Administrative and Judicial Review Legislation Amendment Bill 2026; Second Reading

Opened the debate

Ayres moved the second reading of the bill, arguing it would improve how well and quickly the migration review system worked. Ayres stated that the reforms would allow the Administrative Review Tribunal to give reasons orally rather than always in writing, saving resources when written statements were not required. Ayres noted that these changes would not apply to reviews involving social security, veterans' entitlements, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, or aged care. Ayres also highlighted new powers for registrars to dismiss applications with no reasonable prospects of success and requirements for identity verification in migration matters.

Government response

Ayres commended the bill to the chamber, emphasising that the Administrative Review Tribunal commenced operation in October 2024 to provide independent review of government decisions. Ayres argued that the proposed amendments would support the tribunal in managing significant workloads and avoiding administrative delays. Ayres explained that identity verification requirements would ensure applicants were genuinely engaging with the review process while maintaining constitutional safeguards for court proceedings. Ayres concluded that the reforms would create a more robust framework that dissuaded frivolous applications while ensuring fair and timely outcomes.