On 1 July 2015, the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT), Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) and Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT) merged with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). This move is the most significant re-organisation since the AAT’s inception in 1976.

 

Whilst the MRT is likely to maintain its non-adversarial hearings, it is expected that administrative procedures will improve, as well as the consistency and quality of decision making.

 

However, the greatest improvement can be made at primary decision making level within the department of Immigration: better training for decision-makers in administrative law will reduce the need for a review Tribunal, and increase public confidence in the Immigration department.