The Court's jurisdiction is broad, covering almost all civil matters arising under Australian federal law and some summary criminal matters. These cases may raise important public interest issues involving such matters as mergers, misuse of market power, exclusive dealing or false advertising. Other cases may only concern the immediate parties.
Administrative law is an important area of jurisdiction.
This Act provides for judicial review of most administrative decisions made under Commonwealth enactments on grounds relating to the legality, rather than the merits, of the decision. Many cases also arise under the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 which provides for a review on the merits by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of many Commonwealth administrative decisions, and which also provides for a right of appeal from the Tribunal to the Court on questions of law. The Court has jurisdiction under the Migration Act 1958 to hear applications for judicial review of decisions of the Migration Review Tribunal and the Refugee Review Tribunal. The Court hears taxation matters on appeal from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, mostly concerning income tax and, until its abolition from 1 July 2000, sales tax. It exercises a first instance jurisdiction to hear objections to decisions made by the Commissioner of Taxation.