Joppich and National Disability Insurance Agency

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered a request by the applicant, Ms. Joppich, for confidentiality orders under section 35 of the *Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975* (Cth). The respondent was the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). Ms. Joppich sought orders for a private hearing, non-disclosure of information, and non-publication of the proceedings.

The central legal issue before the Tribunal was whether the circumstances warranted the making of confidentiality orders under section 35 of the *Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975*. This section permits the Tribunal to make such orders if it is satisfied that it is necessary to do so to prevent undue hardship to a person or for any other reason.

Deputy President Mischin declined to make the requested orders. The Tribunal reasoned that while the applicant was an adult, the current circumstances did not demonstrate a need for such stringent confidentiality measures. The decision indicated that the issue could be revisited if further information emerged or if speculative fears were substantiated, at which point orders could be tailored to specific circumstances. The Tribunal certified that the preceding paragraphs constituted a true copy of the reasons for decision.