The Administrative and Judicial Review Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 has been introduced into the House of Representatives by the Attorney-General, proposing amendments to the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024, the Migration Act 1958, and related legislation.
Key proposed changes include:
- Clearer registrar powers to dismiss and reinstate applications
- Excluding the Christmas/New Year period from the 28-day timeframe for providing reasons or documents
- Clarifying correction of registrar errors and formally assigning ART’s President and Deputy Presidents to every jurisdictional area
- Allowing changes to non-judicial members’ appointment basis (salaried/sessional)
- Updates to Migration Act reviews, including approved forms, examination/cross-examination rules, and a new framework for oral ART decisions
- Mandatory statements of reasons for decisions relating to social security, veterans’ affairs, NDIS and aged care
- A new identity verification requirement for certain migration and protection reviews, with dismissal possible for non-compliance
- New requirements to notify the Secretary of application dismissals
It takes effect the day after Royal Assent; identity verification and approved forms provisions commence via Proclamation, with a six-month backstop.
Click here: Administrative and Judicial Review Legislation Amendment Bill 2026