Amalgamation of key Commonwealth merits review tribunals (migration)

Legislation passed Parliament on 13 May 2015 enabling the amalgamation on 1 July 2015 of key Commonwealth merits review tribunals:  Administrative Appeals Tribunal (‘AAT’); Migration Review Tribunal (‘MRT’);  Refugee Review Tribunal (‘RRT’); and Social Security Appeals Tribunal (‘SSAT’). 

 

The amalgamated tribunal, known as the AAT, will undertake the same functions as the MRT and RRT, with administrative and corporate provisions harmonised where possible.  Provisions specific to management of the migration and refugee caseload, including Codes of Procedure, will remain in the Migration Act 1958.

 

Transitional legislation will enable any unfinalised application before the MRT and the RRT on 30 June 2015 to be deemed an application before the AAT on 1 July 2015.

 

From 1 July 2015, information about the merits review process (including contact details, forms and fees) can be found on the AAT website at www.aat.gov.au