ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL (AAT)

Australians Unified – Attorney‑General’s Portfolio

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) is Australia’s independent national body for reviewing government decisions. It ensures fairness, accountability, and transparency by providing accessible, merit‑based review across migration, social services, taxation, veterans’ affairs, freedom of information, and other Commonwealth matters.

The AAT works with government agencies, legal bodies, and the community to ensure Australians can challenge decisions that affect their rights, entitlements, and obligations.

 

OUR ROLE

The AAT exists to:

  • Provide independent review of Commonwealth administrative decisions

  • Ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in government processes

  • Deliver accessible, timely, and merit‑based decision‑making

  • Support individuals, families, and businesses navigating government systems

  • Improve the quality of government decision‑making through feedback and oversight

  • Work with agencies, courts, and legal representatives

  • Strengthen public trust in administrative justice

The AAT ensures Australians have a fair pathway to challenge government decisions.

 

OUR STRENGTHS

Tribunal & Review Strengths

  • Independent, impartial decision‑making

  • Broad jurisdiction across major Commonwealth portfolios

  • Experienced tribunal members and legal specialists

  • Strong procedural fairness and transparency standards

  • Established national presence and accessibility

Sovereign Strengths

  • Independent statutory authority

  • Critical role in administrative justice

  • Trusted mechanism for reviewing government decisions

OUR WEAKNESSES

Structural Weaknesses

  • Significant case backlogs in key divisions

  • Ageing digital case‑management systems

  • Inconsistent processing times across jurisdictions

  • Limited resources for complex or high‑volume matters

  • Slow recruitment of tribunal members

Operational Weaknesses

  • Rising demand for review services

  • Limited outreach to vulnerable and remote communities

  • Workforce pressures in registry and legal support roles

  • Fragmented data and reporting systems

 

 

OUR THREATS

External Threats

  • Increasing complexity of government programs

  • Rising demand for reviews in migration and social services

  • Public misinformation undermining trust in administrative justice

  • Digital exclusion affecting vulnerable communities

Internal Threats

  • Resource constraints

  • Outdated systems and infrastructure

  • Workforce fatigue and retention challenges

  • Limited surge capacity for high‑volume caseloads

 

OUR OPPORTUNITIES

Strategic Opportunities

  • Modernise digital case‑management and hearing systems

  • Strengthen accessibility for vulnerable and regional Australians

  • Improve timeliness and consistency of decisions

  • Expand alternative dispute resolution pathways

  • Enhance public understanding of administrative rights

Operational Opportunities

  • Recruit and retain tribunal members and registry staff

  • Improve coordination with government agencies

  • Strengthen data sharing and analytics

  • Expand online hearings and digital lodgement

 

BETTER INTEGRATION WITH GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY

One national administrative justice system

Key Actions

  • Integrated case‑sharing platforms

  • Stronger partnerships with agencies and legal bodies

  • National community engagement programs

  • Shared data and analytics systems

Outcome: A more coordinated, community‑connected review network.

 

5. A FAIRER, MORE ACCESSIBLE AUSTRALIA

Ensuring government decisions are transparent and accountable

Key Actions

  • Simplified review pathways

  • Strengthened support for vulnerable groups

  • Digital accessibility and online hearings

  • Public education on administrative rights

Outcome: A fairer, more transparent administrative justice system.

 

FASTER, MORE ACCESSIBLE REVIEW SYSTEMS

Strengthening national administrative justice

Key Actions

  • Modern digital case‑management systems

  • Faster lodgement and triage processes

  • Improved hearing scheduling

  • Strengthened coordination with agencies

Outcome: A more agile, efficient review system.

 

2. STRONGER SOVEREIGN REVIEW CAPABILITY

Building Australian capability for fair decision‑making

Key Actions

  • Specialist tribunal divisions

  • National legal and procedural training

  • Strengthened oversight and governance

  • Expanded alternative dispute resolution

Outcome: A more resilient, fair administrative justice system.

 

3. A MODERN, RESILIENT AAT WORKFORCE

Supporting the people who deliver justice

Key Actions

  • Workforce wellbeing and retention programs

  • Specialist training pathways

  • Diversity and inclusion initiatives

  • Modern digital tools and hearing systems

Outcome: A strong, supported AAT workforce.

TILE 4 — PHASE 3: EXPANSION (Years 4–6)

Grow Sovereign Review Capability

 

  • National legal data platform

  • International best‑practice collaboration

  • Community partnerships

  • Policy innovation initiatives

  • Regional and remote outreach Delivers: Stronger sovereign capability Colour: Sand / Gold

 

TILE 5 — PHASE 4: FUTURE‑READY (Years 6–10)

 

A Modern, Independent AAT

 

  • Smart hearing technologies

  • Climate‑resilient facilities

  • Integrated national review ecosystem

  • Continuous legal innovation

  • Fully modernised AAT estate Delivers: A competitive edge in administrative justice Colour: Deep Teal

 

TILE 6 — PEOPLE & COMMUNITY

Supporting Tribunal Members & Australians

 

  • Workforce wellbeing programs

  • Specialist legal training

  • Community engagement

  • Diversity and inclusion

  • Public trust and transparency Delivers: A strong, supported AAT workforce Colour: Olive Green

 

TILE 7 — OUTCOME TILE

THE FUTURE‑READY AAT

 

  • ✔ Faster, more effective reviews

  • ✔ Stronger sovereign capability

  • ✔ A modern, resilient workforce

  • ✔ Better national coordination

  • ✔ A fairer, more accessible Australia

ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL (AAT)

CONDENSED YEARLY COSTING MODEL

Baseline + Uplift Investment Framework

BASELINE FUNDING (Already Provided)

The AAT operates on a moderate national budget due to its large caseload and tribunal footprint.

  • Core AAT annual budget: $0.22B

  • Registry, hearings & administrative operations: $0.10B

  • Digital systems & case‑management maintenance: $0.03B

Total Baseline Funding:

$0.35B per year

PHASE 1 — FOUNDATION (Years 1–2)

Stabilise & Strengthen Core Systems

Annual uplift: $0.30B – $0.40B Total annual operating: $0.65B – $0.75B

2‑year uplift total: $0.60B – $0.80B

Key drivers:

  • Case‑management system overhaul

  • Backlog reduction teams

  • Tribunal member recruitment

  • Governance & compliance uplift

PHASE 2 — ACCELERATION (Years 2–4)

Expand Capability & Modernise Operations

Annual uplift: $0.45B – $0.60B Total annual operating: $0.80B – $0.95B

3‑year uplift total: $1.35B – $1.80B

Key drivers:

  • Digital hearings & analytics tools

  • Specialist tribunal divisions

  • Community access & outreach

  • National training programs

PHASE 3 — EXPANSION (Years 4–6)

Grow Sovereign Review Capability

Annual uplift: $0.55B – $0.75B Total annual operating: $0.90B – $1.10B

2‑year uplift total: $1.10B – $1.50B

Key drivers:

  • National legal data platform

  • Regional & remote outreach

  • Policy innovation initiatives

  • International best‑practice collaboration

PHASE 4 — FUTURE‑READY (Years 6–10)

A Modern, Independent AAT

Annual uplift: $0.70B – $0.95B Total annual operating: $1.05B – $1.30B

4‑year uplift total: $2.80B – $3.80B

Key drivers:

  • Smart hearing technologies

  • Climate‑resilient tribunal facilities

  • Integrated national review ecosystem

  • Continuous legal innovation

🇦🇺 TOTAL INVESTMENT SUMMARY

6‑YEAR TOTAL (Years 1–6)

  • Uplift: $3.05B – $4.10B

  • Baseline (6 years): $2.10B

Total 6‑Year Investment:

$5.15B – $6.20B

10‑YEAR TOTAL (Years 1–10)

  • Uplift: $5.85B – $7.85B

  • Baseline (10 years): $3.50B

Total 10‑Year Investment:

$9.35B – $11.35B