The former tribunal was able to appoint guardians and financial managers as substitute decision makers, give to consents to medical treatment for people over 16 years of age and was able to review private arrangements about enduring guardianship and enduring powers of attorney.
The former tribunal was established pursuant to Guardianship Act, 1987 (NSW) and commenced operations on 1 August 1989.
Led by its former President, Malcolm Schyvens, who served for a fixed five-year term,[2] the former tribunal was an independent body.
The NSW Public Guardian is an independent statutory official, presently Graeme Smith.
If a person was found to be unable to manage their own "lifestyle decisions", the former tribunal may appoint a guardian and would decide who that was.
The former tribunal was not subject to judicial protocols or rules of evidence, and legal representation was usually not beneficial.
Reports by doctors and social workers were considered by the former tribunal to be more reliable than community testimony.