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Bennett, Lyria --- "Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; ex parte Miah: A statute in the eye of its beholder" [2001] FedLawRw 22; (2001) 29(3) Federal Law Review 437

[1] (2001) 179 ALR 238, [2001] HCA 22, decided by the High Court on 3 May 2001.

[2] LLB (UNSW), BSc (Hons) (UNSW). Associate to her Honour Justice Stone in the Federal Court of Australia. The opinions expressed in this comment are those of the author.

[3] (2001) 179 ALR 238.

[4] United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on 28 July 1951 as amended by the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees done at New York on 31 January 1967, Article 1A(2) and Migration Act 1958 (Cth), s 36(2).

[5] Migration Act 1958 (Cth), ss 411, 415

[6] Ibid, ss 475(2)(d), 485(1).

[7] Paragraph 3.4.3 of the Delegate's reasons set out at (2001) 179 ALR 238, 242[12].

[8] Migration Act 1958 (Cth), ss 412(1)(b), 414; Fernando v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2000] FCA 324; (2000) 97 FCR 407.

[9] Section 48A of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) provides that, subject to s 48B, a non-citizen who has been refused a protection visa may not make a fresh application. Section 48B provides that the Minister may personally determine that s 48A does not apply to prevent a non-citizen making a fresh application for a protection visa.

[10] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 243-245[19]-[25] (Gleeson CJ and Hayne J) 287-288[197]-[202] (Kirby J).

[11] (1996) 185 CLR 259.

[12] Ibid 272 (Brennan CJ, Toohey, McHugh and Gummow JJ), quoting Collector of Customs v Pozzolanic Enterprises Pty Ltd [1993] FCA 456; (1993) 43 FCR 280, 287.

[13] Ibid 291 (Kirby J).

[14] Ibid 257[81].

[15] The prosecutor had submitted that the Delegate erred in only addressing the question of whether, in theory, the government could offer the applicant effective protection.

[16] (1989) 169 CLR 379.

[17] Ibid 415.

[18] [1999] HCA 21; (1999) 197 CLR 611, 658[150].

[19] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 254[69].

[20] Ibid 256-257[80]-[86]. As Gaudron J points out at 254[70], this may also involve a consideration of whether, if effective protection is available, the visa applicant would be unwilling to avail himself or herself of that protection due to well-founded fear.

[21] Ibid [84].

[22] Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Guo [1997] HCA 22; (1997) 191 CLR 559, 572 (Brennan CJ, Dawson, Toohey, Gaudron, McHugh and Gummow JJ).

[23] [2000] HCA 57; (2000) 176 ALR 219 221[5] (Gleeson CJ), 223[17] and 231[41] (Gaudron and Gummow JJ) 258[142] (Kirby J) 265[170]-[171] (Hayne J).

[24] Mandamus and certiorari are also available; ibid 244[84] (Gaudron and Gummow JJ) 258[142] (Kirby J).

[25] [1985] HCA 81; (1985) 159 CLR 550.

[26] For an interesting discussion of some broader issues arising out of this debate, see S Gageler, 'The Underpinnings of Judicial Review of Administrative Action: Common Law or Constitution?' (2000) 28 Federal Law Review 303.

[27] Ibid 584.

[28] Ibid 609.

[29] [1990] HCA 57; (1990) 170 CLR 596.

[30] [1985] HCA 81; (1985) 159 CLR 550, 584.

[31] Commissioner of Police v Tanos [1958] HCA 6; (1958) 98 CLR 383, 396.

[32] [1985] HCA 81; (1985) 159 CLR 550, 584.

[33] [1990] HCA 57; (1990) 170 CLR 596, 598.

[34] Ibid 604.

[35] Ibid.

[36] [2000] HCA 57; (2000) 176 ALR 219.

[37] Ibid 231[41] (Gaudron and Gummow JJ).

[38] Ibid 264-265[168] (Hayne J).

[39] [1990] HCA 57; (1990) 170 CLR 596.

[40] May v Commissioner of Taxation [1999] FCA 287; (1999) 92 FCR 152, 160[22].

[41] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 266[126], Annetts v McCann [1990] HCA 57; (1990) 170 CLR 596, 598.

[42] [2000] HCA 57; (2000) 176 ALR 219, 231[41].

[43] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 258[90].

[44] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 251[52]-[53].

[45] [1985] HCA 81; (1985) 159 CLR 550, 609.

[46] [1990] HCA 57; (1990) 170 CLR 596, 605.

[47] Ibid 278[170].

[48] Ibid 282[179] and 283[182]

[49] Ibid 282-283[181]

[50] For example, where the duty to accord procedural fairness is implied by common law, there might be a basis for concluding that the duty applies to the exercise of non-statutory powers by public bodies; see P Bayne, 'The common law basis of judicial review' (1993) 67 ALJ 781.

[51] Explanatory memorandum to the Migration Reform Bill 1992 (Cth) par 51.

[52] Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 13(1), 15AA, 15AB(2)(e).

[53] Ibid, s 55 permits an applicant to provide additional relevant information to the Minister at any time before the Minister makes the decision.

[54] Kioa v West [1985] HCA 81; (1985) 159 CLR 550, 582 (Mason J) and 628-629 (Brennan J), FAI Insurances Ltd v Winneke (1982) 151 CLR 342, 350 (Gibbs CJ).

[55] This derives from Brennan J's colourful description of the principles of natural justice as 'chameleon-like'; Kioa v West [1985] HCA 81; (1985) 159 CLR 550, 612.

[56] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 246[29] (Gleeson CJ and Hayne J), 266-267[127]-[129] (McHugh J), 278[170].

[57] Ibid 249-250[43] (Gleeson CJ and Hayne J), 268[131] (McHugh J) and 282[180] (Kirby J).

[58] Ibid 247[34]

[59] Ibid 250[46], [49], s 54(3) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).

[60] Ibid 250[44]-[49].

[61] Citing Twist v Randwick Municipal Council [1976] HCA 58; (1976) 136 CLR 106.

[62] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 247[35].

[63] Ibid [49].

[64] Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 69(1); (2001) 179 ALR 238, 250[47]

[65] Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 69(2); (2001) 179 ALR 238, 250[48]

[66] Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 13(1).

[67] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 260[96].

[68] Citing Annetts v McCann [1990] HCA 57; (1990) 170 CLR 596, 598.

[69] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 266[126], 267-268[131], 269[139]; to conclude that the presence of some obligations indicated that Parliament did not intend to impose other obligations is to rely on the doubtful maxim expressio unius personae vel rei, est exclusio alterious.

[70] Explanatory memorandum to the Migration Reform Bill 1992 (Cth) par 51.

[71] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 268[132] relying on Re Bolton; Ex parte Beane [1987] HCA 12; (1987) 162 CLR 514, 520 (Mason CJ, Wilson and Dawson JJ), 532 (Deane J).

[72] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 267[128].

[73] Ibid 271[146] citing Twist v Randwick Municipal Council [1976] HCA 58; (1976) 136 CLR 106 (see [1976] HCA 58; (1976) 136 CLR 106 , 111 (Barwick CJ), 116 (Mason J), 118 (Jacobs J).

[74] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 271-274[146]. Many of these factors are derived from Twist v Randwick Municipal Council [1976] HCA 58; (1976) 136 CLR 106 and Calvin v Carr [1979] UKPC 1; [1980] AC 574.

[75] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 283[183].

[76] Ibid 282-283[181].

[77] Ibid 283[182].

[78] Ibid 283[183].

[79] Ibid 282[179].

[80] Ibid 282-283[180],[183].

[81] Ibid 282[179], Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 501(5) provides that 'The rules of natural justice, and the code of procedure set out in Subdivision AB of Division 3 of Part 2, do not apply to a decision...'.

[82] Ibid 284[186].

[83] Ibid.

[84] Ibid 283-284[184]-[185]. In particular, his Honour pointed out that the RRT rarely overturns decisions of the Minister and his or her delegates.

[85] Ibid 260[99].

[86] Ibid 269-270[141]-[143]

[87] Ibid 269-270[141].

[88] Ibid 284[187].

[89] Ibid 285-286[190],[193].

[90] Ibid 270[144].

[91] Ibid 261-262[102]-[103].

[92] Ibid 289[204].

[93] Ibid.

[94] Ibid 260[95] (Gaudron J) and 270[143] (McHugh J).

[95] Ibid 270[144].

[96] Ibid 261[101].

[97] Ibid 289-290[205]-[209].

[98] (1923) 32 CLR 200 216.

[99] This principle has been confirmed in numerous cases, including R v Hickman; ex parte Fox and Clinton [1945] HCA 53; (1945) 70 CLR 598, 606 (Latham CJ), 614 (Dixon J) and 620 (McTiernan J), R v Coldham; ex parte Australian Workers' Union [1983] HCA 35; (1983) 153 CLR 415, 418 (Mason ACJ and Brennan J) and 421 (Murphy J), DCT v Richard Walter Pty Ltd [1995] HCA 23; (1995) 183 CLR 168, 179 (Mason CJ), 192 (Brennan J) and 205-207 (Deane and Gaudron JJ) and Darling Casino Ltd v NSW Casino Control Authority [1997] HCA 11; (1997) 191 CLR 602, 631-632 (Gaudron and Gummow JJ).

[100] Darling Casino Ltd v NSW Casino Control Authority [1997] HCA 11; (1997) 191 CLR 602, 633 (Gaudron and Gummow JJ).

[101] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 251[53]-[54] (Gleeson CJ and Hayne J), 258[90] (Gaudron J), 266[126]-[127] (McHugh J) and 283[183] (Kirby J).

[102] [2000] HCA 57; (2000) 176 ALR 219, 264 [166].

[103] Darling Casino Ltd v NSW Casino Control Authority [1997] HCA 11; (1997) 191 CLR 602, 632 (Gaudron and Gummow JJ), Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Richard Walter Pty Ltd [1995] HCA 23; (1995) 183 CLR 168, 180 (Mason CJ), 206-207 (Deane and Gaudron JJ).

[104] R v Hickman; ex parte Fox and Clinton [1945] HCA 53; (1945) 70 CLR 598.

[105] Ibid 615.

[106] [1983] HCA 35; (1983) 153 CLR 415, 418 (Mason ACJ and Brennan J), 422 (Murphy J).

[107] (1990) 171 CLR 232, 248-250 (Mason CJ), 274-275 (Brennan J), 286 (Deane, Gaudron and McHugh JJ), 304-305 (Dawson J with whom Toohey J agreed).

[108] [1995] HCA 23; (1995) 183 CLR 168, 179-180 (Mason CJ), 194-195 (Brennan J), 240 (McHugh J).

[109] Cooper-Brookes (Wollongong) Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1981] HCA 26; (1981) 147 CLR 297, 320.

[110] Transcript, Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Miah, 6 September 2000, 25.

[111] Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala [2000] HCA 57; (2000) 176 ALR 219, 221[5] (Gleeson CJ), 235-236[54]-[55] (Gaudron and Gummow JJ), 259[148] (Kirby J), 265[172] (Hayne J), 275[217] (Callinan J).

[112] (1984) 156 CLR 185, 194 (Gibbs CJ).

[113] [2000] HCA 57; (2000) 176 ALR 219, 221[5] (Gleeson CJ), 235[51]-[52] (Gaudron and Gummow JJ), 259-260[149] (Kirby J).

[114] (2001) 179 ALR 238, 273[146] (McHugh J), 284[185]-[186] (Kirby J).

[115] Migration Act 1958 (Cth), s 476(1)

[116] Ibid, s 474(2)

[117] Migration Legislation Amendment (Judicial Review) Act 2001 (Cth).

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