Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Stretton [2016] FCAFC 11

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Stretton [2016] FCAFC 11 Appeal from: Stretton v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (No 2) [2015] FCA 559

File number: QUD 508 of 2015

Judges: ALLSOP CJ, GRIFFITHS AND WIGNEY JJ

Date of judgment: 15 February 2016

Catchwords: MIGRATION – judicial review of Minister's decision to cancel respondent's visa on character grounds pursuant to s 501(2) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) – where respondent convicted of child sex offences – where respondent had been an Australian resident for vast majority of his life with deep family connections – whether exercise of discretion legally unreasonable – whether primary judge's decision correctly characterised Minister's decision as legally unreasonable – whether decision of Minister a lawful exercise of power that was not arbitrary, capricious or irrational – Appeal allowed

Legislation: Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 4, 496, 499, 500(1)(b), 501, 501(1), 501(2), 501(3), 501(6), 501G(1)(e) Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 25D

Cases cited: Abebe v The Commonwealth [1999] HCA 14; 197 CLR 510 Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond [1990] HCA 33; 170 CLR 321 Avon Downs Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1949] HCA 26; 78 CLR 353 Ayoub v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] FCAFC 83; 231 FCR 513 Boucaut Bay Company Limited (in liq) v The Commonwealth [1927] HCA 59; 40 CLR 98 Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1833; 117 FCR 424 Buck v Bavone [1976] HCA 24; 135 CLR 110 Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia v Brian Hatch Timber Co (Sales) Pty Ltd [1972] HCA 73; 128 CLR 28 Council of the Municipality of Bankstown v Fripp [1919] HCA 41; 26 CLR 385 House v The King [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 Kruger v The Commonwealth [1997] HCA 27; 190 CLR 1 Kruse v Johnson [1898] 2 QB 91 McCloy v New South Wales [2015] HCA 34; 325 ALR 15 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Limited [1986] HCA 40; 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Singh [2014] FCAFC 1; 231 FCR 437 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li [2013] HCA 18; 249 CLR 332 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZJSS [2010] HCA 48; 243 CLR 164 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZRKT [2013] FCA 317; 212 FCR 99 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang [1996] HCA 6; 185 CLR 259 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu [1999] HCA 21; 197 CLR 611 NBMZ v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2014] FCAFC 38; 220 FCR 1 Plaintiff M64/2015 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] HCA 50 R v Anderson; Ex parte Ipec-Air Pty Ltd [1965] HCA 27; 113 CLR 177 R v Connell; Ex parte Hetton Bellbird Collieries Ltd [1944] HCA 42; 69 CLR 407 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex Parte Applicant S20/2002 [2003] HCA 30; 198 ALR 59; 77 ALJR 1165 Re Patterson; ex parte Taylor [2001] HCA 51; 207 CLR 391 Secretary of State for Education and Science v Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council [1977] AC 1014 Sharp v Wakefield [1891] AC 173 Shrimpton v The Commonwealth [1945] HCA 4; 69 CLR 613 South Australian Commissioner for Prices and Consumer Affairs v Charles Moore (Aust) Limited [1977] HCA 38; 139 CLR 449 Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission (NSW) v Browning [1947] HCA 21; 74 CLR 492