AAT

Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Administrative Appeals

Tribunal Act

Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975.

ADR

Alternative dispute resolution: the umbrella term for a range of processes for resolving a dispute other than a hearing and decision.

Affirm

If the Tribunal affirms a decision, the original decision is not changed.

Applicant

The individual or organisation that has lodged an application with the Tribunal.

Application for
extension of time

An application for a review of a decision must be lodged with the Tribunal within a certain time limit. However, in some jurisdictions, an application may be made to the Tribunal to extend the time for lodging an application.

Appropriation

An application for a review of a decision must be lodged with the Tribunal within a certain time limit. However, in some jurisdictions, an application may be made to the Tribunal to extend the time for lodging an application.

APS

Australian Public Service.

APS employee

A person engaged under the Public Service Act 1999.

ASIO

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

Bridging visa

A bridging visa is a temporary visa generally granted to an eligible non-citizen to enable them to remain lawfully in Australia for one of a number of specified reasons, the most common being while they are awaiting the outcome of an application for a substantive visa.

Case appraisal

An alternative dispute resolution process conducted by a Tribunal member or other person, chosen on the basis of their knowledge of the subject matter, who assists the parties to resolve the dispute by providing a non-binding opinion on the facts in dispute and likely outcomes.

China

The People’s Republic of China.

Complementary protection

Circumstances where there are substantial grounds for believing that, as a necessary and foreseeable consequence of being removed from Australia to a receiving country, there is a real risk a person will suffer significant harm.

Conciliation

An alternative dispute resolution process in which a Tribunal member, conference registrar or other person assists the parties to identify the issues in dispute and endeavour to reach an agreement. The conciliator has no determinative role but may advise on or determine the conciliation process, make suggestions on terms of settlement and actively encourage the parties to reach an agreement.

Conference

A meeting conducted by a Tribunal member, conference registrar or other person with the parties and/or their representatives. Conferences provide an opportunity to discuss and define the issues in dispute, identify further evidence that may be gathered, explore whether the matter can be settled and discuss the future conduct of the matter.

Confidentiality order

An order made by the Tribunal directing that a hearing or part of a hearing be held in private, or prohibiting or restricting the publication or other disclosure of information tending to reveal the identity of a party, witness or related person, information comprising evidence or about evidence, or information otherwise lodged with or given to the Tribunal.

CSS

Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme.

Directions hearing

A brief hearing conducted by a Tribunal member to discuss the progress of a case or deal with issues arising in a case, particularly if there has been delay by a party.

Dismissed

The Tribunal may dismiss an application without proceeding to review the decision in defined circumstances, including if the applicant: fails to appear at an ADR process, directions hearing or hearing; fails to proceed with an application; or fails to comply with a direction.

FBT

Fringe Benefits Tax.

FCA

Federal Court of Australia.

FCAFC

Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia.

FOI

Freedom of information.

Freedom of Information Act

Freedom of Information Act 1982.

FRR

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Rule 2015.

GST

Goods and Services Tax.

Guide to Refugee Law

The Guide to Refugee Law in Australia was developed in 1996 as a reference tool for members and staff of the RRT. It contains an analysis of the legal issues relevant to the determination of refugee status in Australia and is regularly updated to reflect developments in the law.

HCA

High Court of Australia.

Hearing

The occasion at which the parties may present evidence and submissions in relation to an application, including for a review of a decision to the Tribunal member(s) who will decide the case.

IAA

Immigration Assessment Authority.

Interlocutory hearing

A hearing in relation to any application made by a party that relates to an application for a review of a decision, including any of the following kinds of application: to extend the time to lodge an application for a review; to be joined as a party to a proceeding; to make a confidentiality order; to stay the operation or implementation of the decision under review; to dismiss an application; or to reinstate an application.

IPS

Information Publication Scheme.

Jurisdiction

The scope of the Tribunal’s power to review decisions.

Mediation

An alternative dispute resolution process during which a Tribunal member, conference registrar or other person assists the parties to identify the issues in dispute, develop options, consider alternatives and endeavour to reach an agreement. The mediator has no advisory or determinative role in relation to the content of the dispute but may advise on or determine the mediation process.

Migration Act

Migration Act 1958.

MRT

Migration Review Tribunal.

NAATI

National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

NDIS

National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Neutral evaluation

An alternative dispute resolution process in which a Tribunal member or other person, chosen on the basis of their knowledge of the subject matter, assists the parties to resolve the dispute by evaluating the facts and law at issue in the dispute and providing a non-binding opinion on the likely outcomes.

Non-ongoing APS employee

An APS employee engaged for a specific term or the duration of a
specified task.

On the papers

A decision based on the documents before the AAT or IAA, made without a hearing or interview.

Ongoing APS employee

An APS employee employed on a continuing basis.

OPA

Official Public Account.

Outcome

In relation to the Portfolio Budget Statements, the results, impacts or consequences of actions by government on the Australian community.

Party

A participant in a proceeding before the Tribunal. A party includes the person who makes the application to the Tribunal and, in certain divisions, the decision‑maker or other respondent to the application and any other person joined to the proceeding on the basis their interests are affected by the decision under review.

PGPA Act

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

PGPA (Financial Reporting)
Rule 2015

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Rule 2015.

Portfolio Additional
Estimates Statements

Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements inform parliament of changes in resourcing since the Budget, providing information on new measures and their impact on the financial and non-financial planned performance of agencies.

Portfolio Budget Statements

Portfolio Budget Statements explain the Budget appropriations for entities within a portfolio in terms of outcomes and programs.

Program

An activity or group of activities that deliver benefits, services or transfer payments to individuals, industry/business or the community as a whole and are the primary vehicles for government entities to achieve the intended results of their outcome statements.

Protection visa

A class of visas, a criterion for which is that the applicant for the visa is a non‑citizen in Australia to whom Australia has protection obligations (the applicant is a refugee or is owed complementary protection) or is a non‑citizen in Australia who is the spouse or a dependant of a non-citizen who holds a protection visa.

PSS

Public Sector Superannuation Scheme.

PSSap

Public Sector Superannuation accumulation plan.

Public Governance,
Performance
and Accountability Act

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

Public Service Act

Public Service Act 1999.

Refugee

A person who is outside their country and is unable or unwilling to go back because they have a well-founded fear of being persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group.

Registry

An office of the AAT.

Remit

If the Tribunal remits a matter, it sends the matter back to the original decision-maker to be reconsidered in accordance with any directions or recommendations of the Tribunal.

RRT

Refugee Review Tribunal.

Rtd

Retired.

SES

Senior Executive Service.

Sessional member

A part-time member who works on a sessional basis.

Set aside

If the Tribunal sets aside a decision under review, the original decision no longer stands. The Tribunal may make a new decision or remit the matter to the original decision-maker.

SSAT

Social Security Appeals Tribunal.

Stay order

An order of the Tribunal to suspend the operation or implementation of the decision under review until the matter is determined or resolved.

Tribunal

Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Unauthorised maritime
arrivals

Asylum seekers that arrive in Australia by sea without a visa.

Vary

If the Tribunal varies a decision under review, the original decision is changed or altered in some way.

WHS

Work health and safety.

Withdrawn

An applicant can decide to withdraw or discontinue an application at any time before the Tribunal makes a decision or dismisses the application.

Work Health and Safety Act

Work Health and Safety Act 2011.