Australian Immigration Daily News

The following email has been received by Migration Alliance:

Today the Administrative Appeals Tribunal merged with the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT), Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) and Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT).

Decisions that could be reviewed in the former MRT-RRT are now reviewed in the AAT’s Migration & Refugee Division. Decisions that could be reviewed in the former SSAT are now reviewed in the AAT’s Social Services & Child Support Division. The AAT’s other jurisdictions are dealt with in one of the AAT’s six other Divisions which are the General Division, Freedom of Information Division, National Disability Insurance Scheme Division, Security Division, Taxation & Commercial Division and Veterans’ Appeals Division.

In general, the review processes that currently apply in the AAT, MRT-RRT and the SSAT will be maintained with some changes to aspects of our procedures. The two levels of merits review that currently exist for certain decisions reviewed by the SSAT will continue to be available with a second tier of review at the AAT.

Revised practice directions, guides, guidelines and forms have been developed to incorporate procedural and other changes made necessary by the legislative changes. We also seek to harmonise our procedures where possible and streamline our practice documents further in the future.

There is a new Australia-wide phone number – 1800 228 333 – and new email addresses for the AAT’s Divisions:

·         Migration & Refugee Division: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

·         Social Services & Child Support Division: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

·         All other types of cases (remaining six divisions): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Our previous contact details will be maintained for at least six months and existing offices remain open from 1 July.

A fact sheet has been created to assist you in understanding the key changes which is available on the AAT website.

The revised practice documents are available on the AAT website and we will progressively review these over the next 12 months.  If you have any comments on their implementation, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .