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

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered an application for an extension of time in the matter of *Dow and Secretary, Department of Social Services (Social services second review)*. The applicant sought to extend the time within which to seek a review of a decision, an application opposed by the respondent, the Secretary of the Department of Social Services.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether to grant the applicant an extension of time to seek review of a decision pursuant to section 29(7) of the *Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975* (Cth). This required the Tribunal to assess the acceptability of the explanation provided by the applicant for the delay in lodging the review application.

The Tribunal found that the explanation offered by the applicant for the delay was not relevantly acceptable. Consequently, the Tribunal refused the application for an extension of time.