Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZQHH [2012] FCAFC 45

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZQHH [2012] FCAFC 45 Citation: Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZQHH [2012] FCAFC 45

Appeal from: SZQHH v Minister for Immigration & Anor [2011] FMCA 740

Parties: MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP v SZQHH and STEVE KARAS IN HIS CAPACITY AS INDEPENDENT MERITS REVIEWER

File number: NSD 2325 of 2011

Judges: RARES, FLICK AND JAGOT JJ

Date of judgment: 27 March 2012

Corrigendum 2 April 2012

Catchwords: MIGRATION – appeal from decision of Federal Magistrates Court by the Minister – whether independent merits reviewer failed to disclose material relevant to the respondent's claim such that it constituted a breach of procedural fairness – whether apprehension of bias on part of reviewer – where reasons for decision followed a template used for several generic claims – appeal allowed

Legislation: Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 46A Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, opened for signature 28 July 1951, 189 UNTS 150 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, entered into force 4 October 1967, 606 UNTS 267

Cases cited: Applicant VEAL of 2002 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2005) 225 CLR 88; [2005] HCA 72 affirmed British American Tobacco Australia Services Limited v Laurie [2011] HCA 2, 242 CLR 283 cited Drake and Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (No 2), Re (1979) 2 ALD 634 cited Dunghutti Elders Council (Aboriginal Corporation) RNTBC v Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations [2011] FCA 370, 279 ALR 138 cited Dunghutti Elders Council (Aboriginal Corporation) RNTBC v Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations [2011] FCAFC 88, 195 FCR 318 cited Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy [2000] HCA 63, 205 CLR 337 cited Huluba v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1995) 59 FCR 518 considered J.R.L., Re, Ex parte C.J.L. (1986) 161 CLR 342 Johnson v Johnson [2000] HCA 48, 201 CLR 488 cited Jones v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2002] FCA 1054, 76 ALD 424 cited Karina Fisheries Pty Ltd v Evans (unreported, FCA, Forster J, 1 July 1988) cited Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550 considered Lek v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1993) 43 FCR 100 considered McVeigh v Willarra Pty Ltd (1984) 6 FCR 587 cited Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 referred to Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Kumar (2009) 238 CLR 448; [2009] HCA 10 referred to Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Maman [2012] FCAFC 13 cited Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia Legeng (2001) 205 CLR 507; [2001] HCA 17 affirmed NADH of 2001 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2004) 214 ALR 264; [2004] FCAFC 328 affirmed Nevistic v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1981) 51 FLR 325 considered Plaintiff M61/2010E v Commonwealth (2010) 243 CLR 319; [2010] HCA 41 affirmed R v The Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission; Ex parte The Angliss Group (1969) 122 CLR 546 cited Re JRL; Ex parte CJL (1986) 161 CLR 342 referred to Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte H (2001) 179 ALR 425; [2001] HCA 28 affirmed Reece v Webber [2011] FCAFC 33, 192 FCR 254 cited Saeed v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2010) 241 CLR 252; [2010] HCA 23 referred to Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs v Studdert [2001] FCA 1642 cited Stollery v Greyhound Racing Control Board (1972) 128 CLR 509 cited SZBEL v Minister for Immigration (2006) 228 CLR 152; [2006] HCA 63 affirmed SZJTQ v Minsiter for Immigration and Citizenship (2008) 172 FCR 563; [2008] FCA 1938 referred to SZNRZ v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2010] FCA 107 cited SZQHH v Minister for Immigration [2011] FMCA 740 affirmed The Queen v Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission; Ex parte Angliss Group (1969) 122 CLR 546 affirmed