Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

The Administrative Review Tribunal (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2024 supports the establishment of the new Administrative Review Tribunal created by the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024—the ART Act. As I said in my second reading speech, this bill updates references to the AAT in legislation that has been introduced into parliament or has been passed since the main package of legislation was introduced. Other minor and technical amendments ensure that the ART legislation operates as intended.

The bill is necessary and could only be introduced following the passage of the ART Act due to the volume and complexity of interactions between the ART Act and other pieces of Commonwealth legislation, particularly those already before the parliament when the ART package was introduced. The bill makes minor changes to the ART Act to improve user experience and ensure the act is clear. These changes will remove ambiguity and reduce the need for users of the ART to refer to transitional provisions to identify the application of the act.

The bill amends the ART Act to ensure that amendments to the AAT Act in legislation introduced and passed after the ART legislative package was introduced are given effect. This could not be done before the ART Act was passed. The opposition says that the amendments in this bill require extensive scrutiny. What that would mean is yet more delay. They want to delay this bill, like they tried to delay the ART bill, in a misguided effort to protect their stack. In doing so, they will deny ART users, who include veterans, people with a disability and refugees, clarity and simplicity in tribunal processes.

This bill completes the package of reforms that establishes the new Administrative Review Tribunal. The bill reflects the ongoing commitment of the Albanese Labor government to reforming Australia's system of administrative review. It simplifies the process for applicants and promotes a more efficient, accessible and cohesive tribunal. I look forward to the first sitting of the new tribunal on 14 October this year. I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.

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