The Deputy President of the AAT Migration and Refugee Division, Jan Redfern, has provided updates on the operation of the Migration and Refugee Division (MRD) including:
- In person hearings are resuming in a limited capacity across Australia except in Victoria.
- The MRD uses its discretion in assigning cases to face to face, online or telephone format hearings
- Applicants have the discretion to object to telephone or online hearings but this will delay the matter being heard
- Members and/or applicants have the discretion to request that a hearing be adjourned if they feel the format of the hearing is not in the interests of the applicant and to be reconvened face to face at a later date
- Complex cases and those where mental health or credibility issues are involved are generally convened in face to face formats
- There were 63,000 cases in the queue as at 30 June 2020
- From the end of March to 30 June 2020 – 500 decisions were expedited
- In the last financial year 1,500 cases were decided ‘on the papers’
- 2,000 more cases than projected have been decided during the pandemic lockdown
- Victorian cases are providing a challenge, as those case files have not been digitised and are difficult to access, particularly for overseas partner cases.
- The number of full time equivalent tribunal members has not increased since 2015 although some recruitment is currently underway
- 49% of the MRD’s 63,000 active cases have an Registered Migration Agent (RMA) representative
- 3,511 RMAs are representing which is 49% of cases in the MRD.
If you require advice and assistance with your AAT appeal, please contact us today.
As of 14 October 2024, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) has been replaced by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).
Need assistance from our Australian Migration Lawyers?
Contact the Nevett Ford team today so we can help guide you.
Tel: +61 3 9614 7111
Email: melbourne@nevettford.com.au
Website: www.nevettford.com.au