Cusack, Simone; Riebl, Cecilia --- "International Human Rights Law In Australian Courts: A Role For Amici Curiae and Interveners" [2006] AltLawJl 31; (2006) 31(3) Alternative Law Journal 122
[*] SIMONE CUSACK is a Lawyer with Blake Dawson Waldron. She is currently on a leave of absence completing her LLM at the University of Toronto.
CECILIA RIEBL is an Articled Clerk with
Blake Dawson Waldron.*
© 2006 Simone Cusack and Cecilia Riebl
email: simone.cusack@utoronto.ca
cecilia.riebl@bdw.com
[1] Royal Women’s Hospital v Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ, Maxwell P and Charles JA, 20 April 2006) [69].
[2] See, eg, Philip Lynch, ‘The Establishment and Role of the Human Rights Law Resource Centre’ [2006] AltLawJl 13; (2006) 31(1) Alternative Law Journal 42, 43.
[3] See, eg, Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Teoh [1995] HCA 20; (1995) 183 CLR 273, 287 (Mason CJ and Deane J, Gaudron J concurring) (‘Teoh’).
[4] [1995] HCA 20; (1995) 183 CLR 273.
[5] Although Teoh has been criticised (see, eg, Re Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs; Ex Parte Lam [2003] HCA 6; (2003) 214 CLR 1), it has not been overturned and continues to apply.
[6] Teoh [1995] HCA 20; (1995) 183 CLR 273 287 (Mason CJ and Deane J); Kartinyeri v The Commonwealth [1998] HCA 22; (1998) 195 CLR 337, 384 (Gummow and Hayne JJ); Royal Women’s Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ, Maxwell P and Charles JA, 20 April 2006) [73] (Maxwell P).
[7] Mabo v Queensland (No 2) [1992] HCA 23; (1992) 175 CLR 1, 42 (Brennan J, with whom Mason CJ and McHugh J agreed); Dietrich v The Queen [1992] HCA 57; (1992) 177 CLR 292, 321 (Brennan J), 360 (Toohey J); Teoh [1995] HCA 20; (1995) 183 CLR 273, 288 (Mason CJ and Deane J); Royal Women’s Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ, Maxwell P and Charles JA, 20 April 2006) [74] (Maxwell P).
[8] Schoenmakers v Director of Public Prosecutions (1991) 30 FCR 70, 75; Dietrich v The Queen [1992] HCA 57; (1992) 177 CLR 292, 321 (Brennan J); Royal Women’s Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ, Maxwell P and Charles JA, 20 April 2006) [75] (Maxwell P).
[9] See, eg, Wendy Lacey, ‘Judicial Discretion and Human Rights: Expanding the Role of International Law in the Domestic Sphere’ [2004] MelbJlIntLaw 4; (2004) 5 Melbourne Journal of International Law 108.
[10] Ibid 115.
[11] See, eg, R v Walsh [1996] SASC 5795; (1996) 67 SASR 143; R v Hollingshed (1993) 112 FLR 109; Sillery v R [1981] HCA 34; (1981) 180 CLR 353; R v Togias [2001] NSWCCA 522; (2001) 127 A Crim R 23.
[12] Submissions of the Appellant in Royal Women’s Hospital [16].
[13] Submissions of the Appellant in Royal Women’s Hospital [22]. See also Royal Women’s Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ, Maxwell P and Charles JA, 20 April 2006) [139] (Charles JA).
[14] Submissions of the Appellant in Royal Women’s Hospital [3]–[7]. See also Royal Women’s Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ, Maxwell P and Charles JA, 20 April 2006) [135] (Charles JA).
[15] Public interest immunity protects a certain class of documents or information from compulsory production. In Sankey v Whitlam [1978] HCA 43; (1978) 142 CLR 1, 39, Gibbs ACJ stated that, ‘[t]he general rule is that the court will not order the production of a document, although relevant and otherwise admissible, if it would be injurious to the public interest to disclose’. The Court of Appeal in Royal Women’s Hospital held, however, that public interest immunity is restricted to highly sensitive areas of government and was, therefore, not capable of applying to Ms X’s medical record.
[16] Royal Women’s Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ, Maxwell P and Charles JA, 20 April 2006) [69] (Maxwell P).
[17] Royal Women’s Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ, Maxwell P and Charles JA, 20 April 2006) [71].
[18] Royal Women's Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ, Maxwell P and Charles JA, 20 April 2006) [70].
[19] Royal Women's Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ, Maxwell P and Charles JA, 20 April 2006) [72]–[80].
[20] Corporate Affairs Commission v Bradley [1974] 1 NSWLR 391, 400.
[21] [1988] FCA 213; (1988) 20 FCR 520.
[22] Ibid [95].
[23] Levy v State of Victoria [1997] HCA 31; (1997) 189 CLR 579, 604–5 (Brennan CJ) (‘Levy’).
[24] See Levy [1997] HCA 31; (1997) 189 CLR 579, 600–05 (Brennan CJ), 650–1 (Kirby J); Project Blue Sky & Ors v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355, 359; Garcia v National Australia Bank Ltd [1998] HCA 48; (1998) 194 CLR 395, 398–9; and Justice Susan Kenny, ‘Interveners and Amici Curiae in the High Court’ [1998] AdelLawRw 14; (1998) 20 Adelaide Law Review 159.
[25] Australian Conservation Foundation v South Australia (1988) 53 SASR 349, 352 (King CJ). See also Onus v Alcoa [1981] HCA 50; (1981) 149 CLR 27, 37 (Gibbs CJ); Davis v Commonwealth [1986] HCA 66; (1986) 68 ALR 18, 23 (Gibbs CJ).
[26] [1983] HCA 21; (1983) 158 CLR 1.
[27] Susan Kenny, ‘Interveners and Amici Curiae in the High Court’ [1998] AdelLawRw 14; (1998) 20 Adelaide Law Review 159.
[28] For example, Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) s 20(1)(e); Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) s 48(1)(gb); Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) s 67(1)(l); and Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) ss 11(1)(o), 31(j) and (for amicus applications specifically) s 46PV.
[29] Victorian Council for Civil Liberties v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2001] FCA 1297; (2001) 110 FCR 452, which overturned Ruddock v Vadarlis [2001] FCA 1297; (2001) 110 FCR 452.
[30] Pursuant to s 46PV of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth).
[31] [2001] FCA 1740; (2001) 115 FCR 306.
[32] Breen v Williams [1994] 35 NSWLR 522, 533 (Kirby P).
[33] Royal Women’s Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ, Maxwell P and Charles JA, 20 April 2006) [72].