Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025; Second Reading

Templeman defended the establishment of the Administrative Review Tribunal, stating it replaced a system she claimed was influenced by political appointments. Templeman argued that the bill addressed inflexibility in the current system, particularly regarding the surge in student visa refusals which accounted for nearly 40 per cent of lodgements. Templeman emphasised that on-the-papers reviews would improve efficiency without compromising fairness, as applicants could still provide written submissions and respond to adverse information.

Chaney broadly supported the bill's aim to improve efficiency but expressed serious concerns about removing oral hearings for all student visa cases. Chaney noted that student visa refusals are overturned nearly half the time, suggesting oral hearings often reveal nuances missed in written submissions. Chaney proposed an amendment to allow the tribunal discretion to hold oral hearings in student visa and other temporary visa cases where fairness or complexity warranted it, citing support from the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

Campbell highlighted the historical context of merits review, arguing the new tribunal restored public trust through merit-based appointments. Campbell stated the bill addressed delays caused by mandatory oral hearings for matters that could be resolved through written submissions. Campbell emphasised that the reforms would help clear backlogs, particularly for student visas, while maintaining procedural fairness and ensuring applicants received timely decisions.

Wilson supported the bill, framing it as a necessary fix for the government's management of the tribunal system. Wilson cited statistics showing increased caseloads and longer processing times under the current administration. Wilson argued that the shift to on-the-papers reviews for student visas was a positive step towards improving efficiency and reducing the backlog, despite his criticism of the government's broader legislative record.

Jordan-Baird commended the Attorney-General for introducing the bill, linking it to the government's commitment to migration system integrity. Jordan-Baird stated the amendments would enable the tribunal to review migration decisions more efficiently and flexibly. Her speech was interrupted before she could elaborate further on the specific provisions.