Administrative and Judicial Review Legislation Amendment Bill 2026; Second Reading

Opened the debate

Rowland backed the bill, saying it would make the migration review system more efficient and responsive. He noted the changes would let the Administrative Review Tribunal give oral reasons for decisions, saving resources when written statements were unnecessary. The legislation also added identity checks for applicants in protection and migration cases to ensure genuine engagement with the review process. Rowland stressed that protections for vulnerable applicants in social security and other sensitive areas remained.

Government response

Rowland moved the second reading, outlining the bill's purpose to support the Administrative Review Tribunal and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Rowland explained that the reforms aimed to manage significant caseloads by improving processes and increasing flexibility. The Attorney-General highlighted that identity verification would prevent frivolous applications while maintaining constitutional safeguards for court proceedings. Rowland commended the bill to the chamber as a means to ensure fair and timely reviews.