Scale of Usage
The Tribunal has offices in all state capital cities, with the principal registry co-located in Sydney and Brisbane.
For the year ending 30 June 2009, 6,266 applications were lodged with the Tribunal, 7,231 finalised with 6,179 matters current as at 30 June 2009. Taxation and Social Security appeals made up over half the applications lodged during the period.
The Tribunal makes extensive use of alternate dispute resolution processes. All matters lodged with the tribunal are the subject of a conferencing process. Conferences are conducted by Conference Registrars who are legally qualified and trained in alternative dispute resolution. Conferences perform a dual function, being to try to resolve the matter through negotiation between the parties, or at least clarify the issues in dispute. If the matter cannot be resolved in the conference, the conference registrar may issue binding directions for the preparation of the matter or hearing. Further, there is the option of the conference registrar sending the matter to a more formal ADR process, such as concilliation, mediation, case appraisal or neutral evaluation. In this way the Tribunal adopts a multi-door approach to case resolution with only those matters that cannot be resolved in any other manner going to a formal hearing.
Read more about this topic: Administrative Appeals Tribunal
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