37What APS actions are reviewable actions

#### 37 What APS actions are reviewable actions (1) An APS action that relates to an affected employee’s APS employment is a reviewable action if: (a) under subsection 33(1) of the Act, the affected employee is entitled to review of the action; and (b) the action is not excluded from being, or has not ceased to be, a reviewable action under subsections (2) to (6) of this section. > Note: An APS employee is not entitled to review, under section 33 of the Act, of APS action that consists of the termination of the employee’s employment. (2) An APS action mentioned in an item in the following table is not, or ceases to be, a reviewable action. ```html <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>APS actions that are not, or that cease to be, reviewable actions—general</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Item</span></p></td><td style="width:91.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Non</span><span>‑</span><span>reviewable APS actions</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>General</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:91.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Action about the policy, strategy, nature, scope, resources or direction of the APS or an Agency.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:91.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Action taken, or not taken, in accordance with a direction or referral given by a Minister under the Act or another Act.</span></p><p class="notemargin"><span>Note:</span><span style="width:15.45pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block"> </span><span>An Agency Head is not subject to direction by any Minister in relation to the exercise of powers by the Agency Head under section</span><span> </span><span>15 of the Act or Division</span><span> </span><span>1 or 2 of Part</span><span> </span><span>4 of the Act in relation to particular individuals (see section</span><span> </span><span>19 of the Act).</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:91.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The issuing of a Commissioner’s Direction.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>4</span></p></td><td style="width:91.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Action taken, or not taken, for a special inquiry under section</span><span> </span><span>43 of the Act or an inquiry under section</span><span> </span><span>50 of the Act.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>5</span></p></td><td style="width:91.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A determination made by the Merit Protection Commissioner under section</span><span> </span><span>50A of the Act.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>6</span></p></td><td style="width:91.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Action taken, or not taken, under section</span><span> </span><span>72 of the Act.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>7</span></p></td><td style="width:91.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Action arising under any of the following Acts:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979</span><span>;</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988</span><span>;</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(c) the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Superannuation Act 1976</span><span>;</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(d) the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Superannuation Act 1990</span><span>;</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(e) the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Superannuation Act 2005</span><span>.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>APS actions relating to employment and conditions</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>8</span></p></td><td style="width:91.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Action relating to the engagement of an APS employee.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>9</span></p></td><td style="width:91.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Action of a reviewer under Division</span><span> </span><span>2 of Part</span><span> </span><span>4.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>10</span></p></td><td style="width:91.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Action relating to the promotion of an ongoing APS employee as an SES employee (whether or not the employee is already an SES employee).</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>11</span></p></td><td style="width:91.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Action relating to the determination of the duties of an APS employee, unless the action involves:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) a reduction in classification; or</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) a relocation to another place; or</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(c) a promotion that meets the following criteria:</span></p><p class="Tablei"><span>(i) the employee was an applicant for the promotion;</span></p><p class="Tablei"><span>(ii) the promotion was to APS employment at a classification in Group 7 or 8 in Schedule</span><span> </span><span>1 to the Classification Rules;</span></p><p class="Tablei"><span>(iii) there were serious defects in the selection process; or</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(d) the assignment to the employee of duties that the employee could not reasonably be expected to perform.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:8.58%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>12</span></p></td><td style="width:91.42%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Action relating to a decision by an Agency Head, under Division</span><span> </span><span>2 of Part</span><span> </span><span>4 of the Commissioner’s Directions, not to include the name of an APS employee in a notice published in the Public Service</span><span style="font-style:italic"> </span><span>Gazette.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table> ``` (3) An APS action is not, or ceases to be, a reviewable action if: (a) the affected employee has applied to have the action reviewed or dealt with by a court or tribunal; and (b) the court or tribunal has jurisdiction to review or deal with the action. (4) An APS action is not, or ceases to be, a reviewable action if the person who is, or would be, conducting the review considers that the action should not be reviewable for any of the following reasons: (a) the application by the affected employee for review of the action is misconceived or lacking in substance; (b) the application by the affected employee for review of the action is frivolous or vexatious; (c) the affected employee has previously applied for review of the action under this Division; (d) the affected employee has applied to have the action reviewed under Division 2 of this Part; (e) the affected employee has applied, or could apply, to have the action reviewed by an external review body and review by the external review body would be more appropriate than review under this Division; (f) the affected employee does not have sufficient direct personal interest in review of the action; (g) review, or further review, of the action is not otherwise justified in all the circumstances. > Note 1: For the purposes of paragraph (e), examples of external review bodies include the Commonwealth Ombudsman, the Australian Information Commissioner and the Australian Human Rights Commission. > Note 2: For the purposes of paragraph (g), a review may not be justified because the applicant did not respond to a request under section 48 for further information about why the review is sought. (5) An APS action mentioned in column 1 of an item in the following table is not, or ceases to be, a reviewable action if a circumstance mentioned in column 2 of the item applies in relation to the APS action. ```html <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>APS actions that are not, or that cease to be, reviewable actions in particular circumstances</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:10.82%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Item</span></p></td><td style="width:50.38%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 1</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>APS action</span></p></td><td style="width:38.8%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 2</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>Circumstance</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:10.82%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:50.38%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>APS action in relation to which an application for primary review was made to the Agency Head of the responsible Agency under subsection</span><span> </span><span>38(1)</span></p></td><td style="width:38.8%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The application was not made within 60 days of the APS action occurring</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:10.82%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:50.38%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>APS action in relation to which an application for primary review was made to the Merit Protection Commissioner under paragraph</span><span> </span><span>38(2)(a)</span></p></td><td style="width:38.8%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The application was not made within 60 days of the determination that the affected employee has breached the Code of Conduct</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:10.82%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:50.38%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>APS action in relation to which an application for primary review was made to the Merit Protection Commissioner under paragraph</span><span> </span><span>38(2)(b)</span></p></td><td style="width:38.8%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The application was not made within 60 days of the sanction for breach of the Code of Conduct being imposed</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:10.82%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>4</span></p></td><td style="width:50.38%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>APS action in relation to which an application for primary review was made to the Merit Protection Commissioner under subsection</span><span> </span><span>38(3)</span></p></td><td style="width:38.8%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The application was not made within 60 days of the APS action occurring</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:10.82%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>5</span></p></td><td style="width:50.38%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>APS action in relation to which an application for secondary review was made to the Merit Protection Commissioner under paragraph</span><span> </span><span>43(1)(a)</span></p></td><td style="width:38.8%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The application was not made within 60 days of the affected employee being advised that the APS action is not a reviewable action</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:10.82%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>6</span></p></td><td style="width:50.38%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>APS action in relation to which an application for secondary review was made to the Merit Protection Commissioner under paragraph</span><span> </span><span>43(1)(b)</span></p></td><td style="width:38.8%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The application was not made within 60 days of the affected employee being advised of the Agency Head’s decision</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:10.82%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>7</span></p></td><td style="width:50.38%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>APS action in relation to which an application for secondary review was made to the Merit Protection Commissioner</span></p></td><td style="width:38.8%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The application for primary review of the action was an application referred to in item</span><span> </span><span>1</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table> ``` (6) However, an APS action mentioned in column 1 of an item in the table in subsection (5) is a reviewable action if the person who is, or would be, conducting the review considers that there are exceptional circumstances explaining the failure to make an application for review of the APS action within the period mentioned in column 2 of the item.