The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

4.3.6 Appealing AAT decisions in court

Context

A parent or non-parent carer, or the Registrar can appeal to a court under the AAT Act if dissatisfied with a decision of the AAT due to an error of law.

A parent or non-parent carer, or the Registrar can apply to a court for a stay order under the AAT Act. The stay order can stay or affect the operation or implementation of the AAT decision or the decision by the Registrar that was reviewed by the AAT.

Act references

AAT Act Part IVA

CSA Act Part 6A, Part 7

CSRC Act section 98D, section 110V, section 111C, Part VII, Part VIIA

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Family Law) Rules 2021 rule 2.01 Application of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021

Federal Court Rules 2011

Appealing AAT decisions

A parent, non-parent carer or the Registrar can appeal to the Federal Court of Australia if they are dissatisfied with an AAT second review decision or an AAT first review decision for which no application may be made for an AAT second review. An appeal can only be brought on a question of law (AAT Act section 44(1)).

However, where an AAT first review decision did not involve a presidential member of the AAT, a party dissatisfied with the first review decision may appeal to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) on a question of law (AAT Act section 44AAA).

Time limits for appeals

An appeal must be brought within 28 days of receiving notice of the AAT decision or within such further time as allowed by the court (AAT Act section 44(2A) and section 44AAA, Federal Court Rules 2011 and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021).

Parties to court proceedings

The parties to a court appeal are the people who were the parties to the AAT proceedings when the AAT made the relevant decision (CSRC Act section 98D). For guidance on who can be a party to an AAT proceeding, see 4.2.5.

Powers of the court

When deciding an appeal a court can make orders it thinks appropriate (AAT Act section 44(4) and section 44AAA(2)), including orders:

  • setting aside the decision of the AAT
  • affirming the decision of the AAT, or
  • directing the case back to the AAT for rehearing, with or without the hearing of further evidence.

A court may dismiss a proceeding relating to an AAT decision if it is satisfied that the proceeding is frivolous or vexatious (Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 section 20A, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 rule 10.24(2)(a)).

Implementation of a decision

When an objection decision is made, or the AAT or the court make a decision, the Registrar must give effect to that decision immediately (CSRC Act section 110V).

Effect of applying to a court on an AAT decision

An AAT decision continues to have effect from the time it is made and is not affected because a person appeals that decision. The Registrar or the other parent may take action to collect amounts, subject to the effect of a stay order issued by a court under the AAT Act, or the Registrar making a decision not to disburse payments to a payee.

The Registrar may make a decision not to disburse any payments to a payee if a payer has applied to a court challenging the validity of the child support assessment, for reasons other than the parentage of the child concerned, and has requested a suspension of disbursement of payments to the payee. See 5.5.4 for further information about suspending payments to payees.

Stay order under the AAT Act

If an appeal (on a question of law) is instituted in the Federal Court of Australia or the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) from an AAT decision, the court may make an order staying or otherwise affecting the operation or implementation of the AAT decision or the decision by the Registrar that was reviewed by the AAT. The stay order is made under section 44A of the AAT Act. For an appeal instituted in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2), section 44AAA(2)(b) is relevant to the meaning of section 44A of the AAT Act.

Stay order under the CSRC Act

A court can make a stay order under section 111C of the CSRC Act which stays or otherwise affects the operation or implementation of the CSA Act or the CSRC Act. An application to a court for a stay order under the CSRC Act can be made if:

  • a proceeding has been instituted in a court having jurisdiction under the CSRC Act

    • this does not include an appeal to the Federal Court of Australia or the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) from an AAT decision under the AAT Act (see stay order under the AAT Act, above)
  • an objection is proceeding before the Registrar under Part VII of the CSRC Act
  • an AAT first review is proceeding before the AAT
  • a departure determination is proceeding under Part 6A of the CSA Act, or
  • court review of certain decisions is proceeding under Part 7 of the CSA Act.

A court may make a stay order if it is desirable to do so, taking into account the interests of the persons who may be affected by the outcome of the proceedings.

A stay order has effect for the period specified in the order or, if no period is specified, until the proceeding (decision) of the court, the Registrar or AAT, becomes final.

A child support proceeding to which section 111C applies is the process from the time the relevant application is received until the proceeding is finalised.

An objection decision is final if an application for AAT first review has not been made within the prescribed period. The prescribed period is 28 days for Australian residents and 90 days for residents of a reciprocating jurisdiction (CSRC Act section 90). An AAT first review decision is final if an appeal has not been made within the prescribed period. A decision of a court is final if an appeal is not made within the time allowed for doing so by the relevant court.

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