Commonwealth of Australia v Snell [2019] FCAFC 57

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Commonwealth of Australia v Snell [2019] FCAFC 57 Appeal from: Re Snell and Commonwealth [2018] AATA 1107

File number: QUD 365 of 2018

Judges: ALLSOP CJ, REEVES AND DERRINGTON JJ

Date of judgment: 11 April 2019

Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Administrative Appeals Tribunal – whether issue estoppel arises in respect of matters decided in earlier decision concerning the same parties – whether Tribunal able to not consider relevant and probative evidence because of existence of earlier decision – power to reconsider earlier decision under Seafarers Act negates any limitation on evidence which Tribunal should consider when reviewing a subsequent decision – appeal allowed

Legislation: Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (Cth) Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992 (Cth)

Cases cited: Administration of the Territory of Papua New Guinea v Daera Guba (1973) 130 CLR 353 Canute v Comcare (2006) 226 CLR 535 Carl Zeiss Stiftung v Rayner & Keeler Ltd (No 2) [1967] 1 AC 853 Chandler v Alberta Association of Architects [1989] 2 SCR 848 Cheung v Administrative Appeals Tribunal (2009) 176 FCR 20 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid (2005) 223 CLR 1 Godwin v Repatriation Commission (2008) 168 FCR 471 Jolly v Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) (1935) 53 CLR 206 Kuligowski v Metrobus (2004) 220 CLR 363 Midland Metals Overseas Ltd v Comptroller-General of Customs (1991) 30 FCR 87 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Daniele (1981) 61 FLR 354 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Bhardwaj (2002) 209 CLR 597 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Wang (2003) 215 CLR 518 Morales v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (1998) 82 FCR 374 Novosel v Comcare (2017) 72 AAR 269 Plumb v Comcare (1992) 39 FCR 236 Queensland v Commonwealth (1977) 139 CLR 585 Rana v Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (2011) 55 AAR 300 Re 56 Denton Road, Twickenham [1953] Ch 51 Re Cram; Ex parte Newcastle Wallsend Coal Co Pty Ltd (1987) 163 CLR 140 Re Matusko and Australian Postal Corporation (1995) 21 AAR 9 Re Quinn and Australian Postal Corporation (1992) 15 AAR 519 Re Tarrant and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2013) 62 AAR 192 Telstra Corporation Ltd v Hannaford (2006) 151 FCR 253 Thrasyvoulou v Secretary of State for the Environment [1990] 2 AC 273 Wiest v Director of Public Prosecutions (1988) 23 FCR 472 WJ & F Barnes Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) (1957) 96 CLR 294