.
(3) The Registrar is to be
paid such other allowances as are prescribed.
24F Terms and conditions of
appointment of Registrar
(1) The Registrar holds
office for the period (not longer than 5 years) specified in the instrument of
his or her appointment, but is eligible for re‑appointment.
(4) The Registrar holds
office on such terms and conditions (if any) in respect of matters not provided
for by this Act as are determined by the Minister.
24G Leave of absence
(1) The Registrar has such
recreation leave entitlements as are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.
(2) The President may grant
the Registrar leave of absence, other than recreation leave, on such terms and
conditions as to remuneration or otherwise as the Minister determines.
24H Resignation
(1) The Registrar may resign
his or her appointment by giving the Governor‑General a written resignation.
(2) The resignation takes
effect on the day it is received by the Governor‑General or, if a later day is
specified in the resignation, on that later day.
24J Outside employment of Registrar
(1) Except with the consent
of the President, the Registrar must not engage in paid employment outside the
duties of his or her office.
(2) The reference in subsection (1)
to paid employment does not include service in the Defence Force.
24K Termination of appointment
(1) The Governor‑General may
terminate the appointment of the Registrar:
(a) for misbehaviour;
or
(b) if the Registrar
is unable to perform the duties of his or her office because of physical or
mental incapacity.
(2) The Governor‑General may
terminate the appointment of the Registrar if:
(a) the Registrar:
(i) becomes
bankrupt; or
(ii) takes
steps to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent
debts; or
(iii) compounds
with one or more of his or her creditors; or
(iv) makes
an assignment of his or her remuneration for the benefit of one or more of his
or her creditors; or
(b) the Registrar is
absent, except on leave of absence, for 14 consecutive days or for 28 days in
any 12 months; or
(c) the Registrar
engages in paid employment outside the duties of his or her office without the
President’s consent under section 24J; or
(d) the Registrar
fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 24L (disclosure
of interests).
(3) The appointment of the
Registrar may not be terminated other than in accordance with this section.
24L Disclosure of interests by
Registrar
(1) The Registrar must give
written notice to the President of all direct or indirect pecuniary interests
that the Registrar has or acquires in any business or in any body corporate
carrying on a business.
(2) The Registrar must give
written notice to the President of all material personal interests that the Registrar has that
relate to the affairs of the Tribunal.
(3) Section 29 of the Public
Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (which deals with the
duty to disclose interests) does not apply to the Registrar.
24M Acting Registrar
The
President may, in writing, appoint a person to act in the office of Registrar:
(a) during a vacancy
in the office (whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the
office); or
(b) during any
period, or during all periods, when the Registrar is absent from duty or from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.
Note: For rules that apply to
acting appointments, see section 33A of the Acts Interpretation Act
1901.
Division 3—Other officers and staff of Tribunal
24N Staff
(1) The staff of the
Tribunal must be persons engaged under the Public Service Act 1999.
(2) For the purposes of the Public
Service Act 1999:
(a) the following
persons together constitute a Statutory Agency:
(i) the
Registrar;
(ii) the
staff of the Tribunal referred to in subsection (1);
(iii) the
Senior Reviewer and the other Reviewers of the Immigration Assessment
Authority; and
(b) the Registrar is
the head of that Statutory Agency.
24P Functions of Registrar and staff
The Registrar and
members of the staff of the Tribunal have the functions and powers conferred on
them:
(a) by this Act and
any other enactment; and
(b) by the President.
24PA Officers of the Tribunal
The Registrar may, by
writing, appoint a person to be an officer of the Tribunal if:
(a) the person is:
(i) a
member of the staff of the Tribunal referred to in subsection 24N(1); or
(ii) an
APS employee made available to the Tribunal; or
(iii) an
officer of the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island; and
(b) the Registrar is
satisfied that the person has appropriate qualifications and experience.
24Q Engagement of consultants etc.
(1) The Registrar may engage
persons having suitable qualifications and experience as consultants to, or to
perform services for, the Registrar.
(2) An engagement under subsection (1)
is to be made:
(a) on behalf of the
Commonwealth; and
(b) by written
agreement.
Division 4—Miscellaneous administrative matters
24R Annual report
(1) As soon as practicable
after 30 June in each year, the President must prepare a report of the
management of the administrative affairs, including the operation of the
Divisions, of the Tribunal during the year.
Note: The annual report prepared by
the Registrar and given to the Minister under section 46 of the Public
Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 may be included in the
report prepared under this section.
(2) A report prepared after
30 June in a year must be given to the Minister by 15 October of that
year.
(3) The Minister must cause
a copy of the report to be tabled in each House of the Parliament as soon as
practicable.
24W Proceedings arising out of
administration of Tribunal
Any judicial or other
proceeding relating to a matter arising out of the management of the
administrative affairs of the Tribunal under this Part, including any
proceeding relating to anything done by the Registrar under this Part, may be
instituted by or against the Commonwealth, as the case requires.
Part IV—Reviews by the Tribunal of decisions
Division 1A—Scope of operation of this Part
24Z Scope of operation of this Part
(1) Except for the
provisions specified in subsection (2), this Part does not apply in
relation to a proceeding in the Migration and Refugee Division.
Note 1: For the conduct of proceedings
in the Migration and Refugee Division, see Parts 5 and 7 of the Migration
Act 1958.
Note 2: Enactments that authorise the
making of applications for review to the Tribunal can add to, exclude or modify
the operation of this Part.
(2) The following provisions
of this Part apply in relation to a proceeding in the Migration and Refugee
Division:
(a) section 25;
(b) section 42.
Division 1—Applications for review of decisions
25 Tribunal may review certain
decisions
Enactment may provide for applications
for review of decisions
(1) An enactment may provide
that applications may be made to the Tribunal:
(a) for review of
decisions made in the exercise of powers conferred by that enactment; or
(b) for the review of
decisions made in the exercise of powers conferred, or that may be conferred,
by another enactment having effect under that enactment.
(2) The regulations may
provide that applications may be made to the Tribunal for review of decisions
made in the exercise of powers conferred by a Norfolk Island enactment.
(3) Where an enactment makes
provision in accordance with subsection (1) or (2), that enactment:
(a) shall specify the
person or persons to whose decisions the provision applies;
(b) may be expressed
to apply to all decisions of a person, or to a class of such decisions; and
(c) may specify
conditions subject to which applications may be made.
Delegations, acting appointments and
authorisations
(3A) Where an enactment makes
provision in accordance with this section for the making of applications to the
Tribunal for the review of decisions of a person made in the exercise of a
power conferred on that person, that provision of that enactment applies also
in relation to decisions made in the exercise of that power:
(a) by any person to
whom that power has been delegated;
(b) in the case where
the provision specifies the person by reference to his or her being the holder
of a particular office or appointment—by any person for the time being acting
in, or performing any of the duties of, that office or appointment; or
(c) by any other
person lawfully authorized to exercise that power.
Tribunal may determine scope of review
(4A) The Tribunal may determine
the scope of the review of a decision by limiting the questions of fact, the
evidence and the issues that it considers.
Failure of decision‑maker to meet deadline
(5) For the purposes of an
enactment that makes provision in accordance with this section for the making
of applications to the Tribunal for review of decisions, a failure by a person
to do an act or thing within the period prescribed by that enactment, or by
another enactment having effect under that enactment, as the period within
which that person is required or permitted to do that act or thing shall be
deemed to constitute the making of a decision by that person at the expiration
of that period not to do that act or thing.
(5A) For the purposes of
regulations that make provision in accordance with this section for the making
of applications to the Tribunal for review of decisions made in the exercise of
powers conferred by a Norfolk Island enactment, a failure by a person to do an
act or thing within the period prescribed by:
(a) that Norfolk
Island enactment; or
(b) another Norfolk
Island enactment having effect under that Norfolk Island enactment;
as the period within which that person is
required or permitted to do that act or thing is taken to constitute the making
of a decision by that person at the end of that period not to do that act or
thing.
Enactment may add to, exclude or
modify operation of certain provisions
(6) If an enactment provides
for applications to the Tribunal:
(a) that enactment
may also include provisions adding to, excluding or modifying the operation of
any of the provisions of sections 27, 29, 29AB, 29AC, 32, 33 and 35 or of
subsection 41(1) or 43(1) or (2) in relation to such applications; and
(b) those sections
and subsections have effect subject to any provisions so included.
What happens if decision‑maker ceases
to hold office etc.
(7) Where:
(a) a person has made
a decision in respect of which an application may be made to the Tribunal;
(b) the person made
the decision by reason that he or she held or performed the duties of an office
or appointment; and
(c) the
person no longer holds or performs the duties of the office or appointment;
this Act has effect as if the decision
had been made by:
(d) the person for
the time being holding or performing the duties of that office or appointment;
or
(e) if there is no
person for the time being holding or performing the duties of that office or
appointment or the office no longer exists—such person as the President or an
authorised member specifies.
Norfolk Island enactment
(8) If the regulations make
provision in accordance with subsection (2) for the making of applications
to the Tribunal for review of decisions made in the exercise of powers
conferred by a Norfolk Island enactment (the primary Norfolk Island
enactment), this Act, other than:
(a) the definition of
authority of the Commonwealth in subsection 3(1); and
(b) subsections (1),
(5) and (6) of this section; and
(c) paragraph 19B(1)(a);
and
(d) subsection 27(1);
and
(e) paragraph 27A(2)(b);
and
(f) paragraph 33(1)(a);
and
(g) paragraph 43B(1)(a);
and
(h) section 59;
has effect as if:
(i) the primary
Norfolk Island enactment; and
(j) any other Norfolk
Island enactment, in so far as it relates to the primary Norfolk Island
enactment;
were an enactment (within the meaning of
this Act).
26 Restriction on powers of decision‑maker
after application for review is made
(1) Subject to section 42D,
after an application is made to the Tribunal for a review of a decision, the
decision may not be altered otherwise than by the Tribunal on the review
unless:
(a) if regulations
made for the purposes of subsection 25(2) (which deals with Norfolk
Island) did not authorise the making of the application—the enactment that
authorised the making of the application expressly permits the decision to be
altered; or
(aa) if regulations
made for the purposes of subsection 25(2) authorised the making of the
application—the Norfolk Island enactment under which the decision was made
expressly permits the decision to be altered; or
(b) the parties to
the proceeding, and the Tribunal, consent to the making of the alteration.
(1A) Paragraph (1)(b) does
not apply in relation to a proceeding that is a child support first review.
(2) A
reference in subsection (1) to the alteration of a decision is a reference
to:
(a) the
variation of a decision; or
(b) the
setting aside of a decision; or
(c) the setting aside
of a decision and the making of a decision in substitution for the decision set
aside.
27 Persons who may apply to Tribunal
(1) Where this Act or any
other enactment (other than the Australian Security Intelligence
Organisation Act 1979) provides that an application may be made to the
Tribunal for a review of a decision, the application may be made by or on
behalf of any person or persons (including the Commonwealth or an authority of
the Commonwealth or Norfolk Island or an authority of Norfolk Island) whose
interests are affected by the decision.
Note: The enactment may be
regulations made for the purposes of subsection 25(2) (review of decisions
made in the exercise of powers conferred by a Norfolk Island enactment).
(2) An organization or
association of persons, whether incorporated or not, shall be taken to have
interests that are affected by a decision if the decision relates to a matter
included in the objects or purposes of the organization or association.
(3) Subsection (2) does
not apply in relation to a decision given before the organization or
association was formed or before the objects or purposes of the organization or
association included the matter concerned.
27AA Applications to Tribunal under
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act
(1) An application under
subsection 54(1) of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
Act 1979 for review of a security assessment may be made by a person in
respect of whom the assessment was made and who has, in accordance with Part IV
of that Act, been given notice of the assessment.
(2) An application under
subsection 54(2) of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
Act 1979 for review of the findings of the Tribunal on a review of a
security assessment may be made by the person who applied for the review in
which the findings were made.
(3) If the Tribunal is
satisfied that an application referred to in subsection (2) is justified,
it may review its previous findings, and this Act applies in relation to such a
review and the findings in such a review as if it were the review of an
assessment.
27A Notice of decision and review
rights to be given
(1) Subject to subsection (2),
a person who makes a reviewable decision must take such steps as are reasonable
in the circumstances to give to any person whose interests are affected by the
decision notice, in writing or otherwise:
(a) of the making of
the decision; and
(b) of the right of
the person to have the decision reviewed.
(2) Subsection (1)
does not apply to:
(a) a decision that
is deemed to be made because of the operation of subsection 25(5) or (5A);
or
(b) a decision in
respect of which provision relating to the notification of a right of review is
made by another enactment; or
(c) any of the
following decisions:
(i) a
decision not to impose a liability, penalty or any kind of limitation on a
person;
(ii) a
decision making an adjustment to the level of periodic payments to be made to a
person as a member of a class of persons where a similar adjustment is being
made to the level of such payments to the other members of the class;
(iii) if an
enactment establishes several categories of entitlement to a monetary benefit—a
decision that determines a person to be in the most favourable of those
categories;
if the decision
does not adversely affect the interests of any other person; or
(d) a decision under
the Corporations Act 2001 to which section 1317B of that Act
applies;
(e) a decision under
the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 to which
section 244 of that Act applies.
(3) A failure to do what
this section requires does not affect the validity of the decision.
(4) In this section:
reviewable decision means:
(a) a decision that
is reviewable by the Tribunal; or
(b) a decision that
is reviewable by:
(i) a
person whose decision on review is reviewable by the Tribunal; or
(ii) a
person whose decision on review, because of subparagraph (i), is a
reviewable decision.
27B Review—Code of Practice
(1) The Attorney‑General may,
by legislative instrument, determine a Code of Practice for the purpose of
facilitating the operation of subsection 27A(1).
(2) A person, in taking
action under subsection 27A(1), must have regard to any such Code of
Practice that is then in force.
28 Person affected by decision may
obtain reasons for decision
Request for statement of reasons
(1) Subject to subsection (1AAA),
if a person makes a decision in respect of which an application may be made to
the Tribunal for a review, any person (in this section referred to as the
applicant) who is entitled to apply to the Tribunal for a review of the
decision may, by notice in writing given to the person who made the decision,
request that person to give to the applicant a statement in writing setting out
the findings on material questions of fact, referring to the evidence or other
material on which those findings were based and giving the reasons for the
decision, and the person who made the decision shall, as soon as practicable
but in any case within 28 days after receiving the request, prepare, and give
to the applicant, such a statement.
Exceptions
(1AAA) Subsection (1) does not
apply in relation to:
(a) a decision that
is reviewable in the Security Division; or
(b) a decision that
is a decision on AAT first review within the meaning of any of the following:
(i) the A
New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999;
(ii) the Child
Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988;
(iii) the Social
Security (Administration) Act 1999;
(iv) the Student
Assistance Act 1973;
(v) the Paid
Parental Leave Act 2010.
What happens if decision‑maker
contests applicant’s entitlement to statement of reasons
(1AA) Where
a person to whom a request for a statement in relation to a decision is made by
an applicant under subsection (1) is of the opinion that the applicant is
not entitled to be given the statement, that person shall, as soon as
practicable but in any case within 28 days after receiving the request, give to
the applicant notice in writing of his or her opinion.
(1AB) A person who gives a notice
under subsection (1AA) with respect to a request for a statement in
relation to a decision is not required to comply with the request unless the
Tribunal, on application under subsection (1AC), decides that the
applicant was entitled to be given the statement, and, if the Tribunal so
decides, the first‑mentioned person shall prepare the statement and give it to
the applicant within 28 days after the decision of the Tribunal is given.
(1AC) On application by an
applicant who has received a notice under subsection (1AA), the Tribunal
must decide whether the applicant was or was not entitled to be given the
statement concerned.
When decision‑maker may refuse to give
statement of reasons
(1A) A person to whom a request
for a statement in relation to a decision is made under subsection (1) may
refuse to prepare and give the statement if:
(a) in the case of a
decision the terms of which were recorded in writing and set out in a document
that was given to the applicant—the request was not made on or before the
twenty‑eighth day after the day on which that document was given to the
applicant; or
(b) in
any other case—the request was not made within a reasonable time after the
decision was made;
and in any such case the person to whom
the request was made shall give to the applicant, as soon as practicable but in
any case within 28 days after receiving the request, notice in writing stating
that the statement will not be given to him or her and giving the reason why
the statement will not be so given.
(1B) For the purposes of paragraph (1A)(b),
a request for a statement in relation to a decision shall be deemed to have
been made within a reasonable time after the decision was made if the Tribunal,
on application by the person who made the request, declares that the request
was made within a reasonable time after the decision was made.
Public interest certificate
(2) If the Attorney‑General
certifies, by writing signed by him or her, that the disclosure of any matter
contained in a statement prepared in accordance with subsection (1) would
be contrary to the public interest:
(a) by reason that it
would prejudice the security, defence or international relations of Australia;
(b) by reason that it
would involve the disclosure of deliberations of the Cabinet or of a Committee
of the Cabinet; or
(c) for
any other reason specified in the certificate that could form the basis for a
claim by the Crown in right of the Commonwealth in a judicial proceeding that
the matter should not be disclosed;
subsections (3) and (3A) have
effect.
(3) A person to whom a
request for a statement in relation to a decision is made under subsection (1):
(a) is not required
to include in the statement any matter in relation to which the Attorney‑General
has given a certificate under subsection (2); and
(b) where the
statement would be false or misleading if it did not include such matter—is not
required by subsection (1) to give the statement to the applicant.
(3A) Where a certificate is
given under subsection (2) in relation to matter contained in a statement
prepared in accordance with subsection (1) in relation to a decision:
(a) the person who
made the decision shall notify the applicant in writing:
(i) in a
case where the matter is not included in the statement—that the matter is not
so included and giving the reason for not including the matter; or
(ii) in a
case where the statement is not given—that the statement will not be given and
giving the reason for not giving the statement; and
(b) subsections 36(2),
(3), (3A) and (4) and 36D(1) to (6), inclusive, apply in relation to any
statement referred to in paragraph 37(1)(a) in relation to that decision
that is lodged with the Tribunal under section 37 as if the certificate
were a certificate given under subsection 36(1) in relation to any such
matter that is contained in the last‑mentioned statement.
When applicant not entitled to request
statement of reasons
(4) The applicant is not
entitled to make a request under subsection (1) if:
(a) the decision sets
out the findings on material questions of fact, refers to the evidence or other
material on which those findings were based and gives the reasons for the
decision, and a document setting out the terms of the decision has been given
to him or her; or
(b) a statement in
writing setting out the findings on material questions of fact, referring to
the evidence or other material on which those findings were based and giving
the reasons for the decision has already been given to him or her.
Inadequate statement of reasons
(5) An applicant who has
been given a statement under subsection (1) may apply to the Tribunal for
a declaration that the statement does not contain one or more of the following:
(a) adequate
particulars of findings on material questions of fact;
(b) an adequate
reference to the evidence or other material on which those findings were based;
(c) adequate
particulars of the reasons for the decision.
(6) If the Tribunal makes
the declaration, the person to whom the request for the statement was made
must, as soon as practicable and no later than 28 days after the day the
declaration was made, give the applicant an additional statement containing
further and better particulars in relation to the matters specified in the
declaration.
29 Manner of applying for review
(1) An
application to the Tribunal for a review of a decision:
(a) must be made:
(i) in
writing; or
(ii) if
the decision is reviewable in the Social Services and Child Support Division—in
writing or by making an oral application in person at, or by telephone to, a
Registry of the Tribunal; and
Note: For oral applications, see
also section 29AA.
(b) must be
accompanied by any prescribed fee; and
(c) unless paragraph (ca)
or (cb) applies or the application was oral—must contain a statement of the
reasons for the application; and
(ca) in respect of an
application made under subsection 54(1) of the Australian Security
Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 for review of a security assessment—must
be accompanied by:
(i) a
copy of the assessment as given to the applicant; and
(ii) a
statement indicating any part or parts of the assessment with which the
applicant does not agree and setting out the grounds on which the application
is made; and
(cb) in respect of an
application under subsection 54(2) of the Australian Security
Intelligence Organisation Act 1979—must be accompanied by a statement
setting out the grounds on which the application is made;
(d) if the terms of
the decision were recorded in writing and set out in a document that was given
to the applicant or the decision is deemed to be made by reason of the
operation of subsection 25(5) or (5A)—shall be lodged with the Tribunal
within the prescribed time.
Note: Paragraph 33(1)(c) provides
that the Tribunal is not bound by the rules of evidence but may inform itself
on any matter in such manner as it thinks appropriate.
Address at which documents may be
given
(1A) If, in an application, a
person does not provide an address at which documents in relation to the
proceeding may be given, any address of the person shown in the application, or
later notified to the Tribunal as an address at which such documents may be
given, is taken to be an address provided by the person at which such documents
may be given.
Prescribed time for making
applications—general
(2) Subject to subsection (3),
the prescribed time for the purposes of paragraph (1)(d) is the period
commencing on the day on which the decision is made and ending on the twenty‑eighth
day after:
(a) if the decision
sets out the findings on material questions of fact and the reasons for the
decision—the day on which a document setting out the terms of the decision is
given to the applicant; or
(b) if
the decision does not set out those findings and reasons:
(i) if a
statement in writing setting out those findings and reasons is given to the
applicant otherwise than in pursuance of a request under subsection 28(1)
not later than the twenty‑eighth day after the day on which a document setting
out the terms of the decision is given to the applicant—the day on which the
statement is so given;
(ii) if
the applicant, in accordance with subsection 28(1), requests the person
who made the decision to give a statement as mentioned in that subsection—the
day on which the statement is given or the applicant is notified in accordance
with subsection 28(3A) that the statement will not be given; or
(iii) in
any other case—the day on which a document setting out the terms of the
decision is given to the applicant.
Prescribed time for making applications—decision‑maker’s
failure to meet deadline
(3) In the case of a
decision that is deemed to be made by reason of the operation of subsection 25(5)
or (5A), the prescribed time for the purposes of paragraph (1)(d) is the
period commencing on the day on which the decision is deemed to be made and
ending:
(a) in a case to
which paragraph (b) does not apply—on the twenty‑eighth day after that
day; or
(b) in the case where
the person whose failure to do an act or thing within a particular period is
deemed by subsection 25(5) or (5A) to constitute the making of the
decision makes or purports to make, after the expiration of that period, a
decision either to do or not to do that act or thing, being a decision the
terms of which were recorded in writing and set out in a document that was
given to the applicant—on the twenty‑eighth day after:
(i) if
the decision sets out the findings on material questions of fact and the
reasons for the decision—the day on which a document setting out the terms of
the decision is given to the applicant; or
(ii) if
the decision does not set out those findings and reasons—the day that would be
ascertained under paragraph (2)(b) if subsection (2) were applicable
in relation to the decision.
What happens if there is no prescribed
time for making applications
(4) Where:
(a) no time is
prescribed for the lodging with the Tribunal of applications for review of a
particular decision; or
(b) no
time is prescribed for the lodging with the Tribunal by a particular person of
an application for a review of a particular decision;
and the Tribunal is of the opinion that
the application was not lodged within a reasonable time after the decision was
made, the Tribunal shall, subject to subsection (6):
(c) in a case to
which paragraph (a) applies—refuse to entertain an application for a
review of the decision referred to in that paragraph; or
(d) in a case to
which paragraph (b) applies—refuse to entertain an application by the
person referred to in that paragraph for a review of the decision so referred
to.
(5) In forming an opinion
for the purposes of subsection (4), the Tribunal shall have regard to:
(a) the time when the
applicant became aware of the making of the decision; and
(b) in
a case to which paragraph (4)(b) applies—the period or periods prescribed
for the lodging by another person or other persons of an application or
applications for review of the decision;
and may have regard to any other matters
that it considers relevant.
(6) Notwithstanding subsection (4),
the Tribunal may entertain an application referred to in that subsection if it
is of the opinion that there are special circumstances that justify it in doing
so.
Tribunal may extend time for making
application
(7) The Tribunal may, upon
application in writing by a person, extend the time for the making by that
person of an application to the Tribunal for a review of a decision (including
a decision made before the commencement of this section) if the Tribunal is
satisfied that it is reasonable in all the circumstances to do so.
(8) The time for making an
application to the Tribunal for a review of a decision may be extended under subsection (7)
although that time has expired.
(9) Before the Tribunal
determines an application for an extension of time, the Tribunal or an officer
of the Tribunal may:
(a) give notice of
the application to any persons the Tribunal or officer considers to be affected
by the application; or
(b) require the
applicant to give notice to those persons.
(10) If a person to whom a
notice is given under subsection (9), within the prescribed time after the
notice is received by him or her, gives notice to the Tribunal stating that he
or she wishes to oppose the application, the Tribunal shall not determine the application
except after a hearing at which the applicant and any person who so gave notice
to the Tribunal are given a reasonable opportunity of presenting their
respective cases.
29AA Oral applications
(1) If a person makes an
oral application as referred to in subparagraph 29(1)(a)(ii), the person
receiving the application must:
(a) make a written
record of the details of the application; and
(b) note on the
record the day on which the application is made.
(2) If a person makes a
written record of an oral application in accordance with subsection (1),
this Part has effect as if the written record were an application in writing
made on the day on which the oral application was made.
29AB Insufficient statement of
reasons for application
If the Tribunal
considers that an applicant’s statement under paragraph 29(1)(c) does not
clearly identify the respects in which the applicant believes that the decision
is not the correct or preferable decision, the Tribunal may, by notice given to
the applicant, request the applicant to amend the statement appropriately,
within the period specified in the notice.
29AC Notice of application
(1) If an application is
made to the Tribunal for a review of a decision, the Registrar must give the
following persons written notice of receipt of the application:
(a) the applicant;
(b) the person who
made the decision;
(c) any other person
who is made a party to the review by the enactment that authorised the
application.
(2) The Tribunal or an
officer of the Tribunal may, if satisfied that another person’s interests may
be affected by the decision:
(a) give the other
person written notice of the application and of the person’s right to apply to
be made a party to the proceeding under subsection 30(1A); or
(b) require the
applicant to give the other person such a notice.
29B Notice of application—review of
security assessment
If an application is
duly made to the Tribunal for the review of a security assessment, the Tribunal
must cause a copy of the application, and of the statement lodged with the
application, to be given to the Director‑General of Security and to the
Commonwealth agency to which the assessment was given.
Division 2—Parties and procedure
30 Parties to proceeding before
Tribunal
Scope
(1AA) This section does not apply
to a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A applies.
Parties
(1) Subject to paragraph 42A(2)(b),
the parties to a proceeding before the Tribunal for a review of a decision are:
(a) any person who,
being entitled to do so, has duly applied to the Tribunal for a review of the
decision;
(b) the person who
made the decision;
(c) if the Attorney‑General
intervenes in the proceeding under section 30A—the Attorney‑General; and
(d) any other person
who has been made a party to the proceeding by the Tribunal on application by
the person in accordance with subsection (1A).
Note: See also subsections 36(3A)
and 36A(2A) (Attorney‑General deemed to be a party to certain proceedings), and
subsections 36B(4) and 36C(3) (State Attorney‑General deemed to be a party
to certain proceedings).
Person whose interests are affected
may apply to be a party
(1A) Where an application has
been made by a person to the Tribunal for a review of a decision, any other
person whose interests are affected by the decision may apply, in writing, to
the Tribunal to be made a party to the proceeding, and the Tribunal may, in its
discretion, by order, make that person a party to the proceeding.
Official name
(2) A person who is a party
to a proceeding before the Tribunal:
(a) by reason of a
decision made by him or her in the performance of the duties of an office or
appointment; or
(b) by
reason of the operation of subsection 25(7);
shall be described in the proceeding by
his or her official name.
30A Intervention by Attorney‑General
(1AA) This section does not apply
to a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A applies.
(1) The Attorney‑General
may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, intervene in a proceeding before the
Tribunal.
(2) Where the Attorney‑General
intervenes under subsection (1) in a proceeding for a review of a
decision, the Attorney‑General may authorize the payment to a party to the
proceeding by the Commonwealth of such costs as he or she considers were
reasonably incurred by that party in relation to the proceeding as a result of
that intervention.
31 Tribunal to determine persons
whose interests are affected by decision
(1) Where it is necessary
for the purposes of this Act to decide whether the interests of a person are
affected by a decision, that matter shall be decided by the Tribunal and, if
the Tribunal decides that the interests of a person are affected by a decision,
the decision of the Tribunal is conclusive.
(2) This section does not
apply to a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A
applies.
32 Representation before Tribunal
Parties
(1) At the hearing of a
proceeding before the Tribunal, the following parties may appear in person or
be represented by another person:
(a) a party to a
proceeding in a Division other than the Social Services and Child Support
Division;
(b) the agency party
to a proceeding in the Social Services and Child Support Division.
(2) At the hearing of a
proceeding before the Tribunal in the Social Services and Child Support
Division, a party to the proceeding (other than the agency party) may appear in
person or, with the Tribunal’s permission, may be represented by another
person.
(3) In deciding whether to
grant permission for the purposes of subsection (2), the Tribunal must
have regard to:
(a) the Tribunal’s
objective in section 2A; and
(b) the wishes of the
parties and the need to protect their privacy.
Persons required to appear
(4) A person who is required
to appear in a proceeding before the Tribunal may, with the permission of the
Tribunal, be represented by another person.
33 Procedure of Tribunal
(1) In
a proceeding before the Tribunal:
(a) the procedure of
the Tribunal is, subject to this Act and the regulations and to any other
enactment, within the discretion of the Tribunal;
(b) the proceeding
shall be conducted with as little formality and technicality, and with as much
expedition, as the requirements of this Act and of every other relevant
enactment and a proper consideration of the matters before the Tribunal permit;
and
(c) the Tribunal is
not bound by the rules of evidence but may inform itself on any matter in such
manner as it thinks appropriate.
Decision‑maker must assist Tribunal
(1AA) In a proceeding before the
Tribunal for a review of a decision, the person who made the decision must use
his or her best endeavours to assist the Tribunal to make its decision in
relation to the proceeding.
Parties etc. must assist Tribunal
(1AB) A party to a proceeding
before the Tribunal, and any person representing such a party, must use his or
her best endeavours to assist the Tribunal to fulfil the objective in section 2A.
Directions hearing
(1A) The President or an
authorised member may hold a directions hearing in relation to a proceeding.
Who may give directions
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1),
directions as to the procedure to be followed at or in connection with the
hearing of a proceeding before the Tribunal may be given:
(a) where the hearing
of the proceeding has not commenced—by a person holding a directions hearing in
relation to the proceeding, by the President, by an authorised member or by an
authorised officer; and
(b) where the hearing
of the proceeding has commenced—by the member presiding at the hearing or by
any other member authorized by the member presiding to give such directions.
Types of directions
(2A) Without limiting the
operation of this section, a direction as to the procedure to be followed at or
in connection with the hearing of a proceeding before the Tribunal may:
(a) require any
person who is a party to the proceeding to provide further information in
relation to the proceeding; or
(b) require the
person who made the decision to provide a statement of the grounds on which the
application will be resisted at the hearing; or
(c) require any
person who is a party to the proceeding to provide a statement of matters or
contentions upon which reliance is intended to be placed at the hearing; or
(d) limit the number
of witnesses who may be called to give evidence (either generally or on a
specified matter); or
(e) require witnesses
to give evidence at the same time; or
(f) limit the time
for giving evidence or making oral submissions; or
(g) limit the length
of written submissions.
33A Participation by telephone etc.
(1) The Tribunal for the
purposes of a hearing, or the person conducting a directions hearing or
alternative dispute resolution process, may allow or require a person to
participate by telephone or by means of other electronic communications
equipment.
(2) Subsection (1) does
not apply to a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A
applies.
Division 3—Alternative dispute resolution processes
34 Scope of Division
This Division does not
apply to:
(a) a proceeding in
the Security Division to which section 39A applies; or
(b) a proceeding in
the Social Services and Child Support Division.
34A Referral for alternative dispute
resolution process
(1) If an application is
made to the Tribunal, the President may direct that the proceeding, or any part
of it or matter arising out of the proceeding, be referred to an alternative
dispute resolution process.
(2) The President may give
written directions in relation to persons who are to conduct an alternative
dispute resolution process. Any such person must be:
(a) a member; or
(b) an officer of the
Tribunal; or
(c) a person engaged
under section 34H.
(3) The parties to a
proceeding referred to an alternative dispute resolution process must act in
good faith in relation to the conduct of the alternative dispute resolution
process.
34D Agreement about the terms of a
decision etc.
(1) If:
(a) in the course of
an alternative dispute resolution process under this Division, agreement is
reached between the parties or their representatives as to the terms of a
decision of the Tribunal:
(i) in
the proceeding; or
(ii) in
relation to the part of the proceeding; or
(iii) in
relation to the matter arising out of the proceeding;
that would be
acceptable to the parties; and
(b) the terms of the
agreement are reduced to writing, signed by or on behalf of the parties and
lodged with the Tribunal; and
(c) 7 days pass after
lodgment, and none of the parties has notified the Tribunal in writing that he
or she wishes to withdraw from the agreement; and
(d) the
Tribunal is satisfied that a decision in the terms of the agreement or
consistent with those terms would be within the powers of the Tribunal;
the Tribunal may, if it appears to it to
be appropriate to do so, act in accordance with whichever of subsection (2)
or (3) is relevant in the particular case.
(2) If the agreement reached
is an agreement as to the terms of a decision of the Tribunal in the
proceeding, the Tribunal may, without holding a hearing of the proceeding, make
a decision in accordance with those terms.
(3) If the agreement relates
to:
(a) a part of the
proceeding; or
(b) a matter arising
out of the proceeding;
the Tribunal may, in its decision in the
proceeding, give effect to the terms of the agreement without dealing at the
hearing of the proceeding with the part of the proceeding or the matter arising
out of the proceeding, as the case may be, to which the agreement relates.
Variation or revocation of decision
(4) The Tribunal may vary or
revoke so much of a decision as it made in accordance with subsection (2)
or (3) if:
(a) the parties, or
their representatives, reach agreement on the variation or revocation; and
(b) the terms of the
agreement are reduced to writing, signed by or on behalf of the parties and
lodged with the Tribunal; and
(c) the variation or
revocation appears appropriate to the Tribunal; and
(d) in the case of a
variation—the Tribunal is satisfied that it would have been within the powers
of the Tribunal to have made the decision as varied.
34E Evidence not admissible
(1) Evidence of anything
said, or any act done, at an alternative dispute resolution process under this Division
is not admissible:
(a) in any court; or
(b) in any
proceedings before a person authorised by a law of the Commonwealth or of a
State or Territory to hear evidence; or
(c) in any
proceedings before a person authorised by the consent of the parties to hear
evidence.
Exceptions
(2) Subsection (1) does
not apply so as to prevent the admission, at the hearing of a proceeding before
the Tribunal, of particular evidence if the parties agree to the evidence being
admissible at the hearing.
(3) Subsection (1) does
not apply so as to prevent the admission, at the hearing of a proceeding before
the Tribunal, of:
(a) a case appraisal
report prepared by a person conducting an alternative dispute resolution
process under this Division; or
(b) a neutral
evaluation report prepared by a person conducting an alternative dispute
resolution process under this Division;
unless a party to the proceeding notifies
the Tribunal before the hearing that he or she objects to the report being
admissible at the hearing.
34F Eligibility of person conducting
alternative dispute resolution process to sit as a member of the Tribunal
If:
(a) an alternative
dispute resolution process under this Division in relation to a proceeding is
conducted by a member of the Tribunal; and
(b) a
party to the proceeding notifies the Tribunal before the hearing that he or she
objects to that member participating in the hearing;
that member is not entitled to be a
member of the Tribunal as constituted for the purposes of the proceeding.
34H Engagement of persons to conduct
alternative dispute resolution processes
(1) The Registrar may, on
behalf of the Commonwealth, engage persons to conduct one or more kinds of
alternative dispute resolution processes under this Division.
(2) The Registrar must not
engage a person under subsection (1) unless the Registrar is satisfied,
having regard to the person’s qualifications and experience, that the person is
a suitable person to conduct the relevant kind or kinds of alternative dispute
resolution processes under this Division.
Division 4—Hearings and evidence
34J Circumstances in which hearing
may be dispensed with
If:
(a) it appears to the
Tribunal that the issues for determination on the review of a decision can be
adequately determined in the absence of the parties; and
(b) the
parties consent to the review being determined without a hearing;
the Tribunal may review the decision by
considering the documents or other material lodged with or provided to the
Tribunal and without holding a hearing.
35 Public hearings and orders for
private hearings, non‑publication and non‑disclosure
Public hearing
(1) Subject to this section,
the hearing of a proceeding before the Tribunal must be in public.
Private hearing
(2) The Tribunal may, by
order:
(a) direct that a
hearing or part of a hearing is to take place in private; and
(b) give directions
in relation to the persons who may be present.
Orders for non‑publication or non‑disclosure
(3) The Tribunal may, by
order, give directions prohibiting or restricting the publication or other
disclosure of:
(a) information
tending to reveal the identity of:
(i) a party
to or witness in a proceeding before the Tribunal; or
(ii) any
person related to or otherwise associated with any party to or witness in a
proceeding before the Tribunal; or
(b) information
otherwise concerning a person referred to in paragraph (a).
(4) The Tribunal may, by
order, give directions prohibiting or restricting the publication or other
disclosure, including to some or all of the parties, of information that:
(a) relates to a
proceeding; and
(b) is any of the
following:
(i) information
that comprises evidence or information about evidence;
(ii) information
lodged with or otherwise given to the Tribunal.
(5) In considering whether
to give directions under subsection (2), (3) or (4), the Tribunal is to
take as the basis of its consideration the principle that it is desirable:
(a) that hearings of
proceedings before the Tribunal should be held in public; and
(b) that evidence
given before the Tribunal and the contents of documents received in evidence by
the Tribunal should be made available to the public and to all the parties; and
(c) that the contents
of documents lodged with the Tribunal should be made available to all the
parties.
However (and without being required to
seek the views of the parties), the Tribunal is to pay due regard to any
reasons in favour of giving such a direction, including, for the purposes of subsection (3)
or (4), the confidential nature (if applicable) of the information.
Not applicable to Security Division
review of security assessment
(6) This section does not
apply in relation to a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A
applies.
Note: See section 35AA.
35AA Orders for non‑publication and
non‑disclosure—certain Security Division proceedings
(1) This section applies in
relation to a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A
applies.
(2) The Tribunal may, by
order, give directions prohibiting or restricting the publication or other
disclosure of:
(a) information
tending to reveal the identity of:
(i) a
party to or witness in the proceeding; or
(ii) any
person related to or otherwise associated with any party to or witness in the
proceeding; or
(b) information
otherwise concerning a person referred to in paragraph (a); or
(c) information that
relates to the proceeding and is any of the following:
(i) information
that comprises evidence or information about evidence;
(ii) information
lodged with or otherwise given to the Tribunal; or
(d) the whole or any
part of its findings on the review.
36 Disclosure not required: Attorney‑General’s
public interest certificate
Scope
(1AA) This section does not apply
to a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A applies.
Attorney‑General may issue public
interest certificate
(1) If the Attorney‑General
certifies, by writing signed by him or her, that the disclosure of information
concerning a specified matter, or the disclosure of any matter contained in a
document, would be contrary to the public interest:
(a) by reason that it
would prejudice the security, defence or international relations of Australia;
(b) by reason that it
would involve the disclosure of deliberations or decisions of the Cabinet or of
a Committee of the Cabinet; or
(c) for
any other reason specified in the certificate that could form the basis for a
claim by the Crown in right of the Commonwealth in a judicial proceeding that
the information or the matter contained in the document should not be
disclosed;
the following provisions of this section
have effect.
Protection of information etc.
(2) A person who is required
by or under this Act to disclose the information or to produce to, or lodge
with, the Tribunal the document in which the matter is contained for the
purposes of a proceeding is not excused from the requirement but the Tribunal shall,
subject to subsection (3) and to section 46, do all things necessary
to ensure that the information or the matter contained in the document is not
disclosed to any person other than a member of the Tribunal as constituted for
the purposes of the proceeding, and, in the case of a document produced to or
lodged with the Tribunal, to ensure the return of the document to the person by
whom it was produced or lodged.
Disclosure of information etc.
(3) Where the Attorney‑General
has certified in accordance with subsection (1) that the disclosure of
information, or of matter contained in a document, would be contrary to the
public interest but the certificate does not specify a reason referred to in paragraph (1)(a)
or (b), the Tribunal shall consider whether the information or the matter
should be disclosed to all or any of the parties to the proceeding and, if it
decides that the information or the matter should be so disclosed, the Tribunal
shall make the information available or permit the part of the document
containing the matter to be inspected accordingly.
Attorney‑General taken to be a party
(3A) Where, in relation to a
proceeding to which the Attorney‑General would not, but for this subsection, be
a party, the Attorney‑General certifies in accordance with subsection (1)
that the disclosure of information, or of matter contained in a document, would
be contrary to the public interest but the certificate does not specify a
reason referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b), the Attorney‑General shall,
for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be a party to the proceeding.
What Tribunal must consider in
deciding whether to disclose information etc.
(4) In considering whether
information or matter contained in a document should be disclosed as mentioned
in subsection (3), the Tribunal shall take as the basis of its
consideration the principle that it is desirable in the interest of securing
the effective performance of the functions of the Tribunal that the parties to
a proceeding should be made aware of all relevant matters but shall pay due
regard to any reason specified by the Attorney‑General in the certificate as a
reason why the disclosure of the information or of the matter contained in the
document, as the case may be, would be contrary to the public interest.
36A Answering questions where
Attorney‑General intervenes on public interest grounds
Scope
(1AA) This section does not apply
to a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A applies.
Intervention by Attorney‑General
(1) Where, at the hearing of
a proceeding before the Tribunal, a person is asked a question in the course of
giving evidence, the Attorney‑General may inform the Tribunal that, in his or
her opinion, the answering of the question would be contrary to the public
interest for a specified reason or reasons, being a reason or reasons mentioned
in subsection 36(1).
When person excused from answering
question
(2) Where the Attorney‑General
so informs the Tribunal that, in his or her opinion, the answering by a person
of a question would be contrary to the public interest, that person is excused
from answering the question unless:
(a) in the case where
the reason specified is, or the reasons specified include, a reason referred to
in paragraph 36(1)(a) or (b)—a court, on an appeal under section 44
or a reference under section 45, decides that the answering of the
question would not be contrary to the public interest; or
(b) in any other
case—the Tribunal decides that the answering of the question would not be
contrary to the public interest.
Attorney‑General taken to be a party
(2A) Where the Attorney‑General
informs the Tribunal that, in his or her opinion, the answering by a person of
a question at the hearing of a proceeding would be contrary to the public
interest, being a proceeding to which the Attorney‑General would not, but for
this subsection, be a party, the Attorney‑General shall, for the purposes of
this Act, be deemed to be a party to the proceeding.
36B Disclosure not required: State
Attorney‑General’s public interest certificate
Scope
(1AA) This section does not apply
to a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A applies.
State Attorney‑General may issue
public interest certificate
(1) If the Attorney‑General
of a State certifies, by writing signed by him or her, that the disclosure of
information concerning a specified matter, or the disclosure of any matter
contained in a document, would be contrary to the public interest:
(a) by reason that it
would involve the disclosure of deliberations or decisions of the Cabinet, or
of a Committee of the Cabinet, of the State; or
(b) for
any other specified reason that could form the basis for a claim by the Crown
in right of the State in a judicial proceeding that the information or the
matter contained in the document should not be disclosed;
the following provisions of this section
have effect.
Protection of information etc.
(2) A person who is required
by or under this Act to disclose the information, or to produce to, or lodge
with, the Tribunal the document in which the matter is contained, for the
purposes of a proceeding is not excused from the requirement, but the Tribunal
shall, subject to subsection (3) and to section 46, do all things
necessary to ensure that the information, or the matter contained in the
document, is not disclosed to any person other than a member of the Tribunal as
constituted for the purposes of the proceeding, and, in the case of a document
produced to or lodged with the Tribunal, to ensure the return of the document
to the person by whom it was produced or lodged.
Disclosure of information etc.
(3) Where the Attorney‑General
of a State has certified in accordance with subsection (1) that the
disclosure of information, or of matter contained in a document, would be
contrary to the public interest but the certificate does not specify a reason
referred to in paragraph (1)(a), the Tribunal shall consider whether the
information or the matter should be disclosed to all or any of the parties to
the proceeding and, if it decides that the information or the matter should be
so disclosed, the Tribunal shall make the information available or permit the
part of the document containing the matter to be inspected accordingly.
State Attorney‑General taken to be a
party
(4) Where, in relation to a
proceeding to which the Attorney‑General of a State would not, but for this
subsection, be a party, that Attorney‑General certifies in accordance with subsection (1)
that the disclosure of information, or of matter contained in a document, would
be contrary to the public interest but the certificate does not specify a
reason referred to in paragraph (1)(a), that Attorney‑General shall, for
the purposes of this Act, be taken to be a party to the proceeding.
What Tribunal must consider in
deciding whether to disclose information etc.
(5) In considering whether
information, or matter contained in a document, should be disclosed as
mentioned in subsection (3), the Tribunal shall take as the basis of its
consideration the principle that it is desirable in the interest of securing
the effective performance of the Tribunal’s functions that the parties to a
proceeding should be made aware of all relevant matters, but shall pay due
regard to any reason that the Attorney‑General of the State has specified in
the certificate as a reason why the disclosure of the information, or of the
matter contained in the document, as the case may be, would be contrary to the
public interest.
36C Answering questions where State
Attorney‑General intervenes on public interest grounds
Scope
(1AA) This section does not apply
to a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A applies.
Intervention by State Attorney‑General
(1) Where, at the hearing of
a proceeding before the Tribunal, a person is asked a question in the course of
giving evidence, the Attorney‑General of a State may inform the Tribunal that,
in his or her opinion, the answering of the question would be contrary to the
public interest for a specified reason or reasons, being a reason or reasons
mentioned in subsection 36B(1).
When person excused from answering
question
(2) Where the Attorney‑General
of a State informs the Tribunal that, in his or her opinion, the answering by a
person of a question would be contrary to the public interest, that person is
excused from answering the question unless:
(a) if the reason
specified is, or the reasons specified include, a reason referred to in
paragraph 36B(1)(a)—a court, on an appeal under section 44 or a
reference under section 45, decides that the answering of the question
would not be contrary to the public interest; or
(b) otherwise—the
Tribunal decides that the answering of the question would not be contrary to
the public interest.
State Attorney‑General taken to be a
party
(3) Where the Attorney‑General
of a State informs the Tribunal that, in his or her opinion, the answering by a
person of a question at the hearing of a proceeding would be contrary to the
public interest and, but for this subsection, that Attorney‑General would not
be a party to the proceeding, that Attorney‑General shall, for the purposes of
this Act, be taken to be a party to the proceeding.
36D Public interest questions under
sections 36, 36A and 36C
Scope
(1AA) This section does not apply
to a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A applies.
Parties to be notified of Tribunal’s
decision
(1) As soon as practicable
after making a decision:
(a) under subsection 36(3)
or 36B(3) in relation to information, or matter contained in a document, in
relation to a proceeding; or
(b) under
paragraph 36A(2)(b) or 36C(2)(b) in relation to the answering of a
question at the hearing of a proceeding;
the Tribunal shall give to each party to
the proceeding a document setting out the terms of the Tribunal’s decision.
Question of law
(2) For
the purposes of this Act:
(a) the question
whether information, or matter contained in a document, should be disclosed to
the parties to a proceeding; or
(b) the
question whether the answering of a question would be contrary to the public
interest;
is a question of law.
Constitution of Tribunal
(3) The Tribunal’s power to
make a decision under subsection 36(3) or 36B(3) or paragraph 36A(2)(b)
or 36C(2)(b) may be exercised only by the Tribunal constituted by a member who
is a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia.
Appeals
(4) A
decision by the Tribunal:
(a) under subsection 36(3)
or 36B(3) as to whether or not information, or matter contained in a document,
should be disclosed to all or any of the parties to a proceeding; or
(b) under
paragraph 36A(2)(b) or 36C(2)(b) that the answering of a question at the
hearing of a proceeding would, or would not, be contrary to the public
interest;
is a decision by the Tribunal in that
proceeding for the purposes of section 44.
Disclosure of information etc. to
officers and staff of Tribunal
(5) Nothing in section 36
or 36B prevents the disclosure of information, or of matter contained in a
document, to a member of the staff of the Tribunal or to an officer of the
Tribunal in the course of the performance of his or her duties as a member of
the staff of the Tribunal or an officer of the Tribunal.
Public interest
(6) Sections 36 and 36B
exclude the operation of any rules of law that relate to the public interest
and would otherwise apply in relation to the disclosure of information, or of
matter contained in documents, in proceedings before the Tribunal.
Commonwealth Attorney‑General or State
Attorney‑General may appear or be represented
(7) The Attorney‑General, or
the Attorney‑General of a State:
(a) may appear before
the Tribunal personally, or may be represented before the Tribunal by a
barrister, solicitor or other person, in order to inform the Tribunal of his or
her opinion in accordance with section 36A or 36C; or
(b) may so inform the
Tribunal of his or her opinion by causing to be sent to the Tribunal a written
certificate that is signed by him or her and sets out that opinion.
37 Lodging of material documents
with Tribunal
Scope
(1AAA) This section does not apply to
a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A applies.
Decision‑maker must lodge statement of
reasons and relevant documents
Decision‑maker must lodge material
documents
(1) Subject to this section,
a person who has made a decision that is the subject of an application for
review (other than second review) by the Tribunal must, within 28 days after
receiving notice of the application (or within such further period as the
Tribunal allows), lodge with the Tribunal a copy of:
(a) a statement
setting out the findings on material questions of fact, referring to the
evidence or other material on which those findings were based and giving the reasons
for the decision; and
(b) subject to any
directions given under section 18B, every other document that is in the
person’s possession or under the person’s control and is relevant to the review
of the decision by the Tribunal.
(1AAB) Subject to this section, if
the Tribunal has made a decision that is the subject of an application for
second review:
(a) the person who
made the decision that was reviewed by the Tribunal; or
(b) for an
application referred to in paragraph 96A(a) or (c) of the Child Support
(Registration and Collection) Act 1988—the Registrar within the meaning of
that Act;
must, within 28 days after receiving
notice of the application (or within such further period as the Tribunal
allows), lodge with the Tribunal a copy of any document of a kind referred to
in paragraph (1)(b) that is required to be lodged by a direction given
under section 18B.
(1AA) The Tribunal may direct a
person who is required to lodge a copy of a statement or document under subsection (1)
or (1AAB) to lodge a specified number of additional copies with the Tribunal,
within the specified period. The person must comply with the direction.
Document setting out reasons for
decision may be lodged instead of statement
(1AB) The Tribunal may direct a
person who is required to lodge a copy of a statement under paragraph (1)(a)
to lodge instead of that statement a copy of a document setting out the reasons
for the relevant decision, within the specified period. The person must comply
with the direction.
(1AC) If a person has, in
accordance with a direction given under subsection (1AB), lodged with the
Tribunal a copy of the document setting out the reasons for a decision, the
Tribunal may at any later time direct the person to lodge with the Tribunal,
within such period as the Tribunal determines, a statement in accordance with paragraph (1)(a).
(1AD) If a person who has made a
decision that is the subject of an application for a review by the Tribunal has
given to a party to the proceeding a statement in relation to the decision
under subsection 28(1), the reference in paragraph (1)(a) to a
statement is taken to be a reference to the statement given under subsection 28(1).
Statement of reasons and relevant
documents to be given to other parties
(1AE) A person who is required
under subsection (1), (1AAB) or (1AB) to lodge a copy of a statement or
document with the Tribunal within a particular period must, unless the Tribunal
directs otherwise, also give a copy of the statement or document to each other
party to the proceeding, within the same period.
When document not required to be
lodged
(1AF) If:
(a) a person who has
made a decision that is the subject of an application for a review by the
Tribunal would, apart from this subsection, be required under paragraph (1)(b)
or subsection (1AAB) to lodge a copy of a document with the Tribunal in
respect of the application; and
(b) within the period
applicable under subsection (1) the person:
(i) applies
to the Tribunal for a direction under subsection 35(3) or (4) in relation
to the document and lodges with the Tribunal, together with the application for
the direction, a copy of the document; and
(ii) gives
a copy of the application for the direction to each party to the application
for review;
the person is not
required to comply with paragraph (1)(b) or subsection (1AAB) in
relation to the document unless and until the Tribunal, after hearing the
application for the direction, directs the person to do so.
(1AG) Subsection (1AF) does
not affect the obligation of a person referred to in that subsection to comply
with paragraph (1)(b) or subsection (1AAB) in relation to a document
to which that subsection does not apply.
Tribunal may shorten deadline for
lodging documents
(1A) If
it appears to the Tribunal that a party to a proceeding before the Tribunal for
a review of a decision would or might suffer hardship if the period prescribed
by subsection (1) or (1AAB) for lodging with the Tribunal for the purposes
of the review the copy of the documents mentioned in that subsection is not
shortened, the Tribunal may, upon request being made by that party, make an
order directing that the copy be lodged with the Tribunal within such period
(being a period of less than 28 days) after the person who made the decision
receives or received notice of the application as is specified in the order.
What happens if application lodged out
of time
(1B) Where an application that
has been lodged with the Tribunal for a review of a decision was not lodged
within the time within which it was required by section 29 to be lodged,
the reference in subsection (1) or (1AAB) to the period of 28 days after
the person who made the decision receives notice of the application for a
review shall be read as a reference to the period of 28 days after the day on
which that person so receives notice or the day on which the Tribunal makes a
determination extending the time for the making of the application for a
review, whichever is the later.
(1C) The Tribunal may, upon
request being made by a party to a proceeding before the Tribunal for a review
of a decision, direct, by order, that subsection (1B) shall have effect in
relation to an application for a review of the decision as if the last
reference in that subsection to a period of 28 days were a reference to such
shorter period as is specified in the order.
(1D) Subsection (1B)
does not apply in relation to an application for a review of a decision if the
decision is the subject of another application to which subsection (1B)
does not apply.
Tribunal may require other documents
to be lodged
(2) Where the Tribunal is of
the opinion that particular other documents or that other documents included in
a particular class of documents may be relevant to the review of the decision
by the Tribunal, the Tribunal may cause to be given to the person a notice in
writing stating that the Tribunal is of that opinion and requiring the person
to lodge with the Tribunal, within a time specified in the notice, the
specified number of copies of each of those other documents that is in his or
her possession or under his or her control, and a person to whom such a notice
is given shall comply with the notice.
Privilege and public interest
(3) This section has effect
notwithstanding any rule of law relating to privilege or the public interest in
relation to the production of documents.
38 Power of Tribunal to obtain
additional statements
(1) The Tribunal may order a
person who has lodged a statement with the Tribunal in accordance with
paragraph 37(1)(a) to lodge an additional statement with the Tribunal,
within the time specified in the order, containing further and better
particulars in relation to any one or more of the following:
(a) particulars of
findings on material questions of fact;
(b) reference to the
evidence or other material on which those findings were based;
(c) particulars of
the reasons for the decision.
(2) Subsection (1) does
not apply to a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A
applies.
38AA Ongoing requirement for lodging
material documents with Tribunal
(1) If:
(a) subsection 37(1)
or (1AAB) applies to a person in relation to an application for review of a
decision; and
(b) at any time after
the end of the applicable period under the subsection and before the Tribunal
determines the review:
(i) the
person obtains possession of a document; and
(ii) the
document is relevant to the review; and
(iii) a
copy of the document has not been lodged with the Tribunal in accordance with
the subsection;
the person must, subject to any
directions given under section 18B, lodge a copy of the document with the
Tribunal as soon as practicable after obtaining possession.
(2) Subsections 37(1AA),
(1AE), (1AF) and (1AG) apply in relation to the requirement in subsection (1)
of this section as if:
(a) that requirement
were the requirement referred to in those subsections; and
(b) the references in
subsections 37(1AE) and (1AF) to lodging or giving within a period were
references to lodging or giving as soon as practicable.
38A Director‑General of Security to
lodge certain material with Tribunal
(1) If an application for
review of a security assessment is made in a case in which the Attorney‑General
has given a certificate certifying in accordance with paragraph 38(2)(b)
of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979, the
Director‑General of Security must, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
application, lodge with the Tribunal a copy of the certificate, together with a
copy of the whole of the assessment.
(2) The Tribunal must not,
at any time, tell the applicant of the existence of, or permit the applicant to
have access to any copy or particulars of, a certificate of the Attorney‑General
referred to in subsection (1) or any matter to which the certificate
relates.
39 Submissions—Divisions other than
Security Division and Social Services and Child Support Division
(1) Subject to sections 35,
36 and 36B, the Tribunal shall ensure that every party to a proceeding before
the Tribunal is given a reasonable opportunity to present his or her case and,
in particular, to inspect any documents to which the Tribunal proposes to have
regard in reaching a decision in the proceeding and to make submissions in
relation to those documents.
(2) This section does not
apply to:
(a) a proceeding in
the Security Division to which section 39A applies; or
(b) a proceeding in
the Social Services and Child Support Division (see section 39AA).
(3) This section does not
limit subsection 25(4A) (Tribunal may determine scope of review).
39AA Submissions—Social Services and
Child Support Division
Parties other than agency parties
(1) A party (other than the
agency party) to a proceeding before the Tribunal in the Social Services and
Child Support Division may make oral or written submissions to the Tribunal, or
both oral and written submissions.
Agency parties
(2) The agency party to a
proceeding before the Tribunal in the Social Services and Child Support
Division may make written submissions to the Tribunal.
(3) The agency party may, by
writing, request the Tribunal for permission to make:
(a) oral submissions
to the Tribunal; or
(b) both oral and
written submissions to the Tribunal.
The request must explain how such
submissions would assist the Tribunal.
(4) The Tribunal may, by
writing, grant the request if, in the opinion of the Tribunal, such submissions
would assist the Tribunal.
(5) The Tribunal may order
the agency party to a proceeding in the Social Services and Child Support
Division to make:
(a) oral submissions
to the Tribunal; or
(b) written
submissions to the Tribunal; or
(c) both oral and
written submissions to the Tribunal;
if, in the opinion of the Tribunal, such
submissions would assist the Tribunal.
39A Procedure in Security Division
review of security assessment
Review of security assessment
(1) If an application for a
review of a security assessment is made to the Tribunal, the Tribunal is to
review the assessment in accordance with this section.
Parties
(2) The parties to the
proceeding are the Director‑General of Security and the applicant, but the
Commonwealth agency to which the assessment is given is entitled to adduce
evidence and make submissions.
Director‑General of Security must
present all relevant information
(3) It is the duty of the
Director‑General of Security to present to the Tribunal all relevant
information available to the Director‑General, whether favourable or
unfavourable to the applicant.
Member may require parties to attend
etc.
(4) A member who is to
participate, or who is participating, in the hearing may, at any time, require
either or both of the parties to attend or be represented before the member for
the purpose of conferring with the member concerning the conduct of the review
with a view to identifying the matters in issue or otherwise facilitating the
conduct of the proceedings.
Proceedings to be in private
(5) The proceedings are to
be in private and, subject to this section, the Tribunal is to determine what
people may be present at any time.
Right of parties etc. to be present
(6) Subject to subsection (9),
the applicant and a person representing the applicant may be present when the
Tribunal is hearing submissions made or evidence adduced by the Director‑General
of Security or the Commonwealth agency to which the assessment was given.
(7) The Director‑General of
Security or a person representing the Director‑General, and a person
representing the Commonwealth agency to which the assessment was given, may be
present when the Tribunal is hearing submissions made or evidence adduced by
the applicant.
Security/defence certificate
(8) The Minister
administering the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 (the
responsible Minister) may, by signed writing, certify that
evidence proposed to be adduced or submissions proposed to be made by or on
behalf of the Director‑General of Security or the Commonwealth agency to which
the assessment was given are of such a nature that the disclosure of the
evidence or submissions would be contrary to the public interest because it
would prejudice security or the defence of Australia.
(9) If such a certificate is
given:
(a) the applicant
must not be present when the evidence is adduced or the submissions are made;
and
(b) a person
representing the applicant must not be present when the evidence is adduced or
the submissions are made unless the responsible Minister consents.
(10) If
a person representing the applicant is present when evidence to which a
certificate given under subsection (8) relates is adduced or submissions
to which such a certificate relates are made, the representative must not
disclose any such evidence or submission to the applicant or to any other
person.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Note: Subsection 4B(2) of the Crimes
Act 1914 allows a court to impose an appropriate fine instead of, or in
addition to, a term of imprisonment.
Protection of identity of person
giving evidence
(11) If the Director‑General
of Security so requests, the Tribunal must do all things necessary to ensure
that the identity of a person giving evidence on behalf of the Director‑General
of Security is not revealed.
Evidence and submissions
(12) The Tribunal must first
hear evidence adduced, and submissions made, by or on behalf of the Director‑General
of Security and any evidence or submissions that the Commonwealth agency to
which the assessment was given may wish to adduce or make.
(13) The Tribunal must next
permit the applicant, if he or she so desires, to adduce evidence before, and
make submissions to, the Tribunal.
(14) The Tribunal may, on its
own initiative and at any stage of the proceedings, invite a person to give
evidence, or cause a person to be summoned to give evidence.
(15) If a person invited or
summoned to give evidence under subsection (14) is:
(a) an ASIO employee
or ASIO affiliate; or
(b) an officer or
employee of the Commonwealth agency to which the assessment was given;
subsection (8) applies as if any
evidence to be given by the person were evidence proposed to be adduced by or
on behalf of the Director‑General of Security or that agency, as the case may
be.
(16) If:
(a) a party presents
his or her case to the Tribunal; and
(b) after that case
has been presented, the other party adduces evidence; and
(c) the
Tribunal thinks that, because of evidence adduced by the other party, the first‑mentioned
party should be further heard;
the Tribunal must give the first‑mentioned
party an opportunity of adducing further evidence but must not give to the
applicant any particulars of any evidence to which a certificate given under subsection (8)
relates.
(17) A member of the Tribunal
may ask questions of a witness before the Tribunal and the presiding member may
require a witness to answer any such question.
Dismissal of application
(18) If the applicant fails
within a reasonable time:
(a) to
proceed with the application; or
(b) to
comply with a direction by the Tribunal in relation to the application;
the President or an authorised member may
dismiss the application without proceeding to review the security assessment.
39B Certain documents and
information not to be disclosed in Security Division review of security
assessment
Scope
(1) This section applies to
a proceeding in the Security Division to which section 39A applies.
Attorney‑General may issue public
interest certificate
(2) If the Attorney‑General
certifies, by signed writing, that the disclosure of information with respect
to a matter stated in the certificate, or the disclosure of the contents of a
document, would be contrary to the public interest:
(a) because it would
prejudice security or the defence or international relations of Australia; or
(b) because it would
involve the disclosure of deliberations or decisions of the Cabinet or a
Committee of the Cabinet or of the Executive Council; or
(c) for
any other reason stated in the certificate that could form the basis for a
claim by the Crown in right of the Commonwealth in a judicial proceeding that
the information or the contents of the document should not be disclosed;
the following provisions of this section
have effect.
Protection of information etc.
(3) A person who is required
by or under this Act to disclose the information or to produce the document to
the Tribunal for the purposes of a proceeding is not excused from the
requirement, but the Tribunal must, subject to subsections (4), (5) and
(7) and section 46, do all things necessary to ensure:
(a) that the
information or the contents of the document are not disclosed to anyone other
than a member of the Tribunal as constituted for the purposes of the
proceeding; and
(b) in respect of a
document produced to the Tribunal—that the document is returned to the person
by whom it was produced.
(4) Subsection (3) does
not apply in relation to disclosure to the Director‑General of Security or his
or her representative if the reason stated in the certificate is the reason
referred to in paragraph (2)(a).
Disclosure of information etc.
(5) If:
(a) the
Attorney‑General has certified in accordance with subsection (2) that the
disclosure of information or of the contents of a document would be contrary to
the public interest but the certificate does not state a reason referred to in paragraph (2)(a)
or (b); and
(b) the
presiding member presiding is satisfied that the interests of justice outweigh
the reason stated by the Attorney‑General;
the presiding member may authorise the
disclosure of the information, or of the contents of the document to, the
applicant.
What presiding member must consider in
deciding whether to authorise disclosure of information etc.
(6) In considering whether
information or the contents of a document should be disclosed as mentioned in subsection (5):
(a) the presiding
member must take as the basis of his or her consideration the principle that it
is desirable, in the interest of ensuring that the Tribunal performs its
functions effectively, that the parties should be made aware of all relevant
matters; but
(b) the presiding
member must pay due regard to any reason stated by the Attorney‑General in the
certificate as a reason why the disclosure of the information or of the
contents of the document, as the case may be, would be contrary to the public
interest.
Disclosure of information etc. to
staff of Tribunal
(7) This section does not
prevent the disclosure of information or of the contents of a document to a
member of the Tribunal’s staff in the course of the performance of his or her
duties as a member of the Tribunal’s staff.
Public interest
(8) This
section excludes the operation, apart from this section, of any rules of law
relating to the public interest that would otherwise apply in relation to the
disclosure of information or of the contents of documents in a proceeding.
Copy of document
(9) If the Attorney‑General
has given a certificate under subsection (2) in respect of a document,
this section applies in relation to a document that is a copy of the first‑mentioned
document as if the copy were the original document.
Certificate lodged under subsection 38A(1)
(10) For the purposes of this
section, if the Director‑General of Security, in accordance with subsection 38A(1),
has lodged with the Tribunal a certificate of the Attorney‑General given under
subsection 38(2) of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
Act 1979, the certificate is taken to be a certificate certifying to the
Tribunal that the disclosure of the information to which the certificate
relates would be contrary to the public interest because it would prejudice
security.
Duty of Tribunal
(11) It is the duty of the
Tribunal, even though there may be no relevant certificate under this section,
to ensure, so far as it is able to do so, that, in or in connection with a
proceeding, information is not communicated or made available to a person
contrary to the requirements of security.
Division 5—Procedural powers of Tribunal
40 Powers of Tribunal etc.
(1) For the purpose of
reviewing a decision, the Tribunal may:
(a) take evidence on
oath or affirmation;
(b) proceed in the
absence of a party who has had reasonable notice of the proceeding; and
(c) adjourn the
proceeding from time to time.
Oath or affirmation
(2) The member who presides
at the hearing of a proceeding before the Tribunal:
(a) may require a
person appearing before the Tribunal at that hearing to give evidence either to
take an oath or to make an affirmation; and
(b) may administer an
oath or affirmation to a person so appearing before the Tribunal.
Power to take evidence
(3) The power (the evidence
power) of the Tribunal under paragraph (1)(a) to take evidence on
oath or affirmation in a particular proceeding may be exercised on behalf of
the Tribunal by:
(a) the presiding
member in relation to the review; or
(b) another person
(whether or not a member) authorised in writing by that member.
(4) The evidence power may
be exercised:
(a) inside or outside
Australia; and
(b) subject to any limitations
or requirements specified by the Tribunal.
(5) If a person other than
the presiding member has the evidence power:
(a) the person has,
for the purpose of taking the evidence, the powers of the Tribunal and the
presiding member under subsections (1) and (2); and
(b) this Act applies
in relation to the person, for the purpose of taking the evidence in the exercise
of those powers, as if the person were the Tribunal or the presiding member.
Incidental proceedings
(7) The application of this
section extends to a directions hearing under this Act or an alternative
dispute resolution process under Division 3 (an incidental
proceeding) as if it were a proceeding before the Tribunal and a power
that under this section is conferred on the Tribunal or a member of the
Tribunal for the purpose of reviewing a decision may be exercised for the
purposes of an incidental proceeding by the person holding the directions
hearing or the person conducting the alternative dispute resolution process, as
the case may be.
40A Power to summon person to give
evidence or produce documents
(1) For the purposes of a
proceeding before the Tribunal, the President, an authorised member or an
officer of the Tribunal may summon a person to do either or both of the
following, on the day, and at the time and place, specified in the summons:
(a) appear before the
Tribunal to give evidence;
(b) produce any
document or other thing specified in the summons.
Note: This section does not apply
in relation to proceedings in the Social Services and Child Support Division,
as a result of provisions in the enactments that authorise applications for reviews
that will be heard in that Division.
(2) The President or an
authorised member may refuse a request to summon a person.
(3) A person may, before the
day specified in the summons, comply with a summons to produce a document or
thing by producing the document or thing at the Registry from which the summons
was issued. If the person does so, the person is not required to attend the
hearing of the proceeding unless:
(a) the summons or
another summons requires the person to appear before the Tribunal; or
(b) the Tribunal
directs the person to attend the hearing.
40B Inspection of documents produced
under summons
(1) Any of the following
persons may give a party to a proceeding leave to inspect a document or other
thing produced under a summons in relation to the proceeding:
(a) the President;
(b) an authorised
member;
(c) an authorised
officer.
Note: This section does not apply
in relation to proceedings in the Social Services and Child Support Division,
as a result of provisions in the enactments that authorise applications for
reviews that will be heard in that Division.
(2) However, an authorised
officer must not make a decision about giving leave, and must instead arrange
for the President or an authorised member of the Tribunal to make the decision,
if:
(a) the officer
considers that it is not appropriate for the officer to make the decision; or
(b) a party to the
proceeding applies to the officer to have the decision made by a member of the
Tribunal.
(3) If an authorised officer
decided whether to give a party to a proceeding leave to inspect a document
produced under a summons:
(a) a party to the
proceeding may apply to the Tribunal, within 7 days or an extended time allowed
by the Tribunal, to reconsider the decision; and
(b) the Tribunal may
reconsider the decision on such an application or its own initiative; and
(c) the Tribunal may
make such order as it thinks fit in relation to the giving of leave to inspect
the document.
41 Operation and implementation of a
decision that is subject to review
(1) Subject to this section,
the making of an application to the Tribunal for a review of a decision does
not affect the operation of the decision or prevent the taking of action to implement
the decision.
(2) The Tribunal may, on
request being made by a party to a proceeding before the Tribunal (in this
section referred to as the relevant proceeding), if the Tribunal
is of the opinion that it is desirable to do so after taking into account the
interests of any persons who may be affected by the review, make such order or
orders staying or otherwise affecting the operation or implementation of the
decision to which the relevant proceeding relates or a part of that decision as
the Tribunal considers appropriate for the purpose of securing the
effectiveness of the hearing and determination of the application for review.
Note: This section does not apply
in relation to proceedings in the Social Services and Child Support Division,
as a result of provisions in the enactments that authorise applications for
reviews that will be heard in that Division.
(3) Where an order is in
force under subsection (2) (including an order that has previously been
varied on one or more occasions under this subsection), the Tribunal may, on
request being made by a party to the relevant proceeding, make an order varying
or revoking the first‑mentioned order.
(4) Subject to subsection (5),
the Tribunal shall not:
(a) make an order
under subsection (2) unless the person who made the decision to which the
relevant proceeding relates has been given a reasonable opportunity to make a
submission to the Tribunal, as the case may be, in relation to the matter; or
(b) make an order
varying or revoking an order in force under subsection (2) (including an
order that has previously been varied on one or more occasions under subsection (3))
unless:
(i) the
person who made the decision to which the relevant proceeding relates;
(ii) the
person who requested the making of the order under subsection (2); and
(iii) if
the order under subsection (2) has previously been varied by an order or
orders under subsection (3)—the person or persons who requested the making
of the last‑mentioned order or orders;
have been given
a reasonable opportunity to make submissions to the Tribunal, as the case may
be, in relation to the matter.
(5) Subsection (4) does
not prohibit the Tribunal from making an order without giving to a person
referred to in that subsection a reasonable opportunity to make a submission to
the Tribunal in relation to a matter if the Tribunal is satisfied that, by
reason of the urgency of the case or otherwise, it is not practicable to give
that person such an opportunity but, where an order is so made without giving such
an opportunity to the person who made the decision to which the relevant
proceeding relates, the order does not come into operation until a notice
setting out the terms of the order is given to that person.
(6) An order in force under subsection (2)
(including an order that has previously been varied on one or more occasions
under subsection (3)):
(a) is subject to
such conditions as are specified in the order; and
(b) has effect until:
(i) where
a period for the operation of the order is specified in the order—the
expiration of that period or, if the application for review is decided by the
Tribunal before the expiration of that period, the decision of the Tribunal on
the application for review comes into operation; or
(ii) if no
period is so specified—the decision of the Tribunal on the application for
review comes into operation.
42 Resolving disagreements
(1) If the Tribunal is
constituted for the purposes of a proceeding by 3 members, a disagreement
between the members is to be settled according to the opinion of the majority
of the members.
(2) If the Tribunal is
constituted for the purposes of a proceeding by 2 members, a disagreement
between the members is to be settled according to the opinion of the presiding
member.
42A Discontinuance, dismissal,
reinstatement etc. of application
Dismissal if parties consent
(1) Where all the parties to
an application before the Tribunal for a review of a decision consent, the
Tribunal may dismiss the application without proceeding to review the decision
or, if the Tribunal has commenced to review the decision, without completing
the review.
(1AAA) For the purposes of subsection (1),
the consent of the agency party to a proceeding in the Social Services and
Child Support Division is not required.
Deemed dismissal—applicant
discontinues or withdraws application
(1A) A person who has made an
application to the Tribunal for a review of a decision may, in writing lodged
with the Tribunal, at any time notify the Tribunal to the effect that the
application is discontinued or withdrawn.
(1AA) If a proceeding is in the
Social Services and Child Support Division and is not a child support first
review, the person may notify the Tribunal orally of the withdrawal or
discontinuance. The person who receives the notification must make a written
record of the day of receipt.
(1B) If notification is given
in accordance with subsection (1A) or (1AA), the Tribunal is taken to have
dismissed the application without proceeding to review the decision.
Dismissal if party fails to appear
(2) If a party to a
proceeding before the Tribunal in respect of an application for the review of a
decision (not being the person who made the decision) fails either to appear in
person or to appear by a representative at a directions hearing, or an
alternative dispute resolution process under Division 3, held in relation
to the application, or at the hearing of the proceeding, the Tribunal may:
(a) if the person who
failed to appear is the applicant—dismiss the application without proceeding to
review the decision; or
(b) in any other
case—direct that the person who failed to appear shall cease to be a party to
the proceeding.
Dismissal if decision is not
reviewable
(4) The Tribunal may dismiss
an application without proceeding to review the decision if the Tribunal is
satisfied that the decision is not reviewable by the Tribunal.
Dismissal if applicant fails to
proceed or fails to comply with Tribunal’s direction
(5) If an applicant for a
review of a decision fails within a reasonable time:
(a) to proceed with
the application; or
(b) to
comply with a direction by the Tribunal in relation to the application;
the Tribunal may dismiss the application
without proceeding to review the decision.
Dismissal if party fails to
appear—giving of appropriate notice
(7) Before exercising its
powers under subsection (2), the Tribunal must be satisfied that
appropriate notice was given to the person who failed to appear of the time and
place of the directions hearing, alternative dispute resolution process or
hearing, as the case may be.
Reinstatement of application
(8) If the Tribunal is taken
to have dismissed an application under subsection (1B), a party to the
proceeding (other than the applicant) may, within the period referred to in subsection (8B),
apply to the Tribunal for reinstatement of the application.
(8A) If the Tribunal dismisses
an application under subsection (2) (other than an application in respect
of a proceeding in which an order has been made under subsection 41(2)), a
party to the proceeding may, within the period referred to in subsection (8B),
apply to the Tribunal for reinstatement of the application.
(8B) For the purposes of subsections (8)
and (8A), the period is:
(a) 28 days after the
party receives notification that the application has been dismissed; or
(b) if the party
requests an extension—such longer period as the Tribunal, in special
circumstances, allows.
(9) If it considers it
appropriate to do so, the Tribunal may reinstate the application and give such directions
as appear to it to be appropriate in the circumstances.
(10) If it appears to the
Tribunal that an application has been dismissed in error, the Tribunal may, on
the application of a party to the proceeding or on its own initiative,
reinstate the application and give such directions as appear to it to be
appropriate in the circumstances.
42B Power of Tribunal if a
proceeding is frivolous, vexatious etc.
(1) The Tribunal may dismiss
an application for the review of a decision, at any stage of the proceeding, if
the Tribunal is satisfied that the application:
(a) is frivolous,
vexatious, misconceived or lacking in substance; or
(b) has no reasonable
prospect of success; or
(c) is otherwise an
abuse of the process of the Tribunal.
(2) If the Tribunal
dismisses an application under subsection (1), it may, on application by a
party to the proceeding, give a written direction that the person who made the
application must not, without leave of the Tribunal, make a subsequent
application to the Tribunal of a kind or kinds specified in the direction.
(3) The direction has effect
despite any other provision of this Act or any other Act.
42C Power of Tribunal if parties
reach agreement
(1) If, at any stage of a
proceeding for a review of a decision:
(a) agreement is
reached between the parties or their representatives as to the terms of a
decision of the Tribunal in the proceeding or in relation to a part of the
proceeding or a matter arising out of the proceeding that would be acceptable
to the parties (other than an agreement reached in the course of an alternative
dispute resolution process under Division 3); and
(b) the terms of the
agreement are reduced to writing, signed by or on behalf of the parties and
lodged with the Tribunal; and
(c) the Tribunal is
satisfied that a decision in those terms or consistent with those terms would
be within the powers of the Tribunal;
the Tribunal may, if it appears to it to
be appropriate to do so, act in accordance with whichever of subsection (2)
or (3) is relevant in the particular case.
(2) If the agreement reached
is an agreement as to the terms of a decision of the Tribunal in the
proceeding, the Tribunal may make a decision in accordance with those terms
without holding a hearing of the proceeding or, if a hearing has commenced,
without completing the hearing.
(3) If the agreement relates
to a part of the proceeding or a matter arising out of the proceeding, the
Tribunal may in its decision in the proceeding give effect to the terms of the
agreement without, if it has not already done so, dealing at the hearing of the
proceeding with the part of the proceeding or the matter arising out of the
proceeding, as the case may be, to which the agreement relates.
Limitation for administrative
assessments of child support
(4) The Tribunal must not
act in accordance with subsection (2) or (3) to give effect to an
agreement in relation to a departure from administrative assessment of child
support in accordance with Part 6A of the Child Support (Assessment)
Act 1989, unless it is satisfied that it is just and equitable and
otherwise proper to do so, having regard to the matters set out in subsections 117(4)
and (5) of that Act.
Variation or revocation of decisions
other than on child support first reviews
(5) The Tribunal may vary or
revoke so much of a decision as it made in accordance with subsection (2)
or (3) if:
(a) the parties, or
their representatives, reach agreement on the variation or revocation; and
(b) the terms of the
agreement are reduced to writing, signed by or on behalf of the parties and
lodged with the Tribunal; and
(c) the variation or
revocation appears appropriate to the Tribunal; and
(d) in the case of a
variation—the Tribunal is satisfied that it would have been within the powers
of the Tribunal to have made the decision as varied.
(6) Subsection (5) does
not apply to a decision made on child support first review.
42D Power to remit matters to
decision‑maker for further consideration
(1) At any stage of a
proceeding for review of a decision other than a proceeding in the Social
Services and Child Support Division, the Tribunal may remit the decision to the
person who made it for reconsideration of the decision by the person.
Powers of person to whom a decision is
remitted
(2) If a decision is so
remitted to a person, the person may reconsider the decision and may:
(a) affirm the
decision; or
(b) vary the
decision; or
(c) set aside the
decision and make a new decision in substitution for the decision set aside.
Note: For time limits, see subsection (5).
(3) If the person varies the
decision:
(a) the application
is taken to be an application for review of the decision as varied; and
(b) the person who
made the application may either:
(i) proceed
with the application for review of the decision as varied; or
(ii) withdraw
the application.
(4) If
the person sets the decision aside and makes a new decision in substitution for
the decision set aside:
(a) the application
is taken to be an application for review of the new decision; and
(b) the person who
made the application may either:
(i) proceed
with the application for review of the new decision; or
(ii) withdraw
the application.
Time limits
(5) The
person must reconsider the decision, and do one of the things mentioned in paragraphs (2)(a),
(b) and (c), within whichever of the following periods is applicable:
(a) if the Tribunal,
when remitting the decision, specified a period within which the person was to
reconsider the decision—that period;
(b) in any other
case—the period of 28 days beginning on the day on which the decision was
remitted to the person.
(6) The Tribunal may, on the
application of the person, extend the period applicable under subsection (5).
(7) If the person has not
reconsidered the decision, and done one of the things mentioned in paragraphs (2)(a),
(b) and (c), within the period applicable under subsection (5), the person
is taken to have affirmed the decision.
(8) If the person affirms
the decision, the proceeding resumes.
Division 6—Tribunal’s decision on review
43 Tribunal’s decision on review
(1A) This section has effect
subject to section 43AAA and to subsection 65(3) of the Australian
Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979.
Tribunal’s decision on review
(1) For the purpose of
reviewing a decision, the Tribunal may exercise all the powers and discretions
that are conferred by any relevant enactment on the person who made the
decision and shall make a decision in writing:
(a) affirming the
decision under review;
(b) varying the
decision under review; or
(c) setting aside the
decision under review and:
(i) making
a decision in substitution for the decision so set aside; or
(ii) remitting
the matter for reconsideration in accordance with any directions or
recommendations of the Tribunal.
Tribunal must give reasons for its
decision
(2) Subject to this section
and to sections 35 and 36D, the Tribunal shall give reasons either orally
or in writing for its decision.
(2A) Where the Tribunal does
not give reasons in writing for its decision, a party to the proceeding may,
within 28 days after the day on which a copy of the decision of the Tribunal is
given to that party, request the Tribunal to give to that party a statement in
writing of the reasons of the Tribunal for its decision, and the Tribunal
shall, within 28 days after receiving the request, give to that party such a
statement.
(2B) Where the Tribunal gives
in writing the reasons for its decision, those reasons shall include its
findings on material questions of fact and a reference to the evidence or other
material on which those findings were based.
Tribunal must give copies of its
decision to parties
(3) The Tribunal shall cause
a copy of its decision to be given to each party to the proceeding.
Evidence of Tribunal’s decision or
order
(4) Without prejudice to any
other method available by law for the proof of decisions or orders of the
Tribunal, a document purporting to be a copy of such a decision or order, and
to be certified by the Registrar, to be a true copy of the decision or order,
is, in any proceeding, prima facie evidence of the decision or order.
(5) Subsections (3) and
(4) apply in relation to reasons given in writing by the Tribunal for its
decision as they apply in relation to the decision.
Tribunal must notify parties of
further review rights
(5AA) When the Tribunal gives a
party to a proceeding a copy of its decision, the Tribunal must also give the
party a written notice that includes a statement setting out the following, as
applicable:
(a) the party’s right
to apply for second review of the decision;
(b) the party’s right
to appeal to a court on a question of law.
(5AB) Subsection (5AA) does
not apply in relation to the agency party to a proceeding in the Social
Services and Child Support Division.
(5AC) A failure to comply with subsection (5AA)
in relation to a decision of the Tribunal does not affect the validity of the
decision.
When Tribunal’s decision comes into
operation
(5A) Subject to subsection (5B),
a decision of the Tribunal comes into operation forthwith upon the giving of
the decision.
(5B) The Tribunal may specify
in a decision that the decision is not to come into operation until a later
date specified in the decision and, where a later date is so specified, the
decision comes into operation on that date.
(5C) Despite subsections (5A)
and (5B), if:
(a) the Tribunal has
made an order under subsection 41(2) staying the operation or
implementation of the decision under review; and
(b) the order was in
force immediately before the decision given by the Tribunal on the review;
then, unless the Tribunal, the Federal
Court of Australia or the Federal Circuit Court of Australia otherwise orders,
the operation or implementation of the Tribunal’s decision is stayed until:
(c) subject to paragraph (d),
the end of the period within which a party to the proceeding before the
Tribunal may appeal from the decision to the Federal Court of Australia under
subsection 44(1) (including any further time for bringing the appeal that
is allowed by the Federal Court before the end of that period); or
(d) if such an appeal
is brought—the appeal is determined.
Tribunal’s decision taken to be
decision of decision‑maker
(6) A decision of a person
as varied by the Tribunal, or a decision made by the Tribunal in substitution
for the decision of a person, shall, for all purposes (other than the purposes
of applications to the Tribunal for a review or of appeals in accordance with
section 44), be deemed to be a decision of that person and, upon the
coming into operation of the decision of the Tribunal, unless the Tribunal
otherwise orders, has effect, or shall be deemed to have had effect, on and
from the day on which the decision under review has or had effect.
Division 7—Miscellaneous
43AAA Findings of Tribunal in
Security Division review of security assessment
Scope
(1) This section applies to
a review in the Security Division.
Findings
(2) Upon the conclusion of a
review, the Tribunal must make and record its findings in relation to the
security assessment, and those findings may state the opinion of the Tribunal
as to the correctness of, or justification for, any opinion, advice or
information contained in the assessment.
(3) The Tribunal must not
make findings in relation to an assessment that would, under section 61 of
the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979, have the
effect of superseding any information that is, under subsection 37(2) of
that Act, taken to be part of the assessment unless those findings state that,
in the Tribunal’s opinion, the information is incorrect, is incorrectly
represented or could not reasonably be relevant to the requirements of
security.
Copies of findings to be given to
parties etc.
(4) Subject to subsection (5),
the Tribunal must cause copies of its findings to be given to the applicant,
the Director‑General of Security, the Commonwealth agency to which the
assessment was given and the Attorney‑General.
(5) The Tribunal may direct
that the whole or a particular part of its findings, so far as they relate to a
matter that has not already been disclosed to the applicant, is not to be given
to the applicant or is not to be given to the Commonwealth agency to which the
assessment was given.
Applicant may publish findings
(6) Subject to any direction
by the Tribunal, the applicant is entitled to publish, in any manner that he or
she thinks fit, the findings of the Tribunal so far as they have been given to
him or her.
Tribunal may attach comments to findings
(7) The Tribunal may attach
to a copy of findings to be given to the Director‑General under this section,
any comments the Tribunal wishes to make on matters relating to procedures or
practices of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation that have come
to the Tribunal’s attention as a result of a review.
(8) The Tribunal must give
the Minister a copy of any comments attached as mentioned in subsection (7).
43AA Correction of errors in
decisions or statement of reasons
Correction of errors
(1) If, after the making of
a decision by the Tribunal, the Tribunal is satisfied that there is an obvious
error in the text of the decision or in a written statement of reasons for the
decision, the Tribunal may direct the Registrar to alter the text of the
decision or statement in accordance with the directions of the Tribunal.
(2) If the text of a
decision or statement is so altered, the altered text is taken to be the
decision of the Tribunal or the reasons for the decision, as the case may be.
Examples of obvious errors
(3) Examples of obvious
errors in the text of a decision or statement of reasons are where:
(a) there is an
obvious clerical or typographical error in the text of the decision or
statement of reasons; or
(b) there is an
inconsistency between the decision and the statement of reasons.
Exercise of powers
(4) The powers of the
Tribunal under this section may be exercised by the President or by the member
who presided at the proceeding to which the decision relates.
Part IVA—Appeals and references of questions of law to the Federal
Court of Australia
43B Part applies whether Tribunal’s
power conferred by an enactment or by a law of a State
(1) This Part applies in
relation to a proceeding that was before the Tribunal before the commencement
of this section, or that is before the Tribunal after that commencement, under
power conferred on it by or under:
(a) an enactment; or
(b) a law of a State.
Note: The enactment may be
regulations made for the purposes of subsection 25(2) (review of decisions
made in the exercise of powers conferred by a Norfolk Island enactment).
(2) This Part has effect in
relation to a proceeding before the Tribunal under power conferred on it by a
law of a State as if a reference in this Part to a provision of this Act that
is not in this Part were a reference to that provision as applying as a law of
the State.
43C Part does not apply in relation
to certain migration decisions
This Part does not
apply to an application in relation to, or a proceeding for the review of, any
of the following within the meaning of the Migration Act 1958:
(a) a privative
clause decision;
(b) a purported
privative clause decision;
(c) an AAT Act migration
decision.
44 Appeals to Federal Court of Australia from decisions of the Tribunal
Appeal on question of law
(1) A party to a proceeding
before the Tribunal may appeal to the Federal Court of Australia, on a question
of law, from any decision of the Tribunal in that proceeding.
Note 1: This Part does not apply to
certain migration proceedings (see section 43C).
Note 2: A party to a child support
first review may in some instances appeal instead to the Federal Circuit Court
(see section 44AAA).
(1A) Subsection (1) does
not apply in relation to a proceeding in the Social Services and Child Support
Division, other than a proceeding:
(a) that is a child
support first review; or
(b) for review of an
AAT reviewable employer decision within the meaning of the Paid Parental
Leave Act 2010.
Appeal about standing
(2) Where a person has
applied to the Tribunal for a review of a decision, or has applied to be made a
party to a proceeding before the Tribunal for a review of a decision, and the
Tribunal decides that the interests of the person are not affected by the
decision, the person may appeal to the Federal Court of Australia from the
decision of the Tribunal.
Note: This Part does not apply to
applications in relation to certain migration decisions (see section 43C).
When and how appeal instituted
(2A) An appeal by a person
under subsection (1) or (2) shall be instituted:
(a) not later than
the twenty‑eighth day after the day on which a document setting out the terms
of the decision of the Tribunal is given to the person or within such further
time as the Federal Court of Australia (whether before or after the expiration
of that day) allows; and
(b) in such manner as
is prescribed by rules of court made under the Federal Court of Australia
Act 1976.
(2B) In the interest of
justice, the grounds on which the Federal Court of Australia may allow further
time under paragraph (2A)(a) include, but are not limited to, the
following grounds:
(a) if the Tribunal
made an oral statement as to the reasons for the decision and afterwards gave a
written statement of reasons for the decision—the written statement contains
reasons that were not mentioned in the oral statement;
(b) the text of the
decision or a statement of reasons for the decision has been altered under
section 43AA.
Jurisdiction
(3) The Federal Court of
Australia has jurisdiction to hear and determine appeals instituted in that
Court in accordance with subsections (1) and (2) and that jurisdiction:
(a) may be exercised
by that Court constituted as a Full Court;
(b) shall be so
exercised if:
(i) the
Tribunal’s decision was given by the Tribunal constituted by a member who was,
or by members at least one of whom was, a Deputy President who is not a Judge;
and
(ii) after
consulting the President, the Chief Justice of that Court considers that it is
appropriate for the appeal from the decision to be heard and determined by that
Court constituted as a Full Court; and
(c) shall be so
exercised if the Tribunal’s decision was given by the Tribunal constituted by a
member who was, or by members at least one of whom was, a Judge.
Powers of Federal Court
(4) The Federal Court of
Australia shall hear and determine the appeal and may make such order as it
thinks appropriate by reason of its decision.
(5) Without limiting by
implication the generality of subsection (4), the orders that may be made
by the Federal Court of Australia on an appeal include an order affirming or
setting aside the decision of the Tribunal and an order remitting the case to
be heard and decided again, either with or without the hearing of further
evidence, by the Tribunal in accordance with the directions of the Court.
Constitution of Tribunal if Federal
Court remits case etc.
(6) If the Federal Court of Australia makes an order remitting a case to be heard and decided again by the Tribunal:
(a) the Tribunal need
not be constituted for the hearing by the person or persons who made the
decision to which the appeal relates; and
(b) whether or not
the Tribunal is reconstituted for the hearing—the Tribunal may, for the
purposes of the proceeding, have regard to any record of the proceeding before
the Tribunal prior to the appeal (including a record of any evidence taken in
the proceeding), so long as doing so is not inconsistent with the directions of
the Court.
Federal Court may make findings of
fact
(7) If a party to a
proceeding before the Tribunal appeals to the Federal Court of Australia under subsection (1),
the Court may make findings of fact if:
(a) the findings of
fact are not inconsistent with findings of fact made by the Tribunal (other
than findings made by the Tribunal as the result of an error of law); and
(b) it appears to the
Court that it is convenient for the Court to make the findings of fact, having
regard to:
(i) the
extent (if any) to which it is necessary for facts to be found; and
(ii) the
means by which those facts might be established; and
(iii) the
expeditious and efficient resolution of the whole of the matter to which the
proceeding before the Tribunal relates; and
(iv) the
relative expense to the parties of the Court, rather than the Tribunal, making
the findings of fact; and
(v) the
relative delay to the parties of the Court, rather than the Tribunal, making
the findings of fact; and
(vi) whether
any of the parties considers that it is appropriate for the Court, rather than
the Tribunal, to make the findings of fact; and
(vii) such
other matters (if any) as the Court considers relevant.
(8) For the purposes of
making findings of fact under subsection (7), the Federal Court of
Australia may:
(a) have regard to
the evidence given in the proceeding before the Tribunal; and
(b) receive further
evidence.
(9) Subsection (7) does
not limit the Federal Court of Australia’s power under subsection (5) to
make an order remitting the case to be heard and decided again by the Tribunal.
(10) The jurisdiction of the
Federal Court of Australia under subsection (3) includes jurisdiction to
make findings of fact under subsection (7).
44AAA Appeals to Federal Circuit
Court from decisions of the Tribunal in relation to child support first reviews
(1) If the Tribunal as
constituted for the purposes of a proceeding that is a child support first
review does not consist of or include a presidential member, a party to the
proceeding may appeal to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, on a question
of law, from any decision of the Tribunal in that proceeding.
(2) The following provisions
of this Part apply in relation to any such appeal as if the appeal were an
appeal under subsection 44(1) and a reference in those provisions to the
Federal Court of Australia were a reference to the Federal Circuit Court of
Australia:
(a) subsections 44(2A)
to (10) (other than paragraphs 44(3)(a) to (c));
(b) section 44A
(other than subsection (2A));
(c) paragraphs
46(1)(a) and (b).
(3) Paragraph 44(2A)(b)
applies in relation to any such appeal as if the reference in that paragraph to
rules of court made under the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 were a
reference to rules of court made under the Federal Circuit Court of
Australia Act 1999.
(4) Subsection (1) does
not affect the operation of subsection 44(1) in relation to a proceeding
that is a child support first review.
44AA Transfer of appeals from Federal
Court to Federal Circuit Court
Transfer of appeals
(1) If an appeal under
subsection 44(1) or (2) is pending in the Federal Court of Australia, the
Federal Court of Australia may, by order, transfer the appeal from the Federal
Court of Australia to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
(2) However,
the Federal Court of Australia must not transfer an appeal to the Federal
Circuit Court of Australia if the appeal:
(a) relates to a
decision given by the Tribunal constituted by a member who was, or by members
at least one of whom was, a presidential member; or
(c) is of a kind
specified in the regulations.
(3) The Federal Court of
Australia may transfer an appeal under subsection (1):
(a) on the
application of a party to the appeal; or
(b) on its own
initiative.
Federal Court Rules
(4) Rules of Court made
under the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 may make provision in
relation to transfers of appeals to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia
under subsection (1).
(5) In particular, Rules of
Court made under the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 may set out
factors that are to be taken into account by the Federal Court of Australia in
deciding whether to transfer appeals to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia
under subsection (1).
(6) Before Rules of Court
are made for the purposes of subsection (4) or (5), the Federal Court of
Australia must consult the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
Matters to which the Federal Court
must have regard in transferring appeal
(7) In deciding whether to
transfer an appeal to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia under subsection (1),
the Federal Court of Australia must have regard to:
(a) any Rules of
Court made for the purposes of subsection (5); and
(b) whether
proceedings in respect of an associated matter are pending in the Federal
Circuit Court of Australia; and
(c) whether the
resources of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia are sufficient to hear and
determine the appeal; and
(d) the interests of
the administration of justice.
Jurisdiction
(8) The Federal Circuit
Court of Australia has jurisdiction to hear and determine appeals transferred
to it under subsection (1).
Powers etc.
(9) Subsections 44(4),
(5) and (6) apply in relation to the hearing and determination of an appeal
transferred to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia under subsection (1)
of this section in a corresponding way to the way in which they apply to the
hearing and determination of an appeal by the Federal Court of Australia.
No appeal from decision of Federal
Court
(10) An appeal does not lie
from a decision of the Federal Court of Australia in relation to the transfer
of an appeal under subsection (1).
Federal Circuit Court may make
findings of fact
(11) If an appeal under
subsection 44(1) is transferred to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia
under subsection (1) of this section, subsections 44(7), (8) and (9)
apply in relation to the making of findings of fact by the Federal Circuit
Court of Australia in a corresponding way to the way in which they apply to the
making of findings of fact by the Federal Court of Australia.
(12) The jurisdiction of the Federal
Circuit Court of Australia under subsection (8) of this section includes
jurisdiction to make findings of fact under subsection 44(7) (as applied
by subsection (11) of this section).
44A Operation and implementation of
a decision that is subject to appeal
Appeal does not affect operation of
Tribunal’s decision
(1) Subject to this section,
the institution of an appeal to the Federal Court of Australia from a decision
of the Tribunal does not affect the operation of the decision or prevent the
taking of action to implement the decision.
Stay orders
(2) Where an appeal is
instituted in the Federal Court of Australia from a decision of the Tribunal,
that Court or a Judge of that Court may make such order or orders staying or
otherwise affecting the operation or implementation of either or both of the
following:
(a) the decision of
the Tribunal or a part of that decision; and
(b) the
decision to which the proceeding before the Tribunal related or a part of that
decision;
as that Court or Judge considers
appropriate for the purpose of securing the effectiveness of the hearing and
determination of the appeal.
(2A) If an appeal from a
decision of the Tribunal is transferred from the Federal Court of Australia to
the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia
or a Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia may make such order or
orders staying or otherwise affecting the operation or implementation of either
or both of the following:
(a) the decision of
the Tribunal or a part of that decision;
(b) the
decision to which the proceeding before the Tribunal related or a part of that
decision;
as the Federal Circuit Court of Australia
or Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia considers appropriate for
the purpose of securing the effectiveness of the hearing and determination of
the appeal.
(3) If an order is in force
under subsection (2) or (2A) (including an order that has previously been
varied on one or more occasions under this subsection):
(a) the Federal Court
of Australia or a Judge of that Court; or
(b) the Federal
Circuit Court of Australia or a Judge of that Court;
may make an order varying or revoking the
first‑mentioned order.
(4) An order in force under subsection (2)
or (2A) (including an order that has previously been varied on one or more
occasions under subsection (3)):
(a) is subject to
such conditions as are specified in the order; and
(b) has
effect until:
(i) where
a period for the operation of the order is specified in the order—the
expiration of that period or, if a decision is given on the appeal before the
expiration of that period, the giving of the decision; or
(ii) where
no period is so specified—the giving of a decision on the appeal.
45 Reference of questions of law to
Federal Court of Australia
(1) The Tribunal may, with
the agreement of the President, refer a question of law arising in a proceeding
before the Tribunal to the Federal Court of Australia for decision. The
Tribunal may do so on its own initiative or at the request of a party to the
proceeding.
Note: This Part does not apply to
certain migration proceedings (see section 43C).
(2) The Federal Court of
Australia has jurisdiction to hear and determine a question of law referred to
it under this section.
(2A) If, after consulting the
President, the Chief Justice of the Court considers it appropriate, that
jurisdiction is to be exercised by the Court constituted as a Full Court.
(3) Where a question of law
arising in any proceeding has been referred to the Federal Court of Australia
under this section, the Tribunal shall not, in that proceeding:
(a) give a decision
to which the question is relevant while the reference is pending; or
(b) proceed in a
manner, or make a decision, that is inconsistent with the opinion of the
Federal Court of Australia on the question.
46 Sending of documents to, and
disclosure of documents by, the Federal Court and the Federal Circuit Court
Sending of documents to courts
(1) When an appeal is
instituted in the Federal Court of Australia in accordance with section 44
or a question of law is referred to that Court in accordance with section 45:
(a) the Tribunal
shall, despite subsections 36(2), 36B(2) and 39B(3), cause to be sent to
the Court all documents that were before the Tribunal in connexion with the
proceeding to which the appeal or reference relates and are relevant to the
appeal or reference; and
(b) except in the
case of an appeal that is transferred to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia—at
the conclusion of the proceeding before the Federal Court of Australia in
relation to the appeal or reference, the Court shall cause the documents to be
returned to the Tribunal; and
(c) in the case of an
appeal that is transferred to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia:
(i) the
Federal Court of Australia must cause the documents to be sent to the Federal
Circuit Court of Australia; and
(ii) at
the conclusion of the proceedings before the Federal Circuit Court of Australia
in relation to the appeal, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia must cause
the documents to be returned to the Tribunal.
Disclosure of documents by courts
(2) If there is in force in
respect of any of the documents a certificate in accordance with subsection 28(2),
36(1), 36B(1) or 39B(2) certifying that the disclosure of matter contained in
the document would be contrary to the public interest, the Federal Court of
Australia or the Federal Circuit Court of Australia shall, subject to subsection (3),
do all things necessary to ensure that the matter is not disclosed to any
person other than a member of the court as constituted for the purposes of the
proceeding. However, this subsection does not prevent the Federal Court of
Australia from causing the document to be sent to the Federal Circuit Court of
Australia as mentioned in subparagraph (1)(c)(i).
(3) If:
(a) the
certificate referred to in subsection (2) relating to matter contained in
the document does not specify a reason referred to in paragraph 28(2)(a)
or (b), 36(1)(a) or (b), 36B(1)(a), or 39B(2)(a), as the case may be;
(b) a question for
decision by the Federal Court of Australia or the Federal Circuit Court of
Australia is whether the matter should be disclosed to some or all of the
parties to the proceeding before the Tribunal in respect of which the appeal
was instituted or the reference was made; and
(c) the
court decides that the matter should be so disclosed;
the court shall permit the part of the
document in which the matter is contained to be inspected accordingly.
(4) Nothing in this section
prevents the disclosure of information or of matter contained in a document to
an officer of the court in the course of the performance of his or her duties
as an officer of the court.
Part V—Administrative Review Council
47 Interpretation
(1) In this Part, unless the
contrary intention appears:
appointed member means a member referred to in paragraph 49(1)(d).
Council means the Administrative Review Council.
member means a member of the Council.
(2) A reference in this Part
to an administrative decision or an administrative discretion includes a
reference to an administrative decision made, or administrative discretion
exercised, otherwise than under an enactment.
48 Establishment of Council
There is hereby
established a Council by the name of the Administrative Review Council.
49 Composition of Council
(1) The Council shall
consist of:
(a) the President;
and
(b) the Commonwealth
Ombudsman holding office under the Ombudsman Act 1976; and
(ba) the President of
the Australian Human Rights Commission established by the Australian Human
Rights Commission Act 1986; and
(c) the President of
the Australian Law Reform Commission established by the Australian Law
Reform Commission Act 1996; and
(ca) the Australian
Information Commissioner holding office under the Australian Information
Commissioner Act 2010; and
(d) not fewer than 3
other members or more than:
(i) unless
subparagraph (ii) applies, 10 other members; or
(ii) if a
higher number than 10 is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this
subparagraph—that higher number of members.
(2) The members referred to
in paragraph (1)(d) shall be appointed by the Governor‑General and shall
be appointed as part‑time members.
(2A) The Governor‑General shall
appoint one of the members to be the President of the Council.
(3) The performance of the
functions or the exercise of the powers of the Council is not affected by a
vacancy in the office of a member referred to in paragraph (1)(a), (b),
(ba), (c) or (ca) or by reason of the number of appointed members falling below
3 for not more than 3 months.
50 Qualifications for appointment
A person is not to be
appointed as a member referred to in paragraph 49(1)(d) unless he or she:
(a) has had extensive
experience at a high level in industry, commerce, public administration,
industrial relations, the practice of a profession or the service of a government
or of an authority of a government; or
(b) has an extensive
knowledge of administrative law or public administration; or
(c) has had direct
experience, and has direct knowledge, of the needs of people, or groups of
people, significantly affected by government decisions.
51 Functions and powers of Council
(1) The functions of the
Council are:
(aa) to keep the
Commonwealth administrative law system under review, monitor developments in
administrative law and recommend to the Minister improvements that might be
made to the system; and
(ab) to inquire into
the adequacy of the procedures used by authorities of the Commonwealth and
other persons who exercise administrative discretions or make administrative
decisions, and consult with and advise them about those procedures, for the
purpose of ensuring that the discretions are exercised, or the decisions are
made, in a just and equitable manner; and
(a) to ascertain, and
keep under review, the classes of administrative decisions that are not the subject
of review by a court, tribunal or other body; and
(b) to make
recommendations to the Minister as to whether any of those classes of decisions
should be the subject of review by a court, tribunal or other body and, if so,
as to the appropriate court, tribunal or other body to make that review; and
(c) to inquire into
the adequacy of the law and practice relating to the review by courts of
administrative decisions and to make recommendations to the Minister as to any
improvements that might be made in that law or practice; and
(d) to inquire into:
(i) the
qualification required for membership of authorities of the Commonwealth, and
the qualifications required by other persons, engaged in the review of
administrative decisions; and
(ii) the
extent of the jurisdiction to review administrative decisions that is conferred
on those authorities and other persons; and
(iii) the
adequacy of the procedures used by those authorities and other persons in the
exercise of that jurisdiction;
and to consult
with and advise those authorities and other persons about the procedures used
by them as mentioned in subparagraph (iii) and recommend to the Minister
any improvements that might be made in respect of any of the matters referred
to in subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii); and
(e) to make
recommendations to the Minister as to the manner in which tribunals engaged in
the review of administrative decisions should be constituted; and
(f) to make
recommendations to the Minister as to the desirability of administrative
decisions that are the subject of review by tribunals other than the
Administrative Appeals Tribunal being made the subject of review by the
Administrative Appeals Tribunal; and and
(g) to
facilitate the training of members of authorities of the Commonwealth and other
persons in exercising administrative discretions or making administrative
decisions; and
(h) to promote
knowledge about the Commonwealth administrative law system; and
(i) to consider, and
report to the Minister on, matters referred to the Council by the Minister.
(2) The Council may do all
things necessary or convenient to be done for or in connexion with the
performance of its functions.
(3) If the Council holds an
inquiry, or gives any advice, referred to in paragraph (1)(ab), the Council
must give the Minister a copy of any findings made by the Council in the
inquiry or a copy of the advice, as the case may be.
51A Minister may give directions to
the Council
The Minister may, by
writing given to the President of the Council, give directions to the Council
in respect of the performance of its functions or the exercise of its powers
and the Council must comply with any such directions.
51B Minister may refer matters to
the Council
The Minister may, by
writing given to the President of the Council, refer matters to the Council for
inquiry and report.
51C Reports by the Council
(1) When the Council
concludes its consideration of:
(a) a matter relating
to a project in respect of which the Council has determined that a report is to
be prepared; or
(b) a matter referred
by the Minister to the Council for inquiry and report;
the Council is to prepare a report on the
matter and give the report to the Minister.
(2) The Minister must cause
a copy of a report so given to be laid before each House of the Parliament
within 15 sitting days of that House after the report is received by the
Minister.
52 Period of appointment
General rule
(1) Subject to this section,
an appointed member shall be appointed for such period, not exceeding 3 years,
as the Governor‑General specifies in the instrument of his or her appointment,
but is eligible for re‑appointment.
Special rule—appointment for a
particular project
(2) An instrument of
appointment of a person as an appointed member may state that the person is
appointed for the purposes of a particular project specified in the instrument
that is being, or is to be, undertaken by the Council.
(3) If an instrument of
appointment of a person contains a statement as mentioned in subsection (2),
subsection (1) does not apply to the appointment but:
(a) the person is to
be appointed for such period, not exceeding 3 years, as is specified in the
instrument of appointment; and
(b) the person is to
take part in the project and has the rights of a member only for the purposes
of taking part in the project; and
(c) the Governor‑General
may at any time, by writing, terminate the appointment; and
(d) if the
appointment has not previously ended under paragraph (a) or under section 54
or 55 or been terminated under paragraph (c), it ends when the President
of the Council certifies in writing that the Council has finished the project;
and
(e) when the
appointment ends or is terminated, the person is eligible for reappointment,
whether for the purpose of taking part in the same project or another project
or otherwise.
53 Remuneration and allowances
(1) An appointed member
shall be paid such remuneration as is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal
but, if no determination of that remuneration by that Tribunal is in operation,
he or she shall be paid such remuneration as is prescribed.
(2) An appointed member
shall be paid such allowances as are prescribed.
(3) This section has effect
subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973‑1974.
54 Resignation
(1) An appointed member may
resign his or her appointment by giving the Governor‑General a written
resignation.
(2) The resignation takes
effect on the day it is received by the Governor‑General or, if a later day is
specified in the resignation, on that later day.
55 Removal from office
(1) The Governor‑General may
remove an appointed member from office for misbehaviour or incapacity.
(2) If an appointed member
is absent, except by leave of the Minister, from 3 consecutive meetings of the
Council, the Governor‑General may remove him or her from office.
56 Meetings
(1) The Council shall hold
such meetings as are necessary for the performance of its functions.
Convening meeting
(2) The President of the
Council may at any time convene a meeting of the Council.
(3) The President of the
Council shall, on receipt of a request in writing signed by 3 members, convene
a meeting of the Council.
Quorum
(4) At a meeting of the
Council, 5 members constitute a quorum.
Who is to preside
(5) The President of the Council
shall preside at all meetings of the Council at which he or she is present.
(6) If the President of the
Council is not present at a meeting of the Council, the members present shall
elect one of their number to preside at that meeting and the person so elected
shall preside accordingly.
Questions to be determined by majority
(7) Questions arising at a
meeting of the Council shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the
members present and voting.
Presiding member has deliberative vote
etc.
(8) The member presiding at
a meeting of the Council has a deliberative vote and, in the event of an
equality of votes, also has a casting vote.
Council may regulate meetings
(9) The Council may regulate
the conduct of proceedings at its meetings as it thinks fit and shall keep
minutes of those proceedings.
Acting ombudsman may attend meetings
(10) A person acting in the
office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman may attend a meeting of the Council and,
in relation to a meeting of the Council that he or she attends in pursuance
with this subsection, shall be deemed to be the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
57 Staff of Council
The staff of the
Council shall be persons engaged under the Public Service Act 1999.
58 Annual Report
(1) The Council shall, as
soon as practicable after 30 June in each year, prepare and give to the
Minister a report of the operations of the Council during that year.
(2) The Minister shall cause
the report of the Council to be laid before each House of the Parliament within
15 sitting days of that House after the receipt of the report by the Minister.
(3) The first report by the
Council shall relate to the period commencing on the date of commencement of
this Act and ending on 30 June 1977.
Part VI—Miscellaneous
59 Advisory opinions
(1) If an enactment so
provides, the Tribunal may give an advisory opinion on a matter or question
referred to it in accordance with the enactment and, for the purpose of giving
such an opinion, the Tribunal may hold such hearings and inform itself in such
manner as it thinks appropriate.
(2) If the regulations so
provide, the Tribunal may give an advisory opinion on a matter or question:
(a) arising under a
Norfolk Island enactment; and
(b) referred to the
Tribunal in accordance with the regulations;
and, for the purpose of giving such an
opinion, the Tribunal may hold such hearings and inform itself in such manner
as it thinks appropriate.
59A Authorised members
(1) The President may, in
writing, authorise a member to be an authorised member for the purposes of one
or more specified provisions of this Act or any other enactment.
(2) The authorisation may be
general or limited to specified decisions or proceedings.
59B Authorised officers
(1) The President may, in
writing, authorise an officer of the Tribunal to be an authorised officer for
the purposes of one or more specified provisions of this Act or any other
enactment.
(2) The authorisation may be
general or limited to specified decisions or proceedings.
60 Protection of members,
alternative dispute resolution practitioners, officers of the Tribunal,
barristers and witnesses
Members
(1) A member has, in the
performance of his or her duties as a member, the same protection and immunity
as a Justice of the High Court.
Alternative dispute resolution
practitioners
(1A) An alternative dispute
resolution practitioner has, in the performance of his or her duties as an
alternative dispute resolution practitioner under this Act, the same protection
and immunity as a Justice of the High Court.
Officers of the Tribunal
(1B) An officer of the Tribunal
has, in the performance of his or her duties as an officer of the Tribunal
under subsections 29(9) and 29AC(2), paragraph 33(2)(a) and sections 40,
40A, 40B and 69A, the same protection and immunity as a Justice of the High
Court.
Barristers etc.
(2) A barrister, solicitor
or other person appearing before the Tribunal on behalf of a party has the same
protection and immunity as a barrister has in appearing for a party in
proceedings in the High Court.
Witnesses
(3) Subject to this Act, a
person summoned to attend or appearing before the Tribunal as a witness has the
same protection, and is, in addition to the penalties provided by this Act,
subject to the same liabilities, as a witness in proceedings in the High Court.
(4) In this section:
alternative dispute resolution
practitioner means a person who conducts an
alternative dispute resolution process under Division 3 of Part IV.
61 Failure to comply with summons
(1) A person commits an
offence if:
(a) the person is
given, in accordance with any applicable regulations or directions, a summons
referred to in section 40A; and
(b) the person fails
to comply with the summons.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months or 60
penalty units, or both.
(2) Subsection (1) does
not apply if complying with the summons might tend to incriminate the person.
Note: A defendant bears an
evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (2) (see
subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code).
62 Refusal to be sworn or to answer
questions
Oath or affirmation
(1) A person commits an
offence if:
(a) the person
appears as a witness before the Tribunal; and
(b) the person has
been required under section 40 either to take an oath or make an affirmation;
and
(c) the person fails
to comply with the requirement.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months or 60
penalty units, or both.
Questions
(3) A person commits an
offence if:
(a) the person
appears as a witness before the Tribunal; and
(b) the member presiding
at the proceeding has required the person to answer a question; and
(c) the person fails
to answer the question.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months or 60
penalty units, or both.
(4) Subsection (3) does
not apply if answering the question might tend to incriminate the person.
Note: A defendant bears an
evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (4) (see
subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code).
62A False or misleading evidence
A person commits an
offence if:
(a) the person appears
as a witness before the Tribunal; and
(b) the person gives
evidence; and
(c) the person does
so knowing that the evidence is false or misleading.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months or 60
penalty units, or both.
62B Extended operation of certain
provisions
Sections 61, 62
and 62A apply in relation to a directions hearing or an alternative dispute
resolution process under Division 3 as if it were a proceeding before the
Tribunal.
62C Breach of non‑disclosure order
A person commits an
offence if:
(a) the person
engages in conduct; and
(b) the conduct
contravenes an order under subsection 35(3) or (4) or 35AA(2).
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months or 60
penalty units, or both.
63 Contempt of Tribunal
(1) A person commits an
offence if:
(a) the person
engages in conduct; and
(b) the conduct
obstructs or hinders the Tribunal or a member in the performance of the
functions of the Tribunal.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months or 60
penalty units, or both.
(2) A person commits an
offence if:
(a) the person
engages in conduct; and
(b) the conduct
would, if the Tribunal were a court of record, constitute a contempt of that
court.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months or 60
penalty units, or both.
64 Registries
The Minister may
establish such registries of the Tribunal as the Minister thinks fit.
66 Confidential information not to
be disclosed
Protected documents and information
(1) An entrusted person must
not be required to produce a protected document, or disclose protected
information, to a court except so far as necessary for the purposes of carrying
into effect the provisions of this Act or another enactment conferring powers
on the Tribunal.
(2) An entrusted person must
not be required to produce a protected document, or disclose protected information,
to a parliament if:
(a) the document or
information relates to a Part 7‑reviewable decision within the meaning of
the Migration Act 1958; and
(b) the production or
disclosure is not necessary for the purposes of carrying into effect the provisions
of this Act or another enactment conferring powers on the Tribunal.
Tribunal proceedings
(3) A person who is, or has
been, a member of the Tribunal shall not be required to give evidence to a
court in relation to any proceedings before the Tribunal.
Definitions
(4) In
this section:
court includes any tribunal, authority or person having power to require
the production of documents or the answering of questions.
enactment includes a Norfolk Island enactment.
entrusted person means any of the following:
(a) a person who is
or has been a member of the Tribunal;
(b) a person who is
or has been an officer of the Tribunal;
(c) a person who is
or has been a member of the staff of the Tribunal;
(d) a person who is
or has been engaged by the Tribunal to provide services to the Tribunal during
a proceeding before the Tribunal.
parliament means:
(a) a House of the
Parliament of the Commonwealth, of a State or of a Territory; or
(b) a committee of a
House or the Houses of the Parliament of the Commonwealth, of a State or of a
Territory.
produce includes permit access to.
protected: a document or information is protected if it
concerns a person and was obtained by an entrusted person in the course of the
entrusted person’s duties.
Note: Section 81 of the Australian
Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 contains additional provisions
relating to secrecy that apply to members and officers of the Tribunal.
66A Application of confidentiality
provisions in other Acts
(1) If:
(a) a provision of an
enactment (other than this Act) prohibits the disclosure, whether absolutely,
in certain circumstances only or subject to conditions, of information by
persons who:
(i) are
included in a particular class of persons; and
(ii) acquired
the information in the course of their duties under the enactment; and
(b) a person who is
or has been a member, an officer of the Tribunal or a member of the staff of
the Tribunal has acquired or acquires any such information in the course of his
or her duties as such a member, officer or member of the staff;
that provision applies to the person as
if he or she were included in the particular class of persons and acquired the
information in the course of duties under the enactment.
(2) In this section:
enactment includes a Norfolk Island enactment.
66B Publication of Tribunal
decisions
(1) The Tribunal may, by any
means it considers appropriate, publish its decisions and the reasons for them.
(2) Subsection (1) does
not authorise the Tribunal to publish information the disclosure of which is
prohibited or restricted by or under this Act or any other enactment conferring
jurisdiction on the Tribunal.
67 Fees for compliance with summons
(1) A person who, under a
prescribed provision of this Act or another enactment, is required to give
evidence, or produce a document or give information, for the purposes of a
proceeding before the Tribunal is to be paid, in accordance with the
regulations, any fee or allowance prescribed by the regulations in relation to
compliance with the requirement.
(2) Without limiting the
matters that may be dealt with by regulations made for the purposes of subsection (1),
the regulations may:
(a) prescribe
circumstances in which a fee or allowance is not payable; or
(b) provide that a fee
or allowance is to be paid:
(i) if
the requirement was made of the person at the request of a party to the
proceeding—by the party; or
(ii) by
the Commonwealth.
67A Giving of notices
(1) A notice that is
required or permitted by this Act to be given to the person who made a decision
(other than a decision under a Norfolk Island enactment) may be given to:
(a) the Secretary of
the Department administered by the Minister who administers:
(i) the
enactment under which the decision was given; or
(ii) if
that enactment was made in pursuance of a power contained in another
enactment—that other enactment; or
(b) if a provision of
the regulations or of any other enactment prescribes the holder of a particular
office as a person to whom notices may be given under this Act in relation to a
class of decisions in which that decision is included—the holder of that
office.
(2) A notice that is
required or permitted by this Act to be given to the person who made a decision
under a Norfolk Island enactment may be given to the Chief Executive Officer
(within the meaning of the Public Service Act 2014 of Norfolk Island).
68 Giving documents
(1) A document or thing that
is required or permitted by this Act or another enactment to be lodged with, or
given to, the Tribunal must be lodged or given in accordance with:
(a) any direction
under section 18B; or
(b) regulations made
under this Act or the other enactment.
(2) A document that is
required or permitted by this Act or another enactment to be given to a person
for the purposes of a proceeding before the Tribunal must be given to the
person in accordance with:
(a) any direction
under section 18B; or
(b) regulations made
under this Act or the other enactment.
(3) A direction given under
section 18B for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) or (2)(a) must not
be inconsistent with regulations in force for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)
or (2)(b).
(4) Subsections (1) and
(2) do not apply to the extent to which this Act or another enactment specifies
how a document or thing is to be lodged with or given to the Tribunal, or given
to a person, for the purposes of a proceeding before the Tribunal.
68AA President’s directions
If the President gives
a direction that, under this Act, is to be a written direction, a failure to
give the direction in writing does not invalidate anything done in accordance
with or otherwise in relation to or as a consequence of the direction.
68A Calculation of short periods of
time
(1) If the period of time
for doing anything under this Act or any other Act, or in accordance with a
direction of the Tribunal, in relation to a proceeding is a period of less than
7 days, any day on which the Registry of the Tribunal in which the relevant
application was lodged is not open to the public is not to be counted in
working out whether the period has ended.
(2) Subsection (1) does
not apply in relation to a proceeding in the Migration and Refugee Division.
69 Legal assistance
(1) A person who:
(a) has made, or
proposes to make, an application to the Tribunal for a review of a decision;
(b) is a party to a
proceeding before the Tribunal instituted by another person; or
(c) proposes
to institute a proceeding, or is a party to a proceeding instituted, before a
court in respect of a matter arising under this Act;
may apply to the Attorney‑General for the
provision of assistance under this section in respect of the proceeding.
(2) Where an application is
made by a person under subsection (1), the Attorney‑General may, if he or
she is satisfied that it would involve hardship to that person to refuse the
application and that, in all the circumstances, it is reasonable that the
application should be granted, authorize the provision by the Commonwealth to
that person, either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as the
Attorney‑General determines, of such legal or financial assistance in relation
to the proceeding as the Attorney‑General determines.
(3) This section does not
apply if the powers of the Tribunal in relation to the application, proceeding
or matter concerned are or would be exercisable in the Migration and Refugee
Division or the Social Services and Child Support Division.
69A Procedure for taxing costs
(1) If:
(a) the Tribunal has,
under this Act or another enactment, ordered a party to a proceeding to pay
reasonable costs incurred by another party; and
(b) the parties
cannot agree on the amount of those costs;
the Tribunal or an officer of the
Tribunal may tax the costs.
(2) If an officer of the
Tribunal has taxed the costs in accordance with subsection (1), either
party may apply to the Tribunal for review of the taxed amount.
(3) If a party does so, the
Tribunal must review the taxed amount and may:
(a) affirm the
amount; or
(b) set aside the
amount and substitute another amount; or
(c) set aside the
amount and remit the matter to the officer of the Tribunal to be taxed in
accordance with the directions of the Tribunal.
(4) An amount that a party
to a proceeding is required to pay to another party under an order made by the
Tribunal is recoverable by the other party as a debt due to the other party by
the first‑mentioned party.
69B Costs in Security Division
review of security assessment
(1) If:
(a) a person makes an
application under section 54 of the Australian Security Intelligence
Organisation Act 1979 to the Tribunal for a review of an adverse or
qualified security assessment in respect of the person; and
(b) the applicant
was, in the opinion of the Tribunal, successful, or substantially successful,
in the application for review; and
(c) the
Tribunal is satisfied that it is appropriate to do so in all the circumstances
of the case;
the Tribunal may order that the costs
reasonably incurred by the applicant in connection with the application, or any
part of those costs that is determined by the Tribunal, be paid by the
Commonwealth.
(2) For the purposes of
section 69A, the Commonwealth is taken to be a party to the proceeding
referred to in subsection (1) of this section.
69BA Termination of certain
applications
(1) Sections 42A and
42B, except subsection 42A(4), apply in relation to an application
described in paragraph (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (h) of the definition of
proceeding in subsection 3(1) in the same way as those
sections apply in relation to an application for a review of a decision.
(2) Subsection 42A(1)
applies under subsection (1) of this section as if it did not include the
words “without proceeding to review the decision or, if the Tribunal has
commenced to review the decision, without completing the review”.
(3) Subsections 42A(1B)
and (5) and paragraph 42A(2)(a) apply under subsection (1) of this
section as if they did not include the words “without proceeding to review the
decision”.
(4) Subsection 42A(2)
applies under subsection (1) of this section as if it did not include the
words “(not being the person who made the decision)”.
69C Dismissal of application for non‑payment
of application fee
(1) The Tribunal may dismiss
an application to the Tribunal if:
(a) regulations under
section 70 prescribe a fee to be payable in respect of the application;
and
(b) the fee has not
been paid by the time worked out under regulations under section 70.
(2) Subsection (1) does
not apply to an application for review of a decision that is reviewable in the
Migration and Refugee Division.
70 Regulations
(1) The
Governor‑General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act,
prescribing all matters required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed or
necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to
this Act.
(2) Without limiting the
generality of subsection (1):
(a) the regulations
may make provision:
(i) prescribing
fees to be payable in respect of applications to the Tribunal; and
(ia) prescribing
fees to be payable in respect of the taxation of costs ordered by the Tribunal
to be paid; and
(ii) for
or in relation to the refund, in whole or in part, of fees so paid where the
proceeding terminates in a manner favourable to the applicant; and
(b) regulations
prescribing fees may:
(i) prescribe
fees in respect of a particular class or classes of applications only; and
(ii) prescribe
different fees in respect of different classes of applications.
(3) Without limiting the
generality of subsection (1), the regulations may make provision:
(a) prescribing fees
to be payable in respect of proceedings before the Tribunal; and
(b) for, or in
relation to, the waiver (in whole or in part) of such fees.