Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services v Geeves [2004] FCAFC 166

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services v Geeves [2004] FCAFC 166 SOCIAL WELFARE – appeal – assets test – carer payment entitlement – assets in Court-ordered trust funds – whether the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) requires that assets in a trust fund created by order of the Court are to be taken into account in valuing the assets of the beneficiary of that fund – entitlement of beneficiary's carer to a carer payment under Part 2.5 of the Act – whether beneficiary's interest in a private trust is property that is an 'asset' within the meaning of s11 the Act – nature of beneficiary's interest in the trust – meaning of 'property' in s11 of the Act – operation of s198E of the Act in determining qualification for a carer payment – whether the trust is a designated private trust for the purposes of Part 3.18 of the Act

Statutes Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 46A Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) Part 2.5; s 198D(1); Part 2.5, Div 1; ss 198(1); 198(1B); 198D; 198E; Part 3.12; ss 1188(1)(a); 1118(1)(h); 1118(1)(j); 198F; 198MA; 11(1); Part 3.18; ss 198E(c); 1207; 1207P(1); 1207P(4); 1207P(5); 1207P(6); 1207V(1); 1207V(3); 1207V(2); 1207X(1); 1207X(2); 1207X(2)(d); 11; 1207V; 1207P, 1207P(1)(c) Social Security and Veterans' Entitlements Legislation Amendment (Private Trusts and Private Companies - Integrity of Means Testing) Act 2000

Cases Anstis v Secretary, Department of Social Security (1999) 94 FCR 421 Cons Baker v Archer-Shee (1927) AC 844 Foll Blunn v Cleaver (1993) 47 FCR 111 Cons Charles v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1954) 90 CLR 598 Foll Commissioner of Stamp Duties (Queensland) v Livingston [1965] AC 694 Cons Gisborne v Gisborne (1877) 2 App. Cas. 300 Cons Livingston v Commissioner of Stamp Duties (Q) (1960) 107 CLR 411 Refd Official Receiver in Bankruptcy v Schultz (1990) 170 CLR 306 Cons Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 Foll Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services v Geeves [2003] FCA 1486 Cited Authorities RP Meagher & WMC Gummow, Jacobs' Law of Trusts in Australia, 6th edn, Butterworths, Sydney, 1997, par 109 AW Scott & WF Fratcher, The Law of Trusts 4th end, Vol II, Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1987, par 130 pp 406-415 Scott on Trusts, Vol IIA, par 130, pp 406-415; par 154, pp 146-148; par 155, p 155 Principles of Property Law, Sydney, The Law Book Company Limited, 1967, pp 40-41 D Browne, Ashburner's Principles of Equity, 2nd ed., London, Butterworth & Co (Publishers) Ltd, 1933, p 132 SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES V ROSLYN GEEVES TAD 2 of 2004 KIEFEL, WEINBERG AND STONE JJ 25 JUNE 2004 BRISBANE (HEARD IN HOBART)