The Administrative Review Tribunal (the Tribunal) was established by the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 and commenced operation on 14 October 2024. We have replaced the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Our role is to conduct independent reviews of administrative decisions made under a wide range of Commonwealth laws. 

If you disagree with a decision made by an Australian Government department, minister, or agency, the Tribunal gives you an opportunity to have that decision independently reviewed.

It is our job to consider each case on its merits by taking a fresh look at the facts, law and policy relating to the original decision, and consider any new information.

We have the power to agree with the original decision, change it, or make a new decision.

We are a tribunal, which is different and less formal than a court.

We are required to make sure the review process is fair, efficient, and can be accessed by anyone who wants to apply. We aim to resolve matters as quickly as we can, and with as little cost as possible.

The Tribunal also plays an important role in helping improve the quality of decisions made by government.

We can review decisions made under more than 400 Commonwealth Acts and legislative instruments. 

The most common types of decisions we review relate to:

• Visas, including migration and refugee visas
• Centrelink payments, including family assistance, paid parental leave, and student assistance
• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
• Child support
• Taxation
• Commonwealth workers’ compensation
• Veterans’ entitlements.

We can also review decisions relating to:

• Australian citizenship
• Bankruptcy
• Civil aviation
• Corporations and financial services regulation
• Customs
• Freedom of Information (FOI)
• Passports
• Security assessments by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

There are many other types of decisions that we can review, including those made under a small number of Norfolk Island laws.

In some cases, we cannot review a decision until there has been an internal review of the original decision or a review by a specialist body. 

We may also conduct a second review of certain decisions that have been made relating to social services.

Where a decision by us may contain an error of fact or law that affected the outcome of a review, the President of the Tribunal can refer matters to the Guidance and Appeals Panel. 

You can read more about the review process.