Fisse v Secretary, Department of the Treasury [2008] FCAFC 188

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Fisse v Secretary, Department of the Treasury [2008] FCAFC 188

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Cabinet documents – document prepared for purpose of submission to Cabinet – internal working documents – public interest – onus of proof – findings of fact made by Tribunal – no question of law Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) s 44 Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) ss 34, 36 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321 considered Australian Gas Light Co v Valuer-General (1940) 40 SR(NSW) 126 cited Australian National Railways Commission v Collector of Customs (SA) (1985) 8 FCR 264 considered Bell IXL Investments Ltd v Life Therapeutics Ltd [2008] FCA 1457 applied Birdseye v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2003] FCAFC 232, 76 ALD 321 applied Bradshaw v McEwans Pty Ltd (HCA (1951) unreported) cited Brown v Repatriation Commission (1985) 7 FCR 302 applied Brown v Repatriation Commission [2006] FCA 914 cited Casey v Repatriation Commission (1995) 60 FCR 510 cited Colby Corporation Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (2008) 165 FCR 133 followed Collector of Customs (NSW) v Brian Lawlor Automotive Pty Ltd (1979) 41 FLR 338 applied Collector of Customs v Pozzolanic Enterprises Pty Ltd (1993) 43 FCR 280 cited Collector of Customs, Tasmania v Flinders Island Community Association (1985) 7 FCR 205 cited Comcare v Etheridge [2006] FCAFC 27, 149 FCR 522 applied Commonwealth v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2000] FCA 453, 98 FCR 31 cited Drake v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1979) 46 FLR 409 applied Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Cainero (1988) 88 ATC 4427 cited Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Dalco (1990) 168 CLR 614 cited Harris v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1983) 78 FLR 236 applied Hope v Bathurst City Council (1980) 144 CLR 1 cited Hussain v Minister for Foreign Affairs [2008] FCAFC 128, 169 FCR 241 cited Jorgensen v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2004] FCA 143, 208 ALR 73 applied Luxton v Vines (1952) 85 CLR 352 cited McKinnon v Secretary, Department of Treasury [2006] HCA 45, 228 CLR 423 applied McPhee v S. Bennett Ltd (1934) 52 WN(NSW) 8 cited Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259 applied Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia [2001] HCA 17, 205 CLR 507 applied Pochi v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1979) 36 FLR 482 cited Purvis v Dairy Adjustment Authority (No 2) (2006) 150 FCR 48 cited R v Australian Stevedoring Industry Board; Ex Parte Melbourne Stevedoring Company Pty Limited (1953) 88 CLR 100 applied Rana v Military Rehabilitation & Compensation Commission [2005] FCA 6 cited Re Aldred and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (1990) 20 ALD 264 applied Re Anderson and Department of Special Minister of State (1986) 4 AAR 436 applied Re Bartlett and Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (1987) 12 ALD 659 doubted Re Fisse and Department of Treasury [2008] AATA 288, 101 ALD 424 cited Re Haneef and Department of Immigration [2008] AATA 587 cited Re Howard and Treasurer of the Commonwealth (1985) 3 AAR 169, 7 ALD 626 applied Re Hudson and Department of the Premier, Economic and Trade Development (1993) 1 QAR 123 cited Re Porter and Department of Community Services and Health (1988) 8 AAR 335 cited Re Reith and Attorney-General's Department (1986) 11 ALD 345 cited Re Saverio Barbaro and Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1980) 3 ALD 1 cited Re Toomer and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry [2003] AATA 1301, 78 ALD 645 applied Secretary to the Department of Infrastructure v Asher [2007] VSCA 272 cited Secretary to the Department of Treasury and Finance v Dalla-Riva [2007] VSCA 11 distinguished Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services v Verney [2000] FCA 570, 60 ALD 737 cited Secretary, Department of Social Security v Jordan (1998) 83 FCR 34 cited The Victorian Public Service Board v Wright (1986) 160 CLR 145 cited TNT Skypack International (Aus) Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1988) 82 ALR 175 applied Vetter v Lake Macquarie City Council (2001) 202 CLR 439 cited Waterford v Commonwealth of Australia (1987) 163 CLR 54 cited Whitlam v Australian Consolidated Press Ltd (1985) 73 FLR 414 cited Workcover Authority (NSW) v Law Society of New South Wales [2006] NSWCA 84, 65 NSWLR 502 cited Aronson, Dyer and Groves, Judicial Review of Administrative Action (3rd ed, 2004) Bagehot W, The English Constitution (2nd ed, 1909) Cossins A, Revisiting Open Government: Recent Developments in Shifting the Boundaries of Government Secrecy under Public Interest Immunity and Freedom of Information Law (1995) 23 FL Rev 226 Hodgson D, Recent Developments in the Law of Public Interest Immunity: Cabinet Papers (1987) 17 Victoria U Wellington L Rev 153 BRENT FISSE v SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY and ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL