SZHWY v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2007] FCAFC 64

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

SZHWY v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2007] FCAFC 64

MIGRATION – procedural fairness – legal professional privilege – hearing before Refugee Review Tribunal – whether a question asking an applicant for review to divulge the content of conversation with his legal representative without informing him of his right to claim legal professional privilege was asked in excess of the tribunal's jurisdiction – whether the natural justice hearing rule in s 422B(1) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) affects legal professional privilege – whether the tribunal was under a duty to warn or inform the applicant of his right to legal professional privilege – whether the applicant had waived privilege by answering questions that revealed the substance of privileged communications – legal professional privilege as a common law immunity – no basis to suggest to tribunal any misuse of communication with legal representative or other abuse of legal professional privilege by applicant – legal professional privilege as an inviolable limitation on the tribunal's inquisitorial powers

HELD – appeal allowed – original decision of tribunal quashed because (per Lander J) tribunal failed to inform applicant of right to claim legal professional privilege and (per Rares J) tribunal asked question beyond power in circumstances – matter remitted to tribunal to be decided in accordance with law

Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 118 and 132 Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 422B(1), 433(1) and 433(1A)

Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596 Arno v Forsyth (1986) 9 FCR 576 Attorney-General for the Northern Territory v Maurice (1986) 161 CLR 475 Attorney-General v Radloff (1854) 156 ER 366 Baker v Campbell (1983) 153 CLR 52 Benecke v National Australia Bank (1993) 35 NSWLR 110 Boyse v Wiseman (1855) 156 ER 598 Carter v Northmore Hale Davy & Leake (1995) 183 CLR 121 Clough v Leahy (1904) 2 CLR 139 Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427 Commissioner of Australian Federal Police v Propend Finance Pty Ltd (1997) 188 CLR 501 Commissioner of Taxation v Citibank Limited (1989) 20 FCR 403 Controlled Consultants Proprietary Limited v Commissioner for Corporate Affairs (1985) 156 CLR 385 Corporate Affairs Commission (NSW) v Yuill (1991) 172 CLR 319 Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 213 CLR 543 Descôteaux v Mierzwinski [1982] 1 SCR 860 Dunne v J Connolly Ltd (1963) AR(NSW) 873 Edmunds v Greenwood (1868) LR 4 CP 70 Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1999) 201 CLR 49 Goldberg v Ng (1995) 185 CLR 83 Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674 Jacobsen v Rogers (1995) 182 CLR 572 JMA Accounting Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (2004) 139 FCR 537 Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550 Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu (1999) 197 CLR 611 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v Lat (2006) 151 FCR 214 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf (2001) 206 CLR 323 Ministry of Correctional Services v Goodis [2006] 2 SCR 32 National Crime Authority v S (1991) 100 ALR 151 O'Reilly v State Bank of Victoria Commissioners (1983) 153 CLR 1 Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth of Australia (2003) 211 CLR 476 Pyneboard Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1983) 152 CLR 328 R v Bell; ex parte Lees (1980) 146 CLR 141 R v Clyne (1985) 2 NSWLR 740 R v Coote (1873) LR 4 PC 599; 17 ER 587 R v Sloggett (1856) 169 ER 885 Rank Film Distributors Ltd v Video Information Centre [1982] AC 380 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and Anor; ex parte Miah (2001) 206 CLR 57 Re Minister for Immigration and Mr A and Another; Ex parte Epeabaka (2001) 206 CLR 128 Re Refugee Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82 Re Ruddock; Ex parte S154/2002 (2003) 201 ALR 437 SAAP v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2005) 215 ALR 162 Shackell v Macaulay (1825) LJ Ch (OS) 27 Sorby v The Commonwealth (1983) 152 CLR 281 Standard Chartered Bank of Australia Ltd v Antico (1993) 36 NSWLR 87 Stead v State Government Insurance Commission (1986) 161 CLR 141 SZBEL v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2006] HCA 63 SZCIJ v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2006] FCAFC 62 Three Rivers District Council and others v Governor and Company of the Bank of England (No 6) [2005] 1 AC 610 Tupling v Ward (1861) 6 H&N 749 Veal of 2002 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2005) 225 CLR 88