Australia’s attorney-general congratulated reappointees, thanked them for their service
Australia’s attorney-general has announced that the sitting federal government has decided to reappoint 11 general members of the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) for additional three-year terms in line with s 208 of the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024.
In a media release, the attorney-general expressed the expectation that the reappointments would help the ART keep hearing matters fairly, effectively, and efficiently and stay accessible and responsive to every party’s diverse needs.
“These vital reappointments support the Tribunal to retain Members with significant knowledge and experience to ensure cases continue to be heard in a timely and effective manner,” said Michelle Rowland, Australia’s attorney-general, in the media release.
The media release listed the recently reappointed ART members, who have handled an array of cases involving social security, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, migration, and protection since their original appointments in 2023:
“I congratulate these General Members on their reappointments and thank them for their important service to the Australian public,” Rowland noted in the media release.
According to the attorney-general, during their original appointments, the general members underwent assessments of their suitability under the Guidelines for Appointments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, informed by the requirements in the Administrative Review Tribunal Act.
“The Administrative Review Tribunal is an independent federal administrative body that reviews decisions that directly affect the everyday lives of Australians,” Rowland noted in the media release.
On 17 November 2025, the federal government appointed five judicial deputy presidents and 35 general members to the ART for varying terms of office.
“I would like to congratulate these Judicial Deputy Presidents and General Members on their appointments, and I thank them for their important service to the Australian public,” Rowland said in a prior media release.
Namely, Berna Collier, Ian Jackman, and Timothy McEvoy accepted reappointments as judicial deputy presidents for further two-year terms, while Roger Derrington and Alister McNab accepted original appointments as new judicial deputy presidents for five-year terms.
The attorney-general expected these appointments to improve the ART’s capacity to consider matters. Meanwhile, the attorney-general said the addition of 35 general members would contribute to fair, effective, and efficient hearings.
“Each General Member appointed today was assessed as suitable for appointment through a transparent and merit-based process,” Rowland said in a previous media release. “These appointments will ensure review processes are fair, just, and independent by hearing a range of cases to support applicants in addressing their matters.”
