AB v Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages [2007] FCAFC 140

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

AB v Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages [2007] FCAFC 140

SEX DISCRIMINATION – Registrar's refusal to alter birth certificate of transsexual person – claim of unlawful discrimination on the ground of marital status – whether inconsistency between State and Commonwealth legislation

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – whether inconsistency between s 22 Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) and the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996 (Vic)

WORDS AND PHRASES – "service"

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – whether appeal moot Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996 (Victoria), Pt 4A Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), ss 22, 9(4) and (10) Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) Commonwealth Constitution, s 109 Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration (Amendment) Act 2004 (Vic) Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (New York, 18 December 1979) Secretary, Department of Social Security v "SRA" (1993) 43 FCR 299 applied R v Harris and McGuiness (1988) 17 NSWLR 158 cited Kevin v Attorney-General (Cth) (2001) 165 FLR 404 cited South Pacific Resort Hotels Pty Ltd v Trainor (2005) 144 FCR 402 cited Attorney-General (Commonwealth) v Kevin (2003) 172 FLR 300 cited IW v City of Perth (1997) 191 CLR 1 discussed Commonwealth v Tasmania (1983) 158 CLR 1 cited Clarke v Colls [1861] 9 HL Cas 601 referred to Telstra Corporation Ltd v Worthing (1999) 197 CLR 61 cited University of Wollongong v Metwally (1984) 158 CLR 447 cited Victoria v The Commonwealth (1937) 58 CLR 618 cited Stock Motor Ploughs Ltd v Forsyth (1932) 48 CLR 128 cited Christine Goodwin v The United Kingdom [2002] ECHR 588 discussed I v The United Kingdom [2002] ECHR 592 cited McBain v State of Victoria (2000) 99 FCR 116 referred to Pearce v South Australian Health Commission (1996) 66 SASR 486 cited Re McBain; ex parte Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (2002) 209 CLR 372 cited Povey v Qantas Airways Ltd (2005) 216 ALR 427 cited Applicant A v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1997) 190 CLR 225 cited Purvis v State of New South Wales (2003) 217 CLR 92 cited Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen (1982) 153 CLR 168 cited Queensland v Commonwealth (1989) 167 CLR 232 cited R v Burgess; ex parte Henry (1936) 55 CLR 608 cited Richardson v Forestry Commission (1988) 164 CLR 261 cited Victoria v Commonwealth (1996) 187 CLR 416 cited Toben v Jones (2003) 129 FCR 515 cited Aldridge v Booth (1988) 80 ALR 1 referred to O'Grady v Northern Queensland Co Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 356 cited Technical Products Pty Ltd v State Government Insurance Office (1989) 167 CLR 45 cited Workers' Compensation Board of Queensland v Technical Products Pty Ltd (1988) 165 CLR 642 cited Hatfield v Health Insurance Commission (1987) 15 FCR 487 referred to Vanstone v Clarke (2005) 147 FCR 299 cited Re Judiciary and Navigation Acts (1921) 29 CLR 257 cited