THE HON MARK DREYFUS KC MP
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
CABINET SECRETARY
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
Appointments to re-establish the Administrative Review Council
I am pleased to announce the appointments of Professor Margaret Allars SC as Chair and Professor Matthew Groves, Dr Graeme Innes AM, and Mrs Kerry Staines as members of the re-established Administrative Review Council (ARC).
They will join the standing members of the ARC, the President of the Administrative Review Tribunal, the Hon Justice Emilios Kyrou AO, the Commonwealth Ombudsman, Mr Iain Anderson, and the Australian Information Commissioner, Ms Elizabeth Tydd.
The ARC was originally established under the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 with bipartisan support. At its first meeting in 1977 the then-Attorney-General described the ARC as a “watchdog for the citizen” and said that its role was “to ensure that our system of administrative review is as effective and significant in its protection of the citizen as it can be”.
The ARC performed its role with distinction for almost 40 years, until it was discontinued by the former government.
The re-establishment of the ARC responds to recommendations of the Robodebt Royal Commission. Together with the new, fit-for-purpose Administrative Review Tribunal, the ARC will be tasked with promoting better decision-making across government.
The new Chair and members of the ARC were appointed through a merit-based process and will commence in their roles from 12 December 2024, for a period of five years.
I thank Professor Allars, Professor Groves, Dr Innes and Mrs Staines for their willingness to serve.
For more information about the ARC, visit Administrative Review Council | Attorney-General's Department.
Biographies
Professor Margaret Allars SC
Professor Allars is Senior Counsel practicing at the New South Wales Bar, and a Professor at the University of Sydney Law School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (Sydney) and a Doctorate of Philosophy (Oxford). Professor Allars has more than 35 years’ experience as an academic, practitioner, teacher and researcher in administrative law, and has chaired the Law Council’s Administrative Law Committee. She has taught administrative law at Sydney Law School, and published books, chapters and journal articles on administrative law.
Professor Matthew Groves
Professor Groves is a Distinguished Professor at the Deakin University Law School. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Doctorate of Philosophy from Monash University. Professor Groves has 24 years’ experience working as a scholar and teacher of public law, as well as holding senior administrative and regulatory roles at Deakin, Monash and La Trobe Universities. He has served as adviser to the Chairman of the Victorian Bar and was a member of the former ARC for 3 years.
Dr Graeme Innes
Dr Innes is the Chancellor of the Central Queensland University and serves as the Audit and Risk Committee Chair, and member of the National Disability Insurance Agency board. He holds a Bachelor of Laws and several Doctors Honoris Causa in recognition of his significant contributions to society, including from the University of New South Wales, University of Canberra, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Edith Cowan University. Dr Innes has 40 years’ advocacy and policy experience in the disability sector, including published works, and has held membership roles on numerous state and several Commonwealth tribunals. He has also held offices including Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Human Rights Commissioner, and Commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission.
Mrs Kerry Staines
Mrs Staines is a proud descendant of the Mandananji and Walka Wakka people and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Business Administration in Leadership, as well as a Diploma of Community Services and Certificates IV in Mental Health and Training and Assessment. Mrs Staines has more than 30 years’ experience in the community services sector and experience and knowledge of the needs of people who are significantly affected by government decisions, including in domestic, family and sexual violence, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, mental health, housing, disability, crisis refuge, protection and youth services.
Friday, 6 December 2024
