Editors --- "Government Response to Senate Committee Report on The Role and Functions of the Council" [1999] AdminRw 29; (1999) 51 Admin Review 56

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GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO SENATE COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL

Legislation implementing the Government's response to the Senate Committee's review of the Council, was passed by the Parliament on 23 September 1999.

The Government's response was set out in Admin Review 50, and the Senate Committee's Report was discussed in Admin Review 49. The legislation, which was introduced as part of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1998, contains amendments to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975.

The amendments have the effect of:

• permitting the size of the Council to be increased by regulations;

• clarifying the qualifications of persons who may be appointed as members of the Council;

• providing for the appointment of persons to the Council for the purposes of a particular project;

• clarifying the functions and powers of the Council;

• enabling the Attorney-General to give written directions to the Council, in relation to the performance of its functions and the exercise of its powers;

• enabling the Attorney-General to refer matters to the Council for inquiry and report; and

• requiring the Council to give to the Attorney-General a report at the conclusion of a project, or the conclusion of an inquiry into a matter, referred to it by the Attorney-General.

The legislation received the Royal Assent on 13 October 1999, and commenced on that day, so far as it concerned the Council.