On 19 July 2023, the Attorney General announced the new Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) will commence on 14 October 2024.
The current Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) will cease operations at this time.
All matters before the AAT will automatically transition over to the ART upon its commencement. Parties to proceedings currently before the AAT do not need to take any action to have their matter transition to the ART, it will happen automatically.
For matters that have not yet commenced, if an application has already been made to the AAT, a new application will not be needed to the ART. The application will transition across automatically.
Social security matters currently have two levels of review at the AAT, and will continue to have two levels of review at the ART. Depending on the social security decision being reviewed, there are strict time limits for applying to the first and second tier of the tribunal.
The transition from the AAT to the ART does not affect time limits for seeking review. SSRV recommends that anyone seeking a social security review at the Tribunal level proceeds as usual and does not await the commencement of the ART to lodge a review application.
If a review application is lodged with the AAT and the matter is not finalised before 14 October 2024, the matter will automatically transition across to the ART. On the other hand, missing a time limit can result in the loss of rights to back payments.
We will provide updates on the transition to the ART as further information becomes available.
If you have questions about how the transition to the ART may affect your or your client’s social security review, you are welcome to contact SSRV. Clients can contact SSRV’s Legal Assistance Line on 03 9481 0355. Workers can contact SSRV’s Worker Help Line on 03 9481 0655.
