Australian Vaccination-Risks Network Incorporated v Secretary, Department of Health [2022] FCAFC 135

Federal Court of Australia

Australian Vaccination-Risks Network Incorporated v Secretary, Department of Health [2022] FCAFC 135 Appeal from: Australian Vaccination-Risks Network Incorporated v Secretary, Department of Health [2022] FCA 320 Australian Vaccination-Risks Network Incorporated v Secretary, Department of Health (No 2) [2022] FCA 706

File number(s): NSD 469 of 2022

Judgment of: RARES, KATZMANN AND WIGNEY JJ

Date of judgment: 8 August 2022

Catchwords: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW — whether applicant has standing to sue — whether applicant has immediate, significant or peculiar interest to be able to challenge decision made under Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth) — whether any justiciable matter APPEAL AND NEW TRIAL — where dismissal of proceeding for want of jurisdiction is interlocutory in nature — whether leave to appeal should be granted — where insufficient doubt that there was appellable error in the primary judge's reasons — Held: leave refused

Legislation: Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) ss 5 and 7 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 136 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 24 and 37M Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) ss 39B, 55ZF and 55G Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth) ss 22C, 22D, 22F, 25, 29D, 30 and 60 Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990 (Cth) regs 39F and 39H

Cases cited: Abebe v Commonwealth (1999) 197 CLR 510 Alliance to Save Hinchinbrook Inc v Cook [2007] 1 Qd R 102 Alphapharm Pty Ltd v Smithkline Beecham (Australia) Pty Ltd (1994) 49 FCR 250 Australian Conservation Foundation Incorporated v The Commonwealth (1980) 146 CLR 493 Australian Vaccination-Risks Network v Secretary, Department of Health [2022] FCA 320 Australian Vaccination-Risks Network v Secretary, Department of Health (No 2) [2022] FCA 706 Bateman's Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council v The Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund Pty Ltd (1998) 194 CLR 247 Bienstein v Bienstein (2003) 195 ALR 225 Bridgetown-Greenbushes Friends of the Forest Inc v Executive Director of the Department of Conservation & Land Management (1997) 18 WAR 126 Croker v Commonwealth of Australia [2011] FCAFC 25 Décor Corporation Pty Ltd v Dart Industries Inc (1991) 33 FCR 398 Hobart International Airport Pty Ltd v Clarence City Council (2022) 399 ALR 214 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven GmbH v Owners of Ship "Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya" (1997) 79 FCR 71 Northern Territory v Sangare (2019) 265 CLR 164 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72 Seven Network Ltd v News Ltd (2005) 144 FCR 379 Sydneywide Distributors Pty Limited v Red Bull Australia Pty Limited (2002) 234 FCR 549 SZAJB v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2008) 168 FCR 410 SZBEL v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2006) 228 CLR 152