Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs v LPSP [2023] FCAFC 24

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs v LPSP [2023] FCAFC 24 Appeal from: LPSP v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FCA 1563

File number(s): VID 44 of 2022

Judgment of: KENNY, WIGNEY AND ROFE JJ

Date of judgment: 3 March 2023

Catchwords: STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – appeal from judgment of single judge of the Federal Court setting aside a direction of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) under 33 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) to a party to attend and participate in a psychiatric medical assessment – directed party did not consent – failure to comply potentially exposed directed party to criminal sanction – interference with party's personal liberty and autonomy – principle of legality – no power to compel psychiatric medical examination in the absence of clear statutory authority – s 33 did not confer such authority – held: the AAT had no power to make the direction – appeal dismissed

Legislation: Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) ss 5, 2A, 25, 33, 36, 42A(5), 43(1), 63, Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 23 and 37M(1) Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 36, 60, 65, 415(2)(c), 427(1)(d), 501, 501CA

Cases cited: Attorney-General (Cth) v Ogawa [2020] FCAFC 180; 281 FCR 1 Australian Securities Commission v Marlborough Gold Mines Ltd [1993] HCA 15; 177 CLR 485 Coco v The Queen [1994] HCA 15; 179 CLR 427 Colquhoun v Capitol Radiology Pty Ltd [2013] VSCA 58; 39 VR 296 Electrolux Home Products Pty Ltd v Australian Workers' Union [2004] HCA 40; 221 CLR 309 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 22; 230 CLR 89 Furesh v Schor [2013] WASCA 231; 45 WAR 546 Grant v BHP Coal Pty Ltd [2017] FCAFC 42; 247 FCR 295 Guse v Comcare [1997] FCA 961; 49 ALD 288 Guse v Comcare [1997] FCA 1406; 47 ALD 495 Hastwell v Kott Gunning [2021] FCAFC 70 Hastwell v Kott Gunning (No 5) [2020] FCA 621 Kurnell Passenger & Transport Service Pty Ltd v Randwick City Council (2009) 230 FLR 336 Lane v Willis [1972] 1 WLR 326 Lee v New South Wales Crime Commission [2013] HCA 39; 251 CLR 196 MNWA Pty Ltd v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2016] FCAFC 154; 250 FCR 381 North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency Ltd v Northern Territory [2015] HCA 41; 256 CLR 569 Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia v HSK [2019] QCA 144; [2019] 1 QR 600 Parkin v Boral Limited (Class Closure) [2022] FCAFC 47; 291 FCR 116 Potter v Minahan (1908) 7 CLR 277 R v Falzon [2018] HCA 29; 264 CLR 361 S v S [1972] AC 24 Secretary, Department of Health and Community Services v JWB and SMB [1992] HCA 15, 175 CLR 218 Shi v Migration Agents Registration Authority [2008] HCA 31; 235 CLR 286 Starr v National Coal Board [1977] 1 All ER 243 Walker Corporation v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority [2008] HCA 5; 233 CLR 259 Washington v Washington [2018] SASC 102 X7 v Australian Crime Commission [2013] HCA 29; 248 CLR 92 Isaiah Berlin, "Two Concepts of Liberty" in Four Essays on Liberty (Oxford University Press, 1969): 118-173