Petition for Reform of Migration Tribunal Decision-Making in Australia

We call on the Australian Government to reform the way serious migration and deportation decisions are reviewed in Australia.

Currently, decisions that can permanently separate families, remove parents from children, and determine whether a person may remain in Australia are often made by a single Tribunal member.

While Tribunal members are required to apply the law and Ministerial Directions, these decisions still involve significant human judgment. Members must assess matters such as:

the weight given to rehabilitation,
what level of risk is considered acceptable,
whether remorse is genuine,
the impact on children and families,
the likelihood of reoffending,
and what constitutes “community expectations”.
Two experienced decision-makers can review the same evidence and still reach completely different conclusions while both technically applying the law correctly.

This is why many Australians feel uncomfortable that:

one member hears the case,
one member assesses credibility,
and one member ultimately decides whether a person stays in Australia or is permanently removed.
The consequences of these decisions are often lifelong and irreversible. Families are separated, children lose parents, mental health deteriorates, and entire support networks are destroyed. The emotional, financial and social impact extends far beyond the individual involved.

We believe decisions with consequences this serious should involve greater oversight, balance and accountability.

We are calling for:

Panel-based review by multiple Tribunal members in serious deportation and visa cancellation matters;
Stronger safeguards in cases involving children and long-term residents;
Greater transparency and consistency in migration decision-making;
A review of the current single-member decision model for life-altering migration matters.
No family’s future should rest solely in the hands of one individual decision-maker.

We urge the Australian Government to review and reform the current system to ensure greater fairness, consistency and public confidence in migration decision-making.