A new federal appeals tribunal will mean a faster and more accessible route to justice for Australians trying to overturn government decisions, the attorney-general says.
The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) replaces the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, the nation's largest such body and one that had been in place since 1976.
The revamp follows a Labor-led review of the federal administrative appeals system, which reviews official decisions made under more than 400 sets of laws.
"Like its predecessor, it will provide an independent mechanism for review but the way it does so will be more efficient and accessible than ever before," Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus told a ceremonial hearing on Monday.
"Today Australians are getting the tribunal they deserve, one that is user-focused, efficient, accessible, independent and fair."
The key challenge for the new body was to meet the needs of Australia's "growing and diversifying" population, he said.
"We heard about the importance of accessibility for people with disability, people for whom English was not their first language, people experiencing hardship and people not versed in the intricacy of administrative law," he said.
The tribunal's president, Federal Court Justice Emilios Kyrou, said it would be committed to the highest standards in reviewing government decisions.
"My ambition as president of the ART is for the tribunal to develop a reputation for excellence in everything that it does," Justice Kyrou said.
"I want it to be known as a tribunal which has efficient, transparent and user friendly processes, a tribunal with empathetic staff."
The overhaul follows the passage of laws to set up the tribunal earlier in the year and an allocation of more than $206 million in the May federal budget.
Its predecessor had been criticised over issues including a major backlog of cases caused in part by non-legal members having difficulties writing decisions.
A merit-based selection process for members of the replacement tribunal was established as part of the overhaul.
Justice Kyrou said the tribunal would comprise "experienced and dedicated members who conduct fair and inclusive hearings promptly after application".
They would make "high quality, easy to understand decisions within a short time after a hearing concludes", he said.
"As president of the ART I will work very hard to meet the public's justifiably high expectations."
The tribunal regularly hands down judgments on government decisions such as visas or social security payments.
