Administrative and Constitutional Law & Human Rights
About this NPA
The Administrative and Constitutional Law and Human Rights National Practice Area (NPA) comprises:
- matters concerning the judicial review of decisions and conduct involving Commonwealth enactments and powers on grounds relating to the legality, rather than the merits, of the decision, including judicial review applications:
- pursuant to s 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Judiciary Act)
- under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (ADJR Act)
- under ss 476A and 476B(3) of the Migration Act 1958
- appeals on questions of law from the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal and the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT)
- complaints about unlawful discrimination no longer being dealt with by the Australian Human Rights Commission
- matters concerning the Australian Constitution.
Latest Judgments
- 1 Oct 2025:
Snow v Birchall (No 2) [2025] FCA 1206
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application for judicial review of a Registrar’s decision to refuse to accept documents for filing – documents purporting to initiate an application for leave to appeal from an order – challenged order made in the exercise of appellate jurisdiction – whether Registrar erred in characterising the documents as an abuse of…
Judge: CHARLESWORTH J - 1 Oct 2025:
Secretary, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing v Prefixx Pty Ltd (No 2) [2025] FCA 1199
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Application by the second respondent for maximum costs order under rule 40.51 of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) – where substantive proceedings concern allegations against the respondents for advertising, or causing to be advertised, nicotine vaping products in contravention of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth) –…
Judge: PERRY J - 30 Sep 2025:
Gilbert v Parkyn [2025] FCA 1182
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - application for judicial review - decision of Registrar not to accept documents for filing - open to Registrar to find that documents were frivolous or vexatious on their face - open to Registrar to find that the documents did not substantially comply with the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) - application dismissed
Judge: JACKSON J
Latest Speeches & Papers
- 28 Aug 2025:
The inside story of the enactment of the Public Notaries Act 2001
Speech by Justice Kyrou, President of Administrative Review Tribunal, at the Annual Dinner of the Society of Notaries of Victoria
- 6 Aug 2025:
Literature, lawyers and liberty
Remarks to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Australia Masterclass, Sydney
- 8 Jul 2025:
Court, Tribunal and other mechanisms to ensure state accountability in Australia
Paper delivered by Justice Kyrou, President of Administrative Review Tribunal, at the Global Summit of Hellenic Lawyers, Athens, Greece
Related links
Interpreters & Translators
The Australian Government's Translating and Interpreting Service can supply telephone or on-site interpreting.
It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is accessible from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call by telephoning 131 450.
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Practice Notes
Forms & Rules
The key forms and rules for commencing proceedings are:
Administrative Law:
- An application for judicial review under ss 39B(1) and (1A) the Judiciary Act:
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- An application for judicial review under the ADJR Act:
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- An appeal on a question of law from the Administrative Review Tribunal, Superannuation Complaints Tribunal or National Native Title Tribunal:
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Constitutional Law:
- An application arising under the Australian Constitution or its interpretation:
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Human Rights:
- An application for unlawful discrimination under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth)
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Legislation
Administrative & Constitutional Law
- Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act
- Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth)
- Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth)
- Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (Cth)
Human Rights
Self-Represented Litigants
If you are starting a matter or a person has started a matter against you and you do not have legal representation and are conducting the matter and acting for yourself then you are called a self-represented litigant.
The Court has developed a number of resources to assist litigants including:
