Approval process
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
is responsible for making the fi nal decision
regarding which operators are granted the
ADS approval. In making such a decision, the
minister takes into consideration the outcomes
of the assessment process, as well as the feedback
from the Government Coordination Group on the public consultation process.
Following the approval, the minister advises
applicants of the outcome and releases an
updated Gazette of ADS-approved operators.
The Gazette is published on the Australian government
website in early July of the year of
application. The approval process also makes
provision for unsuccessful applicants to appeal
the minister’s decision, and in the event of an
unsuccessful appeal, for the applicants to
transfer any existing tour groups to alternative
ADS-approved operators.