Information Publication Scheme
On this page:
Routinely Requested Information
Freedom of Information Review Officers
Part 2 of the FOI Act establishes the Information Publication
Scheme for Australian government agencies subject to the Act. The
IPS commences on 1 May 2011 and requires agencies to publish a
broad range of information on their websites, and to make that
information available online where possible. To find out more about
the Information Publication Scheme see http://www.oaic.gov.au/publications/factsheets.html.
The Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT) is an agency subject
to the FOI Act and is required to comply with the Information
Publication Scheme (IPS) requirements. The SSAT has prepared an
Agency Publication Plan as required by s 8(1) of the FOI Act. The
Plan describes how the SSAT proposes to implement and administer
the IPS in respect of its own information holdings.
SSAT FOI Publication Plan (pdf, 52KB)SSAT FOI Publication Plan (rtf, 250KB)
Who We Are
The SSAT was originally established in 1975 by the Honourable WG
(Bill) Hayden to review appealed decisions made by the then
Department of Social Security.
It is now a statutory body established under the Social
Security (Administration) Act 1999 to conduct merits review of
administrative decisions made under the social security law, the
family assistance law, paid parental leave law, child support law
and various other pieces of legislation. The Social Security
(Administration) Act 1999, the A New Tax System (Family
Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999, the Paid Parental
Leave Act 2010 and the Child Support (Registration and
Collection) Act 1988 set out the powers, functions and
procedures of the SSAT.
The Tribunal falls within the portfolio of the Minister for
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs,
the Hon Jenny Macklin MP.
Statutory Appointments
Membership of the Tribunal
The membership of the SSAT comprises the Principal Member,
Senior Members and full and part-time members. All members are
appointed by the Governor-General.
Members must have knowledge or skills relevant to the duties of a
Member. Current Members have expertise in areas including
accountancy, law, medicine, public administration and
taxation.
As listed, there are 193 Members of the Tribunal at 1 May 2011.
Appointments to the Tribunal may be full-time or part-time.
Membership of the Tribunal (pdf, 41KB)Membership of the Tribunal (rtf, 287KB)
What We Do
The SSAT is the first level of independent merits review of most
decisions made by Centrelink. The SSAT is the only merits review of
most decisions of the Child Support Agency (CSA).
Merits review of an administrative decision involves considering
afresh the facts, law and policy relating to that decision. The
Tribunal considers the material before it and decides what is the
correct - or, in a discretionary area, the preferable - decision.
It will affirm, vary or set aside the decision under review.
The SSAT's statutory objective is to provide a mechanism of review
that is 'fair, just, economical, informal and quick'.
Our Reports to Parliament
The SSAT prepares an annual report for the Minister who tables the annual report in Parliament. The most recent SSAT Annual Reports are available here.
Routinely Requested Information
The SSAT will publish through the disclosure log, information contained in documents that the Tribunal has provided access to under the FOI Act (subject to some exceptions).
Contact Us
All applications under the FOI Act should be addressed to:
Ms Robin Dryden
Freedom of Information Officer
Social Security Appeals Tribunal
PO Box 218
Collins St West
MELBOURNE VIC 8007
Telephone: (03) 8626 4937
Email: FOI@ssat.gov.au
Freedom of Information Review Officers
If the FOI Officer is unavailable then the next point of contact is the FOI Review Officer:
Freedom of Information Review
Officer
Social Security Appeals Tribunal
PO Box 218
Collins St West
MELBOURNE VIC 8007
Telephone: (03) 8626 4937