AAT … Three months appointments for expiring members … AG to assess the list of those who have their hand up for another spin of the wheel … Some strange omissions … No explanations … Basil Gray reports 

A raft of members have their terms of appointment expiring this month and have been told to submit expressions of interest for reappointment – via the public portal. 

There was no guidance whether those seeking renewal would be assessed as experienced members as opposed to those coming aboard for the first time.

According to Justinian’s source, attorney general Mark Dreyfus asked AAT president Fiona Meagher to submit the names of those she considers worthy of another stint. 

Her list included those who could also be considered “crony appointments”. They have all been reappointed for three months – presumably to give the AG time to do his own due diligence. 

However, we are told that two barristers were not on the list of short-term reappointments, even though they are well regarded and effective. 

As our source put it, efficient members are cast aside but if you are a dithering ally of the Coalition your stocks remain high.

President Meagher called the two briefs and offered sympathy and clean hankies – but did not give any reasons for the decisions. 

Dreyfus has said he is looking to make merit based appointments before the end of the year. We asked his office for a comment, but his spokespeople remain shtumm. 

The AAT spokesmodel said that “appointments to the AAT are a matter for the government … All communications between the AAT president and the attorney general are confidential”. 

Instead we were told, the “AAT makes no comment on the accuracy of your statements or the underlying premise of your questions”. 

President Meagher supports and endorses an “independent and merit-based appointment process for members. I look forward to working with the attorney general in relation to this …” 

Meanwhile, she has been developing a “culture road map” for the tribunal. This involves engaging with staff, conducing focus groups aimed at “shaping our culture”. 

For people on the way out, there are “exit surveys”, where information about staff experiences is collected and assessed. 

This flurry of activity follows the revelation earlier this month at Senate estimates that 19 AAT members, including senior members and deputy presidents, have had more than one bullying, harassment or discrimination complaint made since July 1, 2016. 

There were six with more than two complaints, there were three who had more than three complaints, two members with more than four complaints and one member with more than five complaints. 

Of that cohort of bullies, harassers and discriminators, 17 remain with the tribunal, including the member who has attracted more than five complaints. 

Justice Meagher made no mention of what has happened to those alleged repeat offenders, other than to say, “We take any allegation of bullying and harassment extremely seriously …” 

Naturally.