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Lacey, Wendy --- "Inherent Jurisdiction, Judicial Power and Implied Guarantees Under Chapter III of the Constitution" [2003] FedLawRw 2; (2003) 31(1) Federal Law Review 57

* Lecturer, School of Law, University of Adelaide; PhD candidate, University of Tasmania[.]

1 James Madison wrote in The Federalist No 47, 'The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.'

[2] George Winterton, 'The Separation of Judicial Power as an Implied Bill of Rights' in Geoffrey Lindell (ed), Future Directions in Australian Constitutional Law: Essays in Honour of Professor Leslie Zines (1994) 185.

[3] W Harrison Moore, The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia (2nd ed, 1997) 322; Winterton, above n 2, 187-8; George Williams, Human Rights Under the Australian Constitution (1999) 198.

[4] Fiona Wheeler, 'The Rise and Rise of Judicial Power under Chapter III of the Constitution: A Decade in Overview' (2000) 20 Australian Bar Review 283, 283.

[5] See, eg, David Kinley (ed), Human Rights in Australian Law: Principles, Practice and Potential (1998).

[6] Dietrich v The Queen [1992] HCA 57; (1992) 177 CLR 292, 362 (Gaudron J) and 326 (Deane J); Re Tracey; Ex Parte Ryan [1989] HCA 12; (1989) 166 CLR 518, 579 (Deane J); Re Nolan; Ex Parte Young [1991] HCA 29; (1991) 172 CLR 460, 493 (Gaudron J).

[7] Chu Kheng Lim v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1992) 176 CLR 1, 29 (Brennan, Deane and Dawson JJ); Re Tracey; Ex Parte Ryan [1989] HCA 12; (1989) 166 CLR 518, 580 (Deane J); Re Tyler; Ex parte Foley [1994] HCA 25; (1993) 181 CLR 18, 34 (Deane J); Polyukhovich v Commonwealth (‘War Crimes Act Case’) [1991] HCA 32; (1991) 172 CLR 501, 614–6 (Deane), 684–5 (Toohey J), and 703–4 (Gaudron J); Leeth v Commonwealth (1992) 174 CLR 455, 502–3 (Gaudron J).

[8] Leeth v Commonwealth (1992) 174 CLR 455, 483–92 (Deane and Toohey JJ), and 502–3 (Gaudron J); Queensland Electricity Commission v Commonwealth [1985] HCa 56; (1985) 159 CLR 192, 247–8 (Deane J); Kruger v Commonwealth (‘Stolen Generations Case’) [1997] HCA 27; (1997) 190 CLR 1, 94–7 (Toohey J).

[9] See, eg, George Williams, 'Civil Liberties and the Constitution—A Question of Interpretation' (1994) 5 Public Law Review 82, 83.

[10] I H Jacob, 'The Inherent Jurisdiction of the Court' (1970) 23 Current Legal Problems 23, 51; Keith Mason, 'The Inherent Jurisdiction of the Court (1983) 57 Australian Law Journal 449, 458.

[11] Nicholas v The Queen [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 196 (Brennan CJ), 201 (Toohey J), 216 (McHugh J), 259, 266 (Kirby J), 275–6 (Hayne J).

[12] While the constitutional text alone is recognised as being inadequate for the purposes of constitutional interpretation, it still remains fundamental. As Sir Anthony Mason has observed, 'There is a need to identify other reference points and indicators to supplement the text without deserting it, for fidelity to the text is generally regarded as the foundation of constitutional interpretation, a badge of legitimacy, so to speak': 'Theoretical Approaches to Constitutional Interpretation' in Charles Sampford and Kim Preston (eds), Interpreting Constitutions: Theories, Principles and Institutions (1996) 13.

[13] Justice Paul de Jersey, 'The Inherent Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court' (1985) 15 Queensland Law Society Journal 325, 330.

[14] Jacob, above n 10, 25: 'Because it is part of the machinery of justice, the inherent jurisdiction of the court may be invoked not only in relation to the litigant parties in pending proceedings, but in relation also to anyone, whether a party or not, and in respect of matters which are not raised as issues in the litigation between the parties.'

[15] De Jersey, above n 13, 330.

[16] See, eg, s 200 of the Supreme Court Act 1995 (Qld), which provides that the Supreme Court 'shall have the same jurisdiction power and authority as the superior courts of common law and the High Court of Chancery in England'. Differently worded provisions may be found in relation to the Supreme Courts of other states: Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) ss 2224; Supreme Court Act 1986 (Vic) s 10; Supreme Court Act 1935 (WA) s 16; Supreme Court Act 1935 (SA) s 6; for Tasmania see, Supreme Court Act 1856 (Tas) s 2, Supreme Court Act 1887 (Tas) s 9, Criminal Code Act 1924 (Tas) s 400(3), Australian Courts Act 1828 (Imp) 9 Geo 4, c 83.

[17] See, eg, Grassby v The Queen [1989] HCA 45; (1989) 168 CLR 1, 21 (Dawson J).

[18] See text accompanying nn 53-80.

[19] DJL v Central Authority [2000] HCA 17; (2000) 201 CLR 226, 240–1 (Gleeson CJ, Gaudron, McHugh, Gummow and Hayne JJ).

[20] Fiona Wheeler, 'The Doctrine of Separation of Powers and Constitutionally Entrenched Due Process in Australia' [1997] MonashULawRw 18; (1997) 23 Monash University Law Review 248, 266.

[21] Precision Data Holdings Ltd v Wills (1991) 173 CLR 167, 188. See also Williams, above n 3, 202.

[22] See Leslie Zines, The High Court and the Constitution (4th ed, 1997) 171.

[23] [1909] HCA 36; (1909) 8 CLR 330, 357.

[24] Zines, above n 22, 171.

[25] [1956] HCA 10; (1956) 94 CLR 254, affirmed [1957] AC 288 (PC).

[26] Winterton, above n 2, 188.

[27] Ibid.

[28] Ibid.

[29] See Tony Blackshield and George Williams, Australian Constitutional Law and Theory: Commentary and Materials (3rd ed, 2002) 629–47.

[30] Grollo v Palmer [1995] HCA 26; (1995) 184 CLR 348; Wilson v Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs [1996] HCA 18; (1996) 189 CLR 1. See also Blackshield and Williams, above n 29, 638–47.

[31] [1996] HCA 24; (1996) 189 CLR 51.

[32] Mason, above n 10, 458; de Jersey, above n 13, 326.

[33] Jacob, above n 10, 23.

[34] De Jersey, above n 13, 326.

[35] Jacob, above n 10, 25.

[36] Ibid 27–8 (citations omitted).

[37] Ibid 51.

[38] Ibid.

[39] Ibid.

[40] P Twist, 'The Inherent Jurisdiction of Masters' [1996] New Zealand Law Journal 351; Jacob, above n 10, 24–5. It must be noted that Jacob actually views the court's inherent jurisdiction as being only a part or an aspect of its general jurisdiction, rather than as incidental or ancillary to it as Twist does. This point is, however, qualified by his assertion that inherent jurisdiction is certainly part of procedural rather than substantive law.

[41] See Twist, above n 40; Jacob, above n 10, 24–5.

[42] Seonaid Abernathy, 'The Status of the District Court' [1990] New Zealand Law Journal 360.

[43] Twist, above n 40, 351; De Jersey, above n 13, 326; Jacob, above n 10, 24; Mason, above n 10, 449.

[44] [1972] HCA 34; (1972) 127 CLR 1, 7.

[45] High Court of Australia Act 1979 (Cth) s 5; Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 5(2); Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) s 21(2).

[46] De Jersey, above n 13, 326.

[47] Twist, above n 40, 351.

[48] Mason, above n 10, 449–58.

[49] Jacob, above n 10, 32–51.

[50] De Jersey, above n 13, 326–9.

[51] [1989] HCA 46; (1989) 168 CLR 23.

[52] Ibid 27-30 (Mason CJ).

[53] Such an approach had been adopted in the New Zealand case of Moevao v Department of Labour [1980] 1 NZLR 464, 470–1, 473–6, 478–82. Mason CJ quoted from the judgment of Richardson J in his decision in Jago v District Court of New South Wales [1989] HCA 46; (1989) 168 CLR 23, 29–30.

[54] [1987] HCA 23; (1987) 162 CLR 612, 618.

[55] High Court of Australia Act 1979 (Cth) s 5; Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 5(2); Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) s 21(2).

[56] Jackson v Sterling Industries Ltd [1987] HCA 23; (1987) 162 CLR 612, 618.

[57] Ibid 619.

[58] Ibid.

[59] [1998] HCA 41; (1998) 193 CLR 502, 511.

[60] Ibid n 39: cf General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) [1964] HCA 69; (1964) 112 CLR 125, 137; State Rail Authority of NSW v Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd [1982] HCA 51; (1982) 150 CLR 29, 38–9 (Mason and Wilson JJ), 45 (Brennan J). (Kirby J’s footnote).

[61] [1979] HCA 38; (1979) 143 CLR 1, 16 (Mason J).

[62] Ibid.

[63] See Jago v District Court of New South Wales [1989] HCA 46; (1989) 168 CLR 23, 73 (Gaudron J); Wentworth v New South Wales Bar Association [1992] HCA 24; (1992) 176 CLR 239, 251–2 (Deane, Dawson, Toohey and Gaudron JJ).

[64] [2000] HCA 17; (2000) 201 CLR 226, 240–1 (emphasis added, footnotes omitted).

[65] Ibid 268 (Kirby J) (footnotes omitted).

[66] [1987] HCA 23; (1987) 162 CLR 612.

[67] Ibid 623–4 (Deane J), quoting from the judgment of Bowen CJ in the same dispute: (1986) 12 FCR 267, 272.

[68] Ibid 630–1, quoting from a decision of the Federal Court in Parsons v Martin [1984] FCA 408; (1984) 5 FCR 235, 241.

[69] Jackson v Sterling Industries Ltd [1987] HCA 23; (1987) 162 CLR 612, 640 (Gaudron J).

[70] Ibid.

[71] [1989] HCA 45; (1989) 168 CLR 1, 16–17 (Dawson J).

[72] [1989] HCA 46; (1989) 168 CLR 23, 74 (Gaudron J).

[73] Ibid.

[74] [1944] HCA 5; (1944) 68 CLR 571, 589.

[75] [1992] HCA 24; (1992) 176 CLR 239, 252.

[76] Ibid.

[77] DJL v The Central Authority [2000] HCA 17; (2000) 201 CLR 226, 240–1 (Gleeson CJ, Gaudron, McHugh, Gummow and Hayne JJ).

[78] See also the decision in ASIC v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd (2001) 204 CLR 559, 590 (Gleeson CJ, Gaudron and Gummow JJ).

[79] [1944] HCA 5; (1944) 68 CLR 571, 589.

[80] [1992] HCA 24; (1992) 176 CLR 239.

[81] ASIC v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd (2001) 204 CLR 559, 590 (Gleeson CJ, Gaudron and Gummow JJ).

[82] Williams, above n 9.

[83] D A Smallbone, 'Recent Suggestions of an Implied "Bill of Rights" in the Constitution, Considered as Part of a General Trend in Constitutional Interpretation' (1993) 21 Federal Law Review 254, 267.

[84] [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173 ('Nicholas').

[85] Ridgeway v The Queen [1995] HCA 66; (1995) 184 CLR 19.

[86] Crimes Amendment (Controlled Operations) Act 1996 (Cth).

[87] (1992) 176 CLR 1, 27; Nicholas v The Queen [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 185 (Brennan CJ), 208 (Gaudron J), 220–1 (McHugh J), 232 (Gummow J).

[88] [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 196 (Brennan CJ), 201 (Toohey J), 216 (McHugh J), 259, 266 (Kirby J), 275–6 (Hayne J).

[89] Per 188–9, 196 (Brennan CJ), 209 (Gaudron J), 216, 224–6 (McHugh J), 258–9, 266 (Kirby J), 275–6 (Hayne J).

[90] Winterton, above n 2, 190, 199.

[91] (1992) 176 CLR 1, 27 ('Chu Kheng Lim').

[92] [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 186. Brennan CJ also added his own statement that '[s]ubject to the Constitution, the Parliament can prescribe the jurisdiction to be conferred on a court but it cannot direct the court as to the judgment or order which it might make in exercise of a jurisdiction conferred upon it'.

[93] (1992) 176 CLR 1, 36–7.

[94] [1991] HCA 32; (1991) 172 CLR 501, 607 (Deane J).

[95] Ibid.

[96] Ibid 703–4.

[97] Ibid 689.

[98] (1992) 174 CLR 455.

[99] Ibid 486–7.

[100] Gaudron J stated [at 502] that '[i]t is an essential feature of judicial power that it should be exercised in accordance with the judicial process', and that, '... the concept of equal justice—a concept which requires the like treatment of like persons in like circumstances, but also requires that genuine differences be treated as such—is fundamental to the judicial process.'

[101] See the decisions of Brennan CJ, Dawson, Gaudron, McHugh and Gummow JJ in Kruger v Commonwealth [1997] HCA 27; (1997) 190 CLR 1.

[102] [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 220.

[103] Ibid 185.

[104] Ibid 188.

[105] Ibid 208–9 (Gaudron J).

[106] Ibid 209.

[107] Ibid 224 (McHugh J), 258 (Kirby J).

[108] [1995] HCA 66; (1995) 184 CLR 19, 31.

[109] [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 226 (McHugh J).

[110] Ibid 272 (Hayne J).

[111] Ibid 275.

[112] [1995] HCA 66; (1995) 184 CLR 19, 34.

[113] [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 197 (Brennan CJ).

[114] Ibid 202 (Toohey J).

[115] See, eg, ibid 191 (Brennan CJ), 202 (Toohey J), 210–11 (Gaudron J), 238 (Gummow J), 273 (Hayne J).

[116] On proportionality see Adrienne Stone, 'The Limits of Constitutional Text and Structure: Standards of Review and the Freedom of Political Communication' [1999] MelbULawRw 26; (1999) 23 Melbourne University Law Review 668; Jeremy Kirk, 'Constitutional Guarantees, Characterisation and the Concept of Proportionality' [1997] MelbULawRw 1; (1997) 21 Melbourne University Law Review 1, H P Lee, 'Proportionality in Australian Constitutional Adjudication', in Lindell (ed), above n 2, 126.

[117] Nicholas v The Queen [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 188–9 (Brennan CJ).

[118] See, eg, ibid 234–8 (Gummow J).

[119] Ibid 188–9 (Brennan CJ).

[120] See Grassby v The Queen [1989] HCA 45; (1989) 168 CLR 1, 16 n 67 (Brennan CJ).

[121] Nicholas v The Queen [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 190 (Brennan CJ).

[122] Ibid 208 (Gaudron J).

[123] Ibid.

[124] Ibid.

[125] Ibid 207.

[126] Ibid 209.

[127] Ibid 272 (Hayne J).

[128] Ibid.

[129] Ibid 276.

[130] Ibid.

[131] (1992) 176 CLR 1, 27.

[132] Commonwealth v Melbourne Harbour Trust Commissioners [1922] HCA 31; (1922) 31 CLR 1, 12 (Knox CJ, Gavan Duffy and Starke JJ); Williamson v Ah On [1926] HCA 46; (1926) 39 CLR 95, 122 (Higgins J).

[133] Nicholas v The Queen [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 189 (Brennan CJ).

[134] [1926] HCA 46; (1926) 39 CLR 95, 108.

[135] [1998] HCA 9; 193 CLR 173, 191.

[136] Chu Kheng Lim v Minister for Immigration (1992) 176 CLR 1, 27 (Brennan, Deane and Dawson JJ).

[137] (1983) 152 CLR 570, 608.

[138] Ibid; quoted in Nicholas v The Queen [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 187 (Brennan CJ).

[139] [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 191.

[140] [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 202 (Toohey J).

[141] Ibid.

[142] [1991] HCA 32; (1991) 172 CLR 501, 689.

[143] Ibid.

[144] [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 208–9 (Gaudron J).

[145] Ibid 209.

[146] Ibid 210.

[147] Ibid.

[148] Ibid 211.

[149] Ibid 238 (Gummow J).

[150] Ibid.

[151] Ibid 277–8 (Hayne J).

[152] Ibid 191 (Brennan CJ), 234–7 (Gummow J).

[153] Ibid 278 (Hayne J).

[154] Ibid n 410: Chu Kheng Lim v Minister for Immigration (1992) 176 CLR 1, 27 (Brennan, Deane and Dawson JJ). (Hayne J’s footnote).

[155] Ibid 278 (Hayne J).

[156] Ibid 277.

[157] Ibid 278 (Hayne J), 237 (Gummow J).

[158] Ibid 220 (McHugh J).

[159] Ibid.

[160] Ibid 222 (McHugh J).

[161] Ibid.

[162] Ibid 224–5.

[163] Ibid.

[164] [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 266 (Kirby J).

[165] [1967] 1 AC 259.

[166] [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173, 262–4 (Kirby J).

[167] Fiona Wheeler, 'The Doctrine of Separation of Powers and Constitutionally Entrenched Due Process in Australia' [1997] MonashULawRw 18; (1997) 23 Monash University Law Review 248.

[168] Ibid 265–6.

[169] Ibid 265.

[170] Ibid 265–6.

[171] Winterton, above n 2, 207.

[172] Russell Blackford, 'Judicial Power, Political Liberty and the Post-Industrial State' (1997) 71 Australian Law Journal 267, 283.

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