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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 11 Hansard (26 September) . . Page.. 3660 ..

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matter, but also to the factual or legal complexities of the issues involved. This will obviate the need for an appeal to lie from the Land and Planning Division to the `full bench' of the General Division and the need to transfer cases between Divisions. This improved efficiency of the Tribunal will be in the best interest of parties to proceedings.

Mr Speaker, a further advance towards the more efficient functioning of the Tribunal is provided by clause 11 of the Bill. At present, a question of law in proceedings at which a presidential member presides is decided by the opinion of that member. The amendment effected by clause 11 will empower the Tribunal of its own volition, or at the request of a party, to request the President to constitute the Tribunal to give a ruling on a question of law which then binds the Tribunal hearing the proceeding. For this purpose, the Tribunal must be constituted by the President, the Deputy President or by a legally qualified senior member.

Special provision for the lodgement of documentation for reviews under the Land Act will be made. Section 37 of the AAT Act requires a person who has made a decision, the

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