Mandatory “on the papers” reviews will soon be embedded in the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). On 9 February 2026, the Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026 (Cth) received the Royal Assent. It will fundamentally reshape how migration decisions are reviewed, with far‑reaching implications for practitioners and their clients. This is not a procedural tweak. It is a structural change to the Migration Act itself. Join Sergio Zanotti Stagliorio, Barrister & Migration Law Lecturer for a detailed overview of how these changes will affect you and your clients.
Wednesday, 4 March 2026
12.00pm to 1.30pm Migration Law Reform Alert! ‘On the Papers’ Decisions
The Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026 (Cth) will fundamentally reshape how migration decisions are reviewed, with far‑reaching implications for practitioners and their clients. This is a structural change to the Migration Act itself.
The ART will soon be required to make decisions “on the papers” for matters relating to some temporary visas. Essential for migration practitioners (RMAs or lawyers) practising at the ART.
Take a deep dive into the essential changes:
- What types of temporary visas will require review without a hearing and the exceptions
- Whether the ART will have a discretion to make decisions on the papers for permanent visas
- New legislative provisions aimed at compensating for the lack of hearings
- New natural justice requirements
- How practitioners can adapt their strategies to suit the above changes and maximise their chances of success
Presented by Sergio Zanotti Stagliorio, Barrister, Migration Law Lecturer
Description
Legal Professionals can attend and earn 1.5 CPD units in Professional Skills
Migration agents can attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Category B
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
MARA APPROVAL NUMBERS - 1 Point (SM845)
Chair:
Elizabeth Wisser, Principal Solicitor, Elizabeth Wisser and Associates
Presenters
Elizabeth Wisser, Principal Solicitor, Elizabeth Wisser and AssociatesElizabeth Wisser is Principal Solicitor at Elizabeth Wisser Lawyers and is admitted as a Solicitor and Barrister of the Supreme Court of Victoria and admitted to the High Court of Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Victoria University, Graduate Certificate in Australia Immigration Law and Practice from Victoria University and Master of Laws from The University of Melbourne. Elizabeth is also a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, Law Council of Australia (Federal Litigation and Dispute Resolution Section), and the Migration Alliance.
Sergio Zanotti Stagliorio, Barrister, Migration Law Lecturer
Sergio practises in Migration and Citizenship Law. Before becoming a barrister, Sergio worked as an immigration solicitor for a number of years and was an RMA prior to this. This past experience places him well to appreciate all facets of migration and citizenship law matters. As an advocate, Sergio has appeared and represented clients on matters before the High Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia (including Full Court), Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Migration Review Tribunal, Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Immigration Assessment Authority, the Administrative Review Tribunal and the OMARA. Also Sergio: has authored over 1,300 court decision summaries on migration and citizenship law, most of which for his newsletter (https://migrationlawupdates.com.au), and some for LexisNexis (Administrative Law Decisions); has authored over 1,000 articles and updates on migration and citizenship law, some of which for LexisNexis; is a former assessor at UTS (Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law and Practice - GDAMLP); is a former unit coordinator and lecturer at UWS (GDAMLP); is a lecturer at UWS (GDAMLP and LLB); has been a migration law CPD lecturer since 2019; is often consulted by barristers, solicitors and RMAs on complex matters; holds a bachelor's degree in engineering.
