Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs v EVE21 [2023] FCAFC 91

Federal Court of Australia

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs v EVE21 [2023] FCAFC 91 Appeal from: EVE21 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2022] FedCFamC2G 729

File number: NSD 831 of 2022

Judgment of: PERRAM, ROFE and FEUTRILL JJ

Date of judgment: 13 June 2023

Catchwords: MIGRATION – appeal from decision of Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia – where trial judge found reg 2.55(3)(c) of the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) to be invalid – whether reg 2.55(3)(c) inconsistent with s 494A of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) – whether the word 'may' in s 494A(1) confers a discretion – whether reg 2.55(3)(c) complied with – whether post office box address of prison is also post office box address of inmate for purposes of reg 2.55(3)(c)

Legislation: Constitution ss 106, 109 Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 2(2), 33(2A) Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Cth) ss 96A(1), 96A(2) Legislation Act 2003 (Cth) ss 10(1)(a), 13(1)(c), 13(2) Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 91X, 101, 102, 107(1), 108, 109, 127(1), 411(1)(d), 412(1)(b), 476(2)(a), 494A(1), 494B, 494C, 501CA, 504(1) Navigation Act 1912 (Cth) Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) regs 2.42, 2.55(3)(c), 2.55(7) Education Act 1980 (UK)

Cases cited: Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs v CWY20 [2021] FCAFC 195; 288 FCR 565 Butt v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2014] FCA 1354; 227 FCR 359 Carter v Egg and Egg Pulp Marketing Board (Vic) (1942) 66 CLR 557 Commonwealth v Baume (1905) 2 CLR 405 Commonwealth v Western Australia (Mining Act Case) [1999] HCA 5; 196 CLR 392 Dietman v Brennan-Kuss [2015] SASCFC 73; 123 SASR 24 Elazac Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Patents (1994) 53 FCR 86 EUF20 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FCCA 436 Ex parte Gleeson [1907] VLR 368 Flaherty v Girgis (1987) 162 CLR 574 Hanlon v Law Society [1981] AC 124 Legal Services Commission v Loomba [2012] EWHC 29 (QB); 2 All ER 977 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v EFX17 [2021] HCA 9; 271 CLR 112 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZSSJ [2016] HCA 29; 259 CLR 180 Momcilovic v The Queen [2011] HCA 34; 245 CLR 1 Morton v Union Steamship Co of New Zealand Ltd (1951) 83 CLR 402 Neill v Glacier Metal Co Ltd [1965] 1 QB 16 PIPE Networks Pty Ltd v Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation [2013] FCA 444; 212 FCR 542 Plaintiff M47/2012 v Director-General of Security [2012] HCA 46; 251 CLR 1 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; 194 CLR 355 R (CXF) v Central Bedfordshire Council [2018] EWCA Civ 2852 R v Winneke; Ex parte Gallagher (1982) 152 CLR 211 Re Cram; Ex parte NSW Colliery Proprietors' Association Ltd (1987) 163 CLR 117 Re Vassis; Ex parte Leung (1986) 9 FCR 518 Re Wakim; Ex parte McNally [1999] HCA 27; 198 CLR 511 Sillars v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2020] FCA 1313 Sillars v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FCAFC 174; 288 FCR 180 Stewart v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2020] FCAFC 196; 281 FCR 578 Victoria v Commonwealth (1937) 58 CLR 618 Ward v Williams (1955) 92 CLR 496 Zhang v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2007] FCAFC 151; 161 FCR 419