On 3 Sept 2025, the Government introduced the Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.
Note: The Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 has not yet become law. This means it is still under parliamentary consideration and has not been passed by both houses or received royal assent yet.
Here’s the gist 👇
What it does
- Expands when the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) can decide cases without a hearing (just on written papers)
Migration impacts
- Paper‑only reviews WILL apply to
- Student visa refusals
- Certain temporary visas (the gov can list more via regulations later)
- NOT affected
- Permanent visas (skilled, family, etc.)
- Protection visas (asylum)
So if your student visa or prescribed temporary visa gets refused → you won’t get to speak directly to the tribunal. The decision will be based only on your written submissions + documents.
Why it matters
- For applicants: No chance to argue your case in person. Your paperwork has to do all the talking.
- For the gov/tribunal: Speeds things up, reduces hearing backlogs.
