Commonwealth of Australia v Fernando [2012] FCAFC 18

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Commonwealth of Australia v Fernando [2012] FCAFC 18 Citation: Commonwealth of Australia v Fernando [2012] FCAFC 18

Appeal from: Fernando v Commonwealth of Australia [2010] FCA 753 Fernando v Commonwealth of Australia (No 3) [2010] FCA 1473

Parties: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA and THE HONOURABLE GARY HARDGRAVE, FORMERLY ACTING MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AND INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS v WANNAKUWATTEMITIWADUGE LLOYD NORMALEEN FERNANDO

File number: WAD 37 of 2011

Judges: GRAY, RARES AND TRACEY JJ

Date of judgment: 8 March 2012

Catchwords: MIGRATION – detention under Migration Act – initial finding that appellant falsely imprisoned for one day of 1203 day period – tortious conduct on part of officials – whether damages incorrectly assessed – whether appellant entitled to damages for entire period of detention - whether misfeasance in public office occurred – whether appellant entitled to general and exemplary damages for misfeasance in public office - competing inferences open as to conduct in public office – appeal allowed in part - proceeding to be remitted to trial judge for assessment of damages for false imprisonment – finding of misfeasance in public office overturned on appeal

Legislation: Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 140 Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 5, 13, 14, 189, 193, 194, 195, 196, 501

Cases cited: Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2010) 187 FCR 293 cited Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 cited Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427 cited Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2007) 162 FCR 466; [2007] FCAFC 132 considered Fernando v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2003] FCA 975 referred to George v Rockett (1990) 170 CLR 104 cited Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 applied Lek v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1993) 43 FCR 100; [1993] FCA 297 cited Liversidge v Anderson [1942] AC 206 cited Northern Territory v Mengel (1995) 185 CLR 307 considered Plenty v Dillon (1991) 171 CLR 635 cited Qantas Airways Limited v Transport Workers' Union of Australia (2011) 280 ALR 503 cited Ruddock v Taylor (2005) 222 CLR 612; [2005] HCA 48 cited, compared Sales v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2006] FCA 1807 considered Sanders v Snell (2003) 130 FCR 149; [2003] FCAFC 150 cited Sanders v Snell (1998) 196 CLR 329 compared Smith v New South Wales Bar Association (1992) 176 CLR 256 cited Three Rivers District Council v Governor and Company of the Bank of England (No 3) [2003] 2 AC 1; [2001] UKHL 16 cited