ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW COUNCIL TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT 2001 - 2002 Contacting the Administrative Review Council For information about this report, or more generally about the Council’s work, please contact: The Executive Director Administrative Review Council Robert Garran Offices National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6250 5800 Facsimile: (02) 6250 5980 e-mail: [email protected] Internet: law.gov.au/arc The offices of the Administrative Review Council are located in the Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT. © Commonwealth of Australia 2002 ISBN 0 642 21070 5 This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. ii ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW COUNCIL 29 October 2002 The Hon Daryl Williams AM QC MP Attorney-General Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Dear Attorney-General In accordance with section 58 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, I am pleased to present you with this report on the operation of the Administrative Review Council for the year 2001-2002. Yours sincerely Wayne Martin QC President Wayne Martin QC Justice Garry Downes AM Ron McLeod AM Professor David Weisbrot Bill Blick PSM Christine Charles Robert Cornall Professor Robin Creyke Stephen Gageler SC Patricia Ridley Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6250 5800 Facsimile: (02) 6250 5980 e-mail: [email protected] Internet: law.gov.au/arc iii Photograph of the Council at 28 June 2002. Those photographed are: Standing: Stephen Gageler SC, Ron McLeod AM, Bill Blick PSM, Justice Garry Downes AM. Seated: Professor Robin Creyke, Wayne Martin QC, Kelly Williams (Acting Executive Director). Not included: Christine Charles, Robert Cornall, Patricia Ridley, Professor David Weisbrot. Photograph by Norman Plant iv A Tribute to Bettie McNee It is with great sadness that the Council reports the death on 11 March 2002 of its President, Bettie McNee. Bettie was a valued colleague and friend to Administrative Review Council members and Secretariat staff who worked with her. At the time of her appointment as President of the Council in 1999, Bettie was Group Secretary and General Counsel of Westpac Banking Corporation. She enjoyed an impressive professional reputation including as a partner of Freehill Hollingdale and Page, where she was managing partner of its Federal Government practice in Canberra and national co-ordination partner of the national firm with responsibility for the implementation of national and international policies. Through a number of positions on government and private sector boards and advisory bodies, she also made a significant contribution to the community. As President, Bettie provided excellent leadership to the Council and its Secretariat, displaying considerable dignity and courage as she continued to promote the interests of the Council despite her illness. In opening proceedings on the 25th anniversary of the Council's establishment on 6 December 2001, her last public act as Council President, she was able to mark her place as part of the strong tradition of Council Presidents. At its 201st meeting on 28 June 2002, the Council recorded its regret at Bettie’s death, and its appreciation for her wide-reaching contribution, as President, to the work of the Council. v Contents CHAPTER 1...................................................................................................................................... 1 OVERVIEW................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 1 Work of the Council.................................................................................................................................... 1 Changes in Council Membership ............................................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER 2...................................................................................................................................... 5 WORK AND PERFORMANCE OF COUNCIL.......................................................................................................... 5 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 5 An assessment of the work of the Council during 2001 - 2002................................................................... 6 Reports ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 Advice and submissions to Government and Parliament ........................................................................... 8 Educational and training activities ............................................................................................................ 9 Other work of the Council ........................................................................................................................ 14 Current Projects....................................................................................................................................... 14 CHAPTER 3.................................................................................................................................... 17 MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY............................................................................................ 17 Enabling legislation ................................................................................................................................. 17 Responsible Minister ................................................................................................................................ 17 Annual Report........................................................................................................................................... 17 Functions and powers of the Council....................................................................................................... 17 Membership.............................................................................................................................................. 17 Current members of the Council's Secretariat ......................................................................................... 19 Council Expenditure................................................................................................................................. 20 The Council's meeting dates..................................................................................................................... 21 Consultancy services ................................................................................................................................ 22 vi Social justice and equity issues ................................................................................................................ 22 Equal employment opportunity program.................................................................................................. 23 Occupational health and safety issues...................................................................................................... 23 Freedom of information............................................................................................................................ 23 Advertising and market research.............................................................................................................. 26 Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance ................................................. 26 APPENDIX 1 - SECTION 51, ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL ACT 1975....... 27 APPENDIX 2 - LETTERS OF ADVICE ..................................................................................... 29 APPENDIX 3 - PUBLICATIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW COUNCIL ... 51 APPENDIX 4 - STATUS OF THE COUNCIL’S RECOMMENDATIONS......................... 55 APPENDIX 5 - THE COUNCIL’S EXPENDITURE, 1 JULY 2001 TO 30 JUNE 2002 ........ 63 vii CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW Introduction The 2001-2002 reporting year was a challenging and successful one for the Council, sadly, overshadowed by the untimely death, on 11 March 2002, of Council President, Bettie McNee. Work of the Council It is a mark of her singular determination, commitment and courage, that although gravely ill, Bettie continued to provide significant direction and drive to the work of the Council until very shortly before her death. As a result of this determination, two significant projects in progress at the commencement of the 2001- 2002 reporting year came to fruition during the course of the year. They were: S the launch of the Council publication, A Guide to Standards of Conduct for Tribunal Members (the Guide); and S the establishment of a Council of Australasian Tribunals. The Guide was launched by the Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Hon Daryl Williams AM QC MP, on 3 October 2001. The Guide was developed by the Council following an extensive consultation process including the release of an Exposure Draft Principles of Conduct for Members of Merits Review Tribunals, and discussion forums with tribunal heads, members, agencies and other stakeholders. The high level of interest in the Guide, evident during