Last updated 20 May 2022

A reviewable decision is one that the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) (AAT Act) or another enactment provides that the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) has jurisdiction to review the decision (s 27 AAT Act).

An application for review of a decision may be made by, or on behalf of, any person whose interests are affected by the decision (s 27 AAT Act). There is no requirement that the applicant has been adversely affected by the decision, and the interest affected does not have to be a legal interest, nor does the person making the application have to show any legal ownership.

The AAT Act or enabling legislation may impose additional requirements on the standing of applicants to apply for a review. For example, in the case of an application for review of a security decision, the review can only be brought by a person who is the subject of an Australian Security Intelligence Organisation security assessment (s 27AA AAT Act).

The right to request a review of a decision extends an organisation or association of persons, whether incorporated or not, where the decision relates to a matter included in its objects or purposes (s 27 AAT). This definition extends to incorporated associations, community groups and public-interest organisations. However, review rights do not arise where the decision was made before the organisation or association came into existence, or before its objects or purpose included the matter concerned (s 27(3) AAT Act).