Beslagic and Secretary, Department of Social Services (Social services second review)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered an application by Mr Beslagic for an extension of time to lodge an appeal against a decision by the Secretary of the Department of Social Services concerning a disability support pension. The primary dispute revolved around whether the applicant had provided sufficient grounds to justify an extension of time for his appeal, which had been lodged significantly out of time.

The central legal issue before the Tribunal was whether it was reasonable in all the circumstances to grant an extension of time under section 29(7) of the *Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975* (Cth). This required the Tribunal to assess the applicant's explanation for the delay in lodging the appeal and the prospects of success of the appeal itself.

The Tribunal's reasoning focused on the lack of a reasonable explanation for the applicant's delay in filing the appeal. Furthermore, the Tribunal found that there were no reasonable prospects of success for the appeal. Consequently, the Tribunal was not satisfied that it would be reasonable to grant the extension of time. The application for an extension of time was therefore refused.