The Australian Government has appointed 54 additional members to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) through a transparent and merit-based selection process, conducted in accordance with the AAT appointment guidelines. These appointments follow the 39 appointments announced on 15 September 2023.
The appointment of these members fulfils the Government’s commitment to appoint at least 75 additional members to the AAT to address the existing backlog of cases – particularly in the Migration and Refugee Division. These appointments bring the total membership of the AAT to 358 members, with 209 full-time and 149 part-time members.
Under the previous government, backlogs and delays in the AAT were allowed to grow exponentially. This has come at a very real cost to the tens of thousands of people who rely on the AAT each year to independently review government decisions that have major and sometimes life-altering impacts on their lives.
The additional members will be appointed for a fixed term of two years, with the majority assigned to the Migration and Refugee Division. There will also be several members assigned to the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Disability Insurance Scheme Division and the Social Services and Child Support Division. Some members will be assigned to more than one Division.
The new Members will commence between 9 October 2023 and 5 February 2024. All Members appointed through this process will transition to the new administrative review body, the Administrative Review Tribunal, upon its commencement, for the remainder of their term.
On behalf of the government, I congratulate the below Members on their appointments.
Members:
Dr Dawn Barker
Mrs Kay Bell
Ms Alicia Bills
Ms Melissa Bray
Mr Michael Brereton
Mr Patrick Burgess
Ms Mary-Ann Cooper
Mr Clyde Cosentino
Dr Kevin Dodd
Ms Suseela Durvasula
Ms Jessica Edis
Mrs Jennifer Ermert
Ms Amy Faram
Mr Garry Fitzgerald
Mr Patrick Francis
Ms Helen Glass
Ms Amanda Goodier
Mr Benjamin Goulding
Mr John Paul Guemy
Mrs Melissa Haag
Ms Athena Harris Ingall
Ms Noelle Hossen
Mr Denny Hughes
Mr Adam Johnson
Dr Rachelle Johnston
Ms Hollie Kerwin
Ms Hee-Jung Kim
Mr Matthew King
Mr John Kotsifas
Mr Joshua Le Vay
Mr Gary Ledson
Ms Rebecca Lee
Mr Anastasis Liveris
Mrs Lisa Maree Lo Piccolo
Mr Ben Lumsdaine
Ms Sophie Manera
Mr Shane Marshall
Ms Mary Mathew
Ms Rosemary Mathlin
Ms Janette McCahon
Prof Robert McLaughlin
Ms Stefanie Memmott
Ms Belinda Mericourt
Ms Rebecca Mikhail
Ms Sydelle Muling
Ms Siran Nyabally
Ms Linda Pearson
Ms Alison Ryan
Ms Frances Simmons
Ms Catherine Wall
Prof Gregory Weeks
Ms Carolyn Wilson
Mrs Sue Zelinka
Ms Sophia Ziebell-Barnes
