Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Hansard source

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal of the Commonwealth has a tremendous history of adding to the administration of the Commonwealth, of making government better in this country. What we have had, failing to recognise that extraordinary history and contribution made by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to the government of the Commonwealth, is some recent outrageous attacks on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal by the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, who seems to think he is infallible and seems to have no understanding of the magnificent role that has been played by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for more than 40 years, since it was established by the Whitlam government, during which time it has enjoyed bipartisan support. I ask the Minister for Justice why the government has not defended the Administrative Appeals Tribunal against the disgraceful attacks that have been made on it not just by right-wing commentators but by a cabinet minister in this government. I will sit down now to give the minister a chance to respond to that question, and I would like to know the answers to the questions posed by the member for Griffith about funding for the cross-examination of family violence victims by perpetrators initiative, and the questions asked by the member for Cowan.

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