Welcome to the website of the Council of Australasian Tribunals Inc.

New

Tribunals occupy an increasingly important place in the Australian justice system. Across the Commonwealth, in the State and Territories and New Zealand, tribunals have been established to perform a range of determinative functions. These can include matters as diverse as reviews of administrative decisions of Government, licensing and planning matters, decisions affecting the liberty, care and treatment of individuals, veterans' entitlements, industry regulation and accreditation, allocation of benefits and professional discipline matters.

Despite the increasing reliance on tribunals (as opposed to courts) to achieve justice in terms of individuals' relationship with Government as well as each other, there is no national body through which tribunals can come together to examine and compare ideas, working methods, organisation and management, member training and support programs.

The proposal for a Council of Australian Tribunals - or COAT - was developed by the Administrative Review Council and supported at a meeting of Commonwealth, State and Territory tribunal heads on 3 October 2001. (See Background Papers for links to agenda papers and minutes of 3 October 2001 meeting). The proposal was considered at the AIJA Tribunals Conference in Melbourne on 6 June 2002 and was expanded to include New Zealand tribunals. The Council will be known as the Council of Australasian Tribunals (COAT).

Contacting the Council of Australasian Tribunals

If you would like more information about the COAT, please contact the the Director of Corporate Services, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), Mr Andrew Tenni, who is the Executive officer of COAT. Mr Tenni can be contacted on telephone (03) 9628 9001, or by fax on (03) 9628 9891 or by e mail at info@coat.gov.au.

Ms Kay Ransome
Chairperson, Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal (NSW)
Chair, Council of Australasian Tribunals Inc.