51Functions and powers of Council

#### 51 Functions and powers of Council (1) The functions of the Council are: (aa) to keep the Commonwealth administrative law system under review, monitor developments in administrative law and recommend to the Minister improvements that might be made to the system; and (ab) to inquire into the adequacy of the procedures used by authorities of the Commonwealth and other persons who exercise administrative discretions or make administrative decisions, and consult with and advise them about those procedures, for the purpose of ensuring that the discretions are exercised, or the decisions are made, in a just and equitable manner; and (a) to ascertain, and keep under review, the classes of administrative decisions that are not the subject of review by a court, tribunal or other body; and (b) to make recommendations to the Minister as to whether any of those classes of decisions should be the subject of review by a court, tribunal or other body and, if so, as to the appropriate court, tribunal or other body to make that review; and (c) to inquire into the adequacy of the law and practice relating to the review by courts of administrative decisions and to make recommendations to the Minister as to any improvements that might be made in that law or practice; and (d) to inquire into: (i) the qualification required for membership of authorities of the Commonwealth, and the qualifications required by other persons, engaged in the review of administrative decisions; and (ii) the extent of the jurisdiction to review administrative decisions that is conferred on those authorities and other persons; and (iii) the adequacy of the procedures used by those authorities and other persons in the exercise of that jurisdiction; and to consult with and advise those authorities and other persons about the procedures used by them as mentioned in subparagraph (iii) and recommend to the Minister any improvements that might be made in respect of any of the matters referred to in subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii); and (e) to make recommendations to the Minister as to the manner in which tribunals engaged in the review of administrative decisions should be constituted; and (f) to make recommendations to the Minister as to the desirability of administrative decisions that are the subject of review by tribunals other than the Administrative Appeals Tribunal being made the subject of review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal; and (g) to facilitate the training of members of authorities of the Commonwealth and other persons in exercising administrative discretions or making administrative decisions; and (h) to promote knowledge about the Commonwealth administrative law system; and (i) to consider, and report to the Minister on, matters referred to the Council by the Minister. (2) The Council may do all things necessary or convenient to be done for or in connexion with the performance of its functions. (3) If the Council holds an inquiry, or gives any advice, referred to in paragraph (1)(ab), the Council must give the Minister a copy of any findings made by the Council in the inquiry or a copy of the advice, as the case may be.