Question Time AU

Bill Debate · Second Reading

Administrative Review Tribunal (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2024; Second Reading

Senate · Tuesday 11 February 2025

Continued from Tuesday 4 February 2025.

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

The Senate debated the Administrative Review Tribunal (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2024, which makes technical amendments to support the new Administrative Review Tribunal. Senator Scarr criticised the rushed passage of the original legislation and argued that the new bill was necessary to fix errors, particularly regarding child support document redaction. Senator Roberts opposed the bill, arguing that the previous tribunal was flawed and that immigration appeals should be removed from the new tribunal to facilitate deportations. Minister Chisholm supported the bill, stating it improves efficiency and fairness, and announced government amendments to address stakeholder concerns about retrospective commencement and immigration detention timeframes. The bill was passed after the second reading.

Outcome

The bill was read a second time and agreed to.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Continued the debate

Paul Scarr (QLD) (Liberal Party) Liberal

Scarr argued that the bill was required to correct mistakes arising from the rushed legislative process for the original Administrative Review Tribunal Act. Scarr noted that the committee had insufficient time to scrutinise the original 550-page legislation, leading to the need for these corrective measures. Scarr highlighted a specific issue regarding item 2 of schedule 4, which addresses the burden on decision-makers to repeatedly lodge and redact documents in child support cases. Scarr maintained that the original tribunal could have been reformed rather than abolished, and criticised the compensation arrangements for former tribunal members.

Government response

Anthony Chisholm (Assistant Minister for Education; Assistant Minister for Regional Development; Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) ALP QLD

Chisholm stated that the bill finalises the creation of the Administrative Review Tribunal through technical changes to 54 Commonwealth acts. Chisholm explained that the changes aim to improve fairness and efficiency while reducing administrative burdens on government officials. Chisholm announced that the government would move amendments to prevent retrospective commencement and to ensure immigration detention applicants retain their previous timeframes for tribunal reviews. Chisholm also noted that certain provisions attracting criticism during the committee inquiry would be deferred for further consideration.