Minister for Indigenous Australians
Senator for the Northern Territory
Senator The Hon Malarndirri McCarthy
Attorney-General
Cabinet Secretary
The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP
Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans Affairs and Northern Australia
Member for Solomon
Luke Gosling OAM MP
Joint media release
The Albanese Government has provided funding of $3.6 million over four years to open a Darwin Registry for the new Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) improving access to justice for residents of Darwin and the surrounding area.
The new ART is providing efficient, accessible, independent and fair services for the tens of thousands of people every year who seek independent review of government decisions, such as whether they qualify for an age pension, are compensated for an injury they suffered while serving their nation or receive NDIS funding for essential support.
Darwin is currently the only Australian capital city without an ART registry. Since the closure of the Darwin registry in the 1990s, support has been provided out of the Adelaide registry almost 3000 kilometres away.
The full-service Darwin location will ensure Territory residents get the same services long available to Australians in other states including a front counter and registry, registrar and conferencing services, a dedicated hearing room and two Darwin-based members.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Territorians face significant barriers to accessing justice. The Government has committed $2.6 million for a First Nations Liaison Officer program to assist to better target support, and raise awareness of the availability of merits review of government decisions through the Tribunal.
