Commonwealth of Australia v Lyon [2003] FCAFC 284

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Commonwealth of Australia v Lyon [2003] FCAFC 284 JURISDICTION – proceeding in Federal Court of Australia - whether jurisdiction under par 39B(1A)(a) of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) invoked - application by Commonwealth for a declaration – whether an application made in respect of a 'matter' – whether claim gives rise to a justiciable controversy in the Federal Court – whether claim is a criminal matter within the meaning of par 39B(1A)(c).

Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 21, 50 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 39B Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1999 (Cth) Sch 10 Constitution ss 71, 75, 76, 77 Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 referred to Amand v Home Secretary [1943] AC 147 referred to Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Edensor Nominees Pty Limited (2001) 204 CLR 559 referred to Baxter v Commissioner of Taxation (1907) 4 CLR 1087 cited Chief Executive Officer of Customs v Jiang (2001)111 FCR 395 referred to Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police v Poompiriyapinte (unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Badgery‑Parker J, 28 August 1990) discussed Crouch v Commissioner for Railways (Qld) (1985) 159 CLR 22 referred to Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v State Bank of New South Wales (1992) 174 CLR 219 referred to DPP v Smith (1996) 86 A Crim R 308 discussed Felton v Mulligan (1971) 124 CLR 367 referred to Harris v Caladine (1991) 172 CLR 84 referred to Jacobsen v Rogers (1995) 182 CLR 672 cited Khatri v Price (1999) 95 FCR 287 referred to Phong v Attorney‑General of the Commonwealth (2001) 114 FCR 75 referred to R v Southampton Justices, ex part Green [1975] 2 ALL ER 1073 referred to Re Macks; Ex parte Saint (2000) 204 CLR 158 cited R v Stipendiary Magistrate at Lambeth [1983] 1 All ER 321 referred to Sankey v Whitlam (1978) 142 CLR 1 considered COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA & COMMISSIONER OF THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE v PAUL LYON & FRANK PATRICK BARBARO & ARTHUR JOSEPH LOVEDAY & JOSEPH ALEXANDER CASSAR & FRANK VELARDI & PETER PANGALLO & ROBERT IBRAHIM & AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION & SEVEN NETWORK PTY LTD & NINE NETWORK PTY LTD & JOHN FAIRFAX PUBLICATIONS PTY LTD & NEWS LIMITED N 1706 of 2003 BRANSON, MADGWICK and HELY JJ SYDNEY 12 DECEMBER 2003