Rana v Google Inc [2017] FCAFC 156

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Rana v Google Inc [2017] FCAFC 156 Appeal from: Rana v Google Inc (No 2) [2017] FCA 17

File number: SAD 25 of 2017

Judges: ALLSOP CJ, BESANKO AND WHITE JJ

Date of judgment: 28 September 2017

Catchwords: FEDERAL JURISDICTION – jurisdiction of Federal Court – claims brought for defamation, contravention of the Australian Consumer Law and negligence – claim earlier made against Commonwealth for judicial review – primary judge struck out ACL claims and concluded that Federal Court lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine defamation claims – primary judge dismissed proceeding – whether defamation and negligence claims formed part of same justiciable controversy as ACL claims – whether Federal Court lacked jurisdiction over defamation and negligence claims – appeal allowed

Legislation: Constitution, ss 75, 76, 77 Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth), s 5 Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)), ss 18, 21, 232 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 19, 32 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), ss 39B, 79 Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-Vesting) Act 1987 (Cth), s 9 Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), s 41 Defamation Act 2005 (SA), s 21

Cases cited: Allied Mills Industries Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (No 1) (1981) 34 ALR 105 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 1; 204 CLR 559 Australian Solar Mesh Sales Pty Ltd v Anderson [2000] FCA 864; 101 FCR 1 Burgundy Royale Investments Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation [1987] FCA 686; 18 FCR 212 CGU Insurance Ltd v Blakeley [2016] HCA 2; 327 ALR 564 Crosby v Kelly [2012] FCAFC 96; 203 FCR 451 Elbe Shipping SA v The Ship "Global Peace" [2006] FCA 954; 154 FCR 439 Felton v Mulligan [1971] HCA 39; 124 CLR 367 Hooper v Kirella Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1584; 96 FCR 1 Johnson Tiles Pty Ltd v Esso Australia Ltd [2000] FCA 1572; 104 FCR 564 LNC Industries Ltd v BMW (Aust) Ltd [1983] HCA 31; 151 CLR 575 Macteldir Pty Ltd v Dimovski [2005] FCA 1528; 226 ALR 773 Moorgate Tobacco Co Ltd v Philip Morris Ltd [1980] HCA 32; 145 CLR 457 Parisienne Basket Shoes Pty Ltd v Whyte [1938] HCA 7; 59 CLR 369 PCS Operations Pty Ltd v Maritime Union of Australia [1998] HCA 29; 153 ALR 520 Philip Morris Inc v Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd [1981] HCA 7; 148 CLR 457 Rana v Google Australia Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 60 Rana v Google Inc [2016] FCA 461 Rana v Google Inc (No 2) [2017] FCA 17 Rana v Google Inc [2017] FCA 542 R v Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration; Ex parte Barrett [1945] HCA 50; 70 CLR 141 Re McJannet; Ex parte Australian Workers' Union of Employees, Queensland [1997] HCA 40; 189 CLR 654 Re Wakim; Ex parte McNally [1999] HCA 27; 198 CLR 511 Rizeq v Western Australia [2017] HCA 23; 91 ALJR 707 Unilan Holdings Pty Ltd v Kerin [1993] FCA 605; 44 FCR 481 Lindell G, Cowen and Zines's Federal Jurisdiction in Australia (4th ed, Federation Press, 2016)