Mark Dreyfus vows to reform ‘Libs tribunal’

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has committed to widespread reform of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, saying he will seek to ensure it ‘serves the interests of all Australians’.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has committed to widespread reform of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Picture: Sean Davey

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has committed to widespread reform of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, saying he will seek to ensure it “serves the interests of all Australians” rather than being the “Liberal Party employment agency”.

He said he would seek to undo the “damage of the last nine years” and address “huge backlogs” at the commonwealth tribunal, after criticism of the tribunal due to the number of politicised appointments made under the Coalition.

“The Liberals have repeatedly undermined the Administrative Appeals Tribunal by using it as a Liberal Party employment agency,” he said.

Labor says this has con­tributed to huge backlogs as people wait months, and in some cases years, to have their cases heard.

“I am now carefully considering how I can undo the damage of the last nine years, and ensure the AAT once again serves the interests of all Australians, not just the Liberal Party and its mates,” Mr Dreyfus said.

A Senate committee report handed down in March recommended the Attorney-General disband the AAT and re-establish a new federal administrative review system by July 1, 2023.