LibertyWorks Inc v Commonwealth of Australia [2021] FCAFC 90

Federal Court of Australia

LibertyWorks Inc v Commonwealth of Australia [2021] FCAFC 90 File number: NSD 1312 of 2020

Judgment of: KATZMANN, WIGNEY AND THAWLEY JJ

Date of judgment: 1 June 2021

Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – challenge to validity of a determination made by the Health Minister under s 477(1) of the Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth) – where determination prevented Australian citizens, permanent residents, or operators of outgoing aircraft or vessels from leaving Australian territory, unless an exemption applied – whether determination requires an individual to be subject to a biosecurity measure of a kind set out in Subdiv B of Div 3 of Pt 3 of Ch 2 of the Act and is therefore invalid by reason of s 477(6) – whether s 477(6) prevents a determination applying to a group or class of individuals STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – whether s 477(3)(b) of the Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth) refers to "places" outside Australian territory – whether Act displaces presumption that references to the singular include the plural

Legislation: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 2(2), 2B, 15AA, 21(1)(b), 23(b) Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth)s 3, 4, 9, 21(1), 22(2), 34, 42(1), 44, 45, 59, 60, 63, 72(5), 74(4), 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 96, 113, 333, 399, 448, 473, 474, 475, 477, 478, 479 Biosecurity (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2015 (Cth) Biosecurity (Entry Requirements—Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) Determination 2020 (Cth) Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) Declaration 2020 (Cth) cll 4, 5, 6 Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Overseas Travel Ban Emergency Requirements) Determination 2020 (Cth) ss 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Biosecurity (Listed Human Diseases) Determination 2016 (Cth) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, opened for signature 19 December 1966, 999 UNTS 171 (entered into force 3 March 1976) Art 12 International Health Regulations (2005), done at Geneva on 23 May 2005, [2007] ATS 29 Explanatory Memorandum to the Biosecurity Bill 2014 (Cth) Replacement Explanatory Statement to the Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Overseas Travel Ban Emergency Requirements) Determination 2020 (Cth) McAdam, J "An Intellectual History of Freedom of Movement in International Law: The Right to Leave as a Personal Liberty" (2011) 12(1) Melbourne Journal of International Law 27