Fed: Rights jeopardised under new tribunal, says Law Council

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2000
Fed: Rights jeopardised under new tribunal, says Law Council

The Law Council of Australia says fundamental rights would be jeopardised under a new
structure for challenging government decisions.

Legislation before the Senate establishes the Administrative Review Tribunal, replacing
the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Social Security Appeals Tribunal, Migration Review
Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal.

The Law Council says the proposal for one super tribunal poses a grave threat to legal rights.

President ANNE TRIMMER says tribunal members would be subject to ministerial direction,
threatening their independence and autonomy, and appeal rights would be severely restricted.

She says this would push up costs if people had to turn to the Federal Court instead.

There is also no automatic right to representation by lawyers or others.

Ms TRIMMER says the Law Council has tried hard to persuade the government to fix the
flaws but has had no response from Attorney-General DARYL WILLIAMS.

AAP RTV eg/fh/daw/et/jn

KEYWORD: TRIBUNAL (CANBERRA)

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