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Where am I now? Lawlink > Administrative Decisions Tribunal of NSW; > Administrative Decisions Tribunal of NSW > About Us
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About Us
Welcome to the ADT
Divisions of the Tribunal and Appeal Panel
How will I know if the ADT can review a decision?
How do I lodge an application?
Who are the Members of the Tribunal?
Complaints about Members
Annual Reports
Access to the Tribunal
The ADT's Guarantee of Service
Welcome to the ADT
The Administrative Decisions Tribunal (ADT) was established to provide for independent, external review of administrative decisions; and to deal with other types of cases, such as discrimination complaints and professional misconduct inquiries.
There are six Divisions of the Tribunal and an Appeal Panel.
In its administrative review function, the Tribunal plays a key role in promoting high quality decision-making in the provision of government services and programs. It works to achieve the goal set by Parliament - to foster an atmosphere in which administrative review is viewed positively as a means of enhancing the delivery of services and programs to the citizens of New South Wales.
Divisions of the Tribunal and Appeal Panel
The Administrative Decisions Tribunal (ADT) is made up of six Divisions, each responsible for particular areas:
- General Division including the Guardianship and Protected Estates list
This Division hears most applications by citizens for review of administrative decisions and administrative conduct including Freedom of Information, Privacy and Personal Information, Security Industry, and Transport Industry. It also deals with professional discipline in relation to certain professions including architects, surveyors and vets.
- Community Services Division
This Division hears applications for review of various administrative decisions made in the Community Services sector.
- Revenue Division
This Division hears applications for review of various State taxation decisions.
- Legal Services Division
This Division hears complaints referred under the Legal Profession Act 2004 against legal practitioners and licensed conveyers.
- Equal Opportunity Division
This Division hears complaints of unlawful discrimination referred to it by the President, Anti Discrimination Board under the Anti Discrimination Act 1977.
- Retail Leases Division
This Division hears claims by parties to retail shop leases made under the Retail Leases Act 1994.
The Tribunal has an Appeal Panel which hears internal appeals from decisions made by the Divisions of the Tribunal and external appeals from other Tribunals and decision makers (principally the Guardianship Tribunal).
How will I know if the ADT can review a decision?
Your right to request a review of a decision by the ADT is set out in the law under which the government agency made the decision. If you have a right to request a review of the decision by the ADT, the person who made the decision or agency must tell you this when you are informed of the decision. In most cases, you are required to ask for an internal review of the decision by the government agency before applying to the ADT for a review.
You can ask the government agency who made the decision whether the ADT can review the decision. If you are still unsure, you can contact the ADT.
The legislation administered by the ADT can be found by selecting this link: legislation.
How do I lodge an application?
You need to lodge an application form, supporting documents and the prescribed fee, if any. These can be found by selecting this link: forms and fees. You should also read about the practice and procedure of the Tribunal.
Who are the Members of the Tribunal?
The Tribunal consists of a President, Deputy Presidents, non-presidential judicial members and non judicial members. Only the President and one of the Deputy Presidents are full time. All other members are part time.
The President and Deputy Presidents are appointed by the Governor of NSW. Members are generally appointed by the Minister (generally the Attorney General in consultation with the relevant Minister). Expressions of interest are sought for judicial and non judicial members from time to time.
Members are appointed for up to three years, and their appointment can be renewed. They are assigned to specific Divisions. The assignment is contained either in the instrument of appointment or following appointment by instrument issued by the President. Some members have appointments to two or more Divisions.
Complaints about Members
Members of the ADT adhere to the Principles of Conduct set out in the Guide to Standards of Conduct for Tribunal Members issued by the Commonwealth Administrative Review Council. A complaint about a Tribunal Member should be made in writing and addressed to the Registrar for referral to the President or relevant Divisional Head. In addition, a complaint about a Member who is a Judge or Magistrate may be made to the Judicial Commission.
The listing discretion exercised by the President is governed principally by s22 of the Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act 1997. Once a member is listed to hear a case, the power to remove the member is limited to the circumstances set out in s79 of the Act. This is in keeping with the fundamental importance of non-interference in the exercise of the judicial function.
Any objection to a member’s participation should be raised with the relevant member when the matter is next listed. The application should be foreshadowed to the other party and they will be given an opportunity to respond. The member will then make a ruling.
Similarly the President does not have the power to set aside or vary a members decision except in the Appeal environment.
These factors will be taken into account by the President in deciding how to deal with a complaint about a member.
List of Members
For a list of members please refer to the current Annual Report below.
Annual Reports
The President is required under the Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act to provide the Minister with a report on the operations of the Tribunal for the period ending on 30 June each year.
Annual Report 1999-2000
Annual Report 2000-2001
Annual Report 2001-2002
Annual Report 2002-2003
Annual Report 2003-2004
Annual Report 2004-2005
Annual Report 2005-2006
Annual Report 2006-2007
Annual Report 2007-2008
Annual Report 2008-2009
Annual Report 2009-2010
Annual Report 2010-2011
The ADT’s Guarantee of Service
We endeavour to provide a high level of service by ensuring:
- We treat all our clients fairly in a courteous, helpful and efficient way.
- We make our service accessible
- with an office centrally located in Sydney which is close to transport and has disability access;
- with the provision of teleconferencing for clients in regional and country areas;
- by conducting hearings in regional and country areas;
- by providing access to information, forms and previous ADT decisions.
- We provide our clients with disability related assistance including:
- having an Infra-red Hearing Impaired System available;
- having interpreter services available;
- having a telephone typewriter (TTY) inquiry service available.
- We provide access to language interpreter services.
- We actively seek feedback from our clients in order to continually improve our level of service through annual client surveys and feedback forms available from the ADT Registry.
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