Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs v Al Masri [2003] FCAFC 70

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs v Al Masri [2003] FCAFC 70

MIGRATION – mandatory detention of an unlawful non-citizen pending removal from Australia – whether continued detention authorised where no real likelihood or prospect of removal in the reasonably foreseeable future INTERPRETATION OF STATUTES – presumption against curtailment of fundamental rights or freedoms – common law right to personal liberty – implied limitation on statutory power of detention CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – power of the Commonwealth Parliament to legislate with respect to aliens – power of Executive to detain alien in custody – judicial power of Commonwealth – principle of statutory interpretation that Parliament does not intend to exceed limits of Constitution INTERNATIONAL TREATIES – International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – interpretation of statute consistently with established rules of international law and in accordance with Australia's treaty obligations PRACTICE & PROCEDURE – competency of appeal – where applicant removed from Australia prior to determination of appeal – where outstanding controversy as to costs

Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 189, 196, 198, 200, 206, 253, 486C Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 15A Constitution s 51(xix), s 51(xxxix), Ch III Al Masri v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs (2002) 192 ALR 609 considered Chu Kheng Lim v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1992) 176 CLR 1 applied NAMU of 2002 v Secretary, Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2002] FCA 907 referred to Vo v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs (2000) 98 FCR 371 distinguished R v Governor of Durham Prison; Ex parte Hardial Singh [1984] 1 WLR 704 considered Tan Te Lam v Superintendent of Tai A Chau Detention Centre [1997] AC 97 considered Zadvydas v Davis 533 US 678 (2001) considered Al Masri v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2002] FCA 1037 referred to Al Masri v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2002] FCA 1099 referred to NAMU of 2002 v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2002] FCAFC 401 followed Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs v VFAD of 2002 (2003) 196 ALR 111followed Koon Wing Lau v Calwell (1949) 80 CLR 533 applied Kruger v The Commonwealth (1997) 190 CLR 1 considered Cunliffe v The Commonwealth (1994) 182 CLR 272 considered Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth of Australia (2003) 195 ALR 24 applied Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427 applied Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 192 ALR 561 applied Williams v The Queen (1986) 161 CLR 278 considered Leachinsky v Christie [1946] 1 KB 124 referred to Murray v Minister of Defence [1988]1 WLR 692 referred to Re Bolton; Ex parte Beane (1987) 162 CLR 514 referred to Watson v Marshall and Cade (1971) 124 CLR 621 referred to Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550 followed R v Home Secretary; Ex parte Khawaja [1984] AC 74 considered Coalition of Clergy, Lawyers & Law Professors v Bush 310 F.3d 1153 (2002) referred to R v Secretary of State for the Home Department; ex parte Saadi [2002] 4 All ER 785 considered Thang Thieu Quyen v Director of Immigration (1997-98) 1 HKCFAR 167 considered Park Oh Ho v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1989) 167 CLR 637 applied van Alphen v The Netherlands (UNHRC Communication No. 305/88) considered A v Australia (UNHRC Communication No. 560/93) considered Johnson v Johnson (2000) 201 CLR at 501 considered Commonwealth v Hamilton (2000) 108 FCR 378 considered Chahal v The United Kingdom (1996) 23 EHRR 413 considered Perez v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs (2002) 191 ALR 619 considered Luu v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs [2002] FCAFC 369 distinguished WAIS v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2002] FCA 1625 considered NAKG of 2002 v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2002] FCA 1600 considered Daniel v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs (2003) 196 ALR 52 considered NAGA v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2003] FCA 224 considered Al Khafaji v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2002] FCA 1369 considered Applicant WAIW of 2002 v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2002] FCA 1621 considered NAES v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2003] FCA 2 considered SHFB v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2003] FCA 29 considered SHFB v Goodwin [2003] FCA 294 considered SHDB v Goodwin [2003] FCA 300 considered F.R Bennion, Statutory Interpretation (4th ed 2002) Lord Steyn "The Intractable Problem of The Interpretation of Legal Texts" (2003) 25 Syd Law Review 4 Professor M. Nowak, The UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: CCPR Commentary (N.P. Engel, 1993) MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION & MULTICULTURAL & INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS v AKRAM OUDA MOHAMMAD AL MASRI S202 of 2002 BLACK CJ, SUNDBERG AND WEINBERG JJ 15 APRIL 2003 MELBOURNE (HEARD IN SYDNEY)