Donaldson, Robert Alexander George v. Woods, Sir Colin [1981] FCA 138
Federal Court of Australia
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CATCHWORDS
Disciplinary Offence by Member of Police Force - Suspension
from Duty - Disciplinary Offence of Being Found Guilty of
an Offence Against the Law - Offence Against the Law and
Charge Occurring Before Transfer From A.C.T. Police to
Australian Federal Police - Found Guilty Afterwards -
Transitional Provisions - Construction and Operation of
s.18(1)(h), s.20(2) of Australian Federal Police (Discipline)
Regulations - Appeal Against Discharge of Orders Nisi for
Prerogative Writs - Appeal Dismissed.
Acts Interpretation Act 1901, s.30
Australian Federal Police Act 1979, Sects. 72 and 79, Part
VI and VII
Crimes Act 1914, Sects. 11(2) and 19B
Police (Disciplinary Provisions) Ordinance 1972, Sects. 29
and 45
Australian Federal Police (Discipline) Regulations, Regns.
18(1)(h), 20(2), 22(2)
Commonwealth Constitution, s.44(ii)
Australian National University Act, s.13(c)
Narcotics Drugs Act 1967, s.10(c)
Public Service Act (NSW) 1902, 61{(i), 62(2)
ROBERT ALEXANDER GEORGE DONALDSON v SIR COLIN WOODS
No. ACT G 1 of 1981
Coram: Fox, Keely and Deane JJ
17 August 1981
Canberra
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
No. ACT G1 of 1981
DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION
ON APPEAL FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF THE
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
ROBERT ALEXANDER GEORGE DONALDSON
Appellant
SIR COLIN WOODS
Respondent
ORDER
JUDGES MAKING ORDER: Fox, Keely and Deane JJ
DATE OF ORDER: 17 August 1981
WHERE MADE: Canberra.
THE COURT ORDERS THAT the appeal be dismissed with costs.
ree
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
No. ACT G 1 of 1981
DISTRICT REGISTRY
ee ee ee
GENERAL DIVISION
ON APPEAL FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF THE
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
ROBERT ALEXANDER GEORGE DONALDSON
ys
Appellant
SIR COLIN WOODS
Respondent
Coram: Fox, Keely and Deane JJ
The 17th day of August 1981
Canberra =-
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
FOX J:
This is an appeal from the Supreme Court of the
Australian Capital Territory (Davies J) in which an order
nisi for the issue of writs of prohibition and certiorari
was discharged. The appellant, the prosecutor below, is a
member of the Australian Federal Police. The respondent is
the Commissioner of Police appointed under the Australian
Federal Police Act 1979. At the time the relevant parts of
this Act came into force the appellant was a member of the
Australian Capital Territory Police Force. Under a transfer
provision (s.72) he was sworn in as a member of the new
Force on 2 November 1979, with effect from the commencing
date, 19 October 1979.
Because of his conduct before transfer from one
Police Force to the other, he was suspended from duty
immediately after being sworn in. On 10 June 1980, after
charges relating to his conduct had been determined by the
Supreme Court, he was served with four notices each of
which commenced as follows:
"WHEREAS it appears to me that you, Robert
Alexander George DONALDSON, a member of the
Australian Federal Police, may have committed
a disciplinary offence specified in paragraph
18(1)(h) of.the Australian Federal Police
(Discipline) Regulations, TAKE NOTICE that I
hereby institute proceedings against you in
relation to that disciplinary offence."
Each notice gave particulars of an offence in respect of
which the Supreme Court, on appeal to it from the Court of
Petty Sessions, had found the appellant guilty. One
offence, because of its triviality, had been dismissed by the
Supreme Court under s.19B of the Crimes Act, 1914, and in
each of the other cases fines of $15 had been imposed.
These matters were disposed of on 3 June 1980, but the
original charges were laid in 1976, and were dealt with in
the Court of Petty Sessions in February 1977. The long delay
that then ensued has given rise to questions concerning the
function of transitional provisions under the Australian
Federal Police Act and of the construction of dis-
ciplinary regulations under that Act not expressed to be
transitional. Much of the argument was directed to the tran-
ny
sitional provisions, and inferences to be drawn therefrom
and I shall consider this aspect first.
Part VII of the Australian Federal Police Act is
headed ''Transitional". Section 79, contained in that Part,
enables regulations to be made in relation to charges "in
respect of a disciplinary offence''. Part VI of the
regulations, also headed "Transitional", has been enacted
pursuant to this power. The term "disciplinary offence" is,
so far as material here, to be read as a disciplinary offence
referred to in s.29 of the Police (Disciplinary Provisions)
Ordinance 1972, as amended, of the Australian Capital
Territory. This Ordinance was repealed by Ordinance No. 18
of 1981. Section 29 of the Ordinance, in lettered paragraphs
(a)-(h) stipulated what were disciplinary offences under the
Ordinance. The sections of the Ordinance which followed
dealt with the disciplinary powers of the Commissioner, and
with appeals from their exercise. None of the paragraphs
created as a disciplinary offence the fact of being found
guilty, or of having been convicted, of an offence against
the law. Those which could be regarded as material in the
present case looked to conduct, such as being "guilty of
disgraceful or improper conduct, either in his official cap-
acity or otherwise" (para.(c)) or acting "in a manner that is
prejudicial to the good order and discipline of the Police
Force" (para.(f)}. On the other hand, s.45 of the Ordinance
dealt with the disciplinary consequences of members being
charged, and of being found guilty of an offence against the
law of the Commonwealth, a State, or a Territory, whether
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punishable on indictment or on summary conviction.
The respondent Commissioner of Police did not rely
upon the transitional provisions to which I have referred,
but instead based the notice he gave directly on para.(h) of
regn. 18(1) of the Australian Federal Police (Discipline)
Regulations. With introductory words, this paragraph reads:
"A member is guilty of a disciplinary offence
and is subject to punishment in accordance with
those Regulations if the member -
(h) is found guilty by a court of an offence
against a law of the Commonwealth, a State,
a Territory or another country."
Regulation 18(1) came into force when the regulations as a
whole came into force (12 October 1979), and is of on-going
effect, applying to new members as well as transferred
members. The question is whether it applies in the case of
a member who is found guilty after it came into effect, in
respect of conduct which took place before then, leading to
charges laid before then. Had the court procedures not
occupied so much time, he might have been found guilty of a
disciplinary offence under the Ordinance, or dealt with
under the Ordinance as a member found guilty of an offence
against the law, but these things did not happen.
Three comments upon the legislation can usefully
be made at this stage:
(a) Whereas being found guilty of an offence by
a court was not a''disciplinary offencd' under
ny
the Ordinance, it has become one under regn.
18(1). To conduct by the member has been
added the fact of being found guilty.
(b) The regulation-making power in s.79 of the
Act, and the regulations pursuant thereto
dealing with transitional arrangements, relate
to'disciplinary offences', and not to offences
against the law falling to be dealt with by
the courts.
(c) There are as a result of (a) and (b) tran-
sitional provisions which encompass "disciplinary
offences' (as formerly understood) at various
stages of processing including the case where
no charge has been laid (regn.51(1), which is
in Part VI), but none dealing with the con-
sequences of offences against the law.
Regulation 18(1) is largely a-repetition in terms of s.29,
so that it deals almost entirely with disciplinary offences
of the nature referred to in that section. The transitional
provisions can therefore be seen as intended to take up
incomplete situations related to all but one of the matters
referred to in that regulation. The question then remains
whether para.(h) of regn.18(1) is in a special position vis-
a-vis the other paragraphs, in that it applies to past incom-
plete situations, where the offence was committed or the charge
laid before the regulations came into force, as well as
situations wholly arising after the commencement of the
regulation.
is
There are sound grounds for thinking it does,
because, unlike the other provisions, it refers simply to a
finding of guilt by a court. One merely asks whether, since
the regulations commenced, there has been such a finding. If
a finding of guilt is the sole criterion, no transitional
provisions are necessary. As a single event, it occurred
either before or after the regulations came into force. It
can be argued that the occurrence of improper conduct is
implicit. However the finding of guilt is probably seen as
the damaging factor so far as the discipline and standing of
the Police Force is concerned. Commonly, there will have been
little or no opportunity for disciplinary charges to be
brought in relation to the conduct, because of the pendency of
criminal proceedings. In more serious cases, the disciplinary
procedures (beyond suspension) will properly await the bring-
ing of charges, and their final disposal.
If regn.18(1)(h) operates simply on the basis of a
finding of guilt, there is no express limit as to the
distance back in time within which the offence must have been
committed, or the charge laid. It can be said in favour of
the appellant's argument that in the circumstances, and
having in mind that the regulations created a new disciplinary
offence, so far, at least, as Australian Capital Territory
police were concerned, that some words of emphasis or
explanation would have been inserted if the paragraph were to
have the effect relied upon by the respondent.
There is a further consideration, relating directly
to the power to suspend, but of relevance to the construction
of regn.i8(1)(h). Regulation 20(2) gives a power to suspend
'where a member is charged with having committed an offence
against a law..." If the phrase means "upon a member being
charged" or refers to the laying of the charge, the power
would have to be understood as confined to charges made
after the regulations came into force. There is no other
power to suspend related to charges of offences against the
law. If this construction were correct, it would reinforce
the contention made on behalf of the appellant that regn.18(1)
(h) only relates to cases where the offences, or charges, or
both, occurred after the regulations commenced. The learned
judge from whom this appeal comes read the words in question
as meaning "subject to a charge". Another form of words would
be "stands charged". Uninfluenced by the construction to be
put on regn.18(1)(h), I am not sure that I would decide upon
these meanings. It is interesting in this connection to see
the attention paid to timing considerations in regn.20(1),
which deals with suspension in relation to other disciplinary
offences of which it can be said that they were or may have been
"committed". However, the regulations must be read together,
so that uncertainties or ambiguities in one may be resolved
by clarity in another.
The language of regn.18(1)})(h) is clear. It looks to
a finding of guilt, - after the regulations came into force.
Any attempt to qualify its language presents difficulties.
Other arguments, such as those I have canvassed, do not
provide a clear reason or sufficient basis for giving a special
meaning to the words used. When analysed, the transitional
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provisions are not of assistance.
I am therefore of the view that the Commissioner
had power to act under regn.18(1)(h).
Regulation 20(2) must be read with regn.18(1) (h)
and it would the better give effect to its purpose if the
alternative construction, adopted by the trial judge, were
accepted. I therefore am of the view that the Commissioner
also had power to suspend the appellant.
In my opinion the appeal should be dismissed, with
costs.
I certify that this and the 7
preceding pages are a true copy of the
Reasons for Judgment herein of his Honour
Mr. Justice Fax
!
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IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA )
)
CANBERRA REGISTRY ) No. ACT G.1 of 1981
)
GENERAL DIVISION )
ON APPEAL FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF
THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
BETWEEN: ROBERT ALEXANDER
GEORGE DONALDSON
Appellant
(Prosecutor)
AND: SIR COLIN WOODS
Respondent
. (Defendant)
CORAM: Fox, Keely and Deane JJ.
17 August 1981
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
|
KEELY J.: I have had the advantage of reading the reasons for
judgment prepared by my brother Deane and am in agreement with
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them. I would accordingly dismiss the appeal with costs.
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Pespondent
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CORAM: Fox, Keely and TPeane JJ.
LZ Ave Rs 1981.
PFASONS FOR JUTGMFNT
DFAT J: Pegvilation 18(1)(h) of the Australian TPederal
Pelice (Piscipline) Reaulations ("the Pegulations") provides
that a member of the Australian Feceral Police is gqvilty of
"a Aisciplinary offence" ane is subject to "punishment" jn
accerdance with the Reaulations if he "is fourd quilty hy a
court of an offence aaainst a law of ... a Territory ...".
o
On 2 May, 1980, the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital
Territory (Lockhart J.), on appeal by way of rehearing from
the Australian Capital Territory Court of Petty Sessions,
found that charges of four separate offences against laws of
the Australian Capital Territory had been proved against the
appellant who was at that time, and still is, a member of the
Australian Federal Police. On 3 June, 1980, Lockhart J.
dismissed one of the charges pursuant to s.19B of the Crimes
Act, 1914 and imposed a fine of $15.00 in respect of each of
the other three charges.
On 11 June, 1980, there were served upon the
appellant four notices dated 10 June, 1980 over the hand of
the respondent who is the Commissioner of the Australian
Federal Police. Each notice recited that it appeared to the
Commissioner that the appellant "may have committed a
disciplinary offence specified in paragraph 18(1)(h)" of the
Regulations and gave the appellant notice that the
Commissioner instituted proceedings against him in relation
to that disciplinary offence. Fach notice related to a
different one of the four charges which Lockhart J. had found
proved against the appellant.
On 11 July, 1980, the appellant obtained an order
nisi for a writ of prohibition to prevent the continuation
and/or hearing of proceedings under the Regulations in
respect of the alleged disciplinary offences. At the same
time, the appellant obtained an order nisi calling upon the
respondent Commissioner to show cause why a writ of certiorari
should not issue to quash a decision of the respondent made
on 2 November, 1979 to suspend the appellant from duty on and
from 19 October, 1979. The hearing on the return of the
orders nisi was before Davies J. who ordered that they be
discharged with costs. The present appeal is from that
decision of Davies J.
It is convenient to consider first the appellant's
attack on the validity of the disciplinary proceedings
instituted pursuant to the four notices served upon him. For
the moment, I put to one side the attack upon the suspension
of the appellant from duty of 2 November, 1979.
The primary issue as regards the projected
disciplinary proceedings is whether each finding by the
Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court that a particular
charge against the appellant had been proved constituted, in
itself, a disciplinary offence by reason of the provisions of
Regulation 18(1)(h). The factual basis of the argument that
it did not is that it is common ground that, at the time the
appellant committed the relevant offences, he was not a
member of the Australian Police Force. The offences were
committed before the making of the Regulations and while the
appellant was a member of the Police Force of the Australian
Capital Territory which was one of the forces which was
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absorbed into the Australian Police Force. Clause (h) of
Regulation 18(1), it is argued on behalf of the appellant,
should be read as referring both to the actual commission of
the relevant offence and the subsequent finding of guilt and
as reguiring both that the offence be committed and that the
finding of guilt be made after the making of the Regulations
and while the relevant person was a member of the Australian
Police Force.
The prima facie effect of Regulation 18(1)(h) is
that the relevant disciplinary offence is the finding of
guilt by a court and not the actual commission of the offence
of which the member is found guilty. In my view, there is
nothing illogical, unfair or unexpected in a provision to
that effect. It is commonplace in legislation dealing with
disqualification from an office or an occupation to make the
fact of conviction, as distinct from the actual commission of
the offence, the operative factor (see, e.g., Commonwealth
Constitution, s.44(ii); Australian National University Act
1946, s.13({c); WNarcotic Drugs Act 1967, s.10(c) and Public
Service Act (N.S.W.) 1902, s.61(i)). The rationale of that
approach is that, where suggested criminality is involved,
the presumption of innocence makes a conviction or finding of
guilt in a criminal court the appropriate determinative
factor. The reference, in Regulation 18(1)(h), to a member
being "found guilty" rather than to a "conviction" is to be
found in other Acts (see, e.g., Public Service Act, 1922,
s.62(2)) and is understandable in the light of provisions
such as s.19B of the Crimes Act 1914 which have the result
that a finding of guilt of an offence is not necessarily
followed by a formal conviction. In that regard, it is
relevant to note the precedent of Clause 45(2) of the Police
{Disciplinary Provisions) Ordinance, 1972 which had applied
in respect of the former Police Force of the Australian
Capiital Territory and which designated a finding of guilt by
a court as a basis for initiating disciplinary proceedings.
A number of arguments was advanced on behalf of the
appellant against giving the words of Regulation 18(1)(h)
their prima facie effect. Of them, the most persuasive is
that which points to the fact that if the finding of guilt,
as distinct from the commission of the offence, is treated as
the relevant @Qisciplinary offence, the context which
Regulation 18 provides for clause (h) would seem anomolous in
a number of respects. First, the disciplinary offences for
which the other clauses of Regulation 18(1) make provision
are all actions or defaults of the member concerned whereas
conviction or finding of guilt is, once the relevant offence
has been committed, outside the control of the member.
Second, it would seem somewhat inappropriate to treat the
finding of guilt, as distinct from the commission of the
offence, as constituting a disciplinary "offence" attracting
"punishment" in accordance with the Regulations. Thirdly, it
as difficult to give to Regulation 18(2), which deals with
*
aiding and abetting a disciplinary offence, any meaningful
content in so far as clause (h) is concerned if the bare
finding of guilt is treated as in itself constituting the
relevant disciplinary offence.
Notwithstanding the fact that clause (h) would be
better suited to its context if it were read as referring
both to the actual commission of the offence and the
subsequent finding of guilt, I am unpersuaded that it should
be given other than the plain meaning and operation which its
words prima facie convey. There is not, in my view, any
ambiguity or uncertainty in the meaning of the words used in
the clause. Those words clearly and unambiguously
constitute the finding of guilt as the relevant disciplinary
offence. The inappropriateness of clause (h), when so read,
to some of the provisions which provide its context is
possibly explained by the fact that Regulation 18(1) would
seem to be the result of a legislative desire to assimilate
guite separate provisions of the Police (Disciplinary
Provisions) Ordinance, 1972, namely, those provisions
designating certain acts and omissions as disciplinary
offences (s.29) and those provisions which made a finding of
guilt a basis for disciplinary action (s.45(2)). That
inappropriateness does not, however, warrant departure from
the plain meaning of the words used.
It was argued on behalf of the appellant that to
give the words of clause (h) their prima facie effect would
involve an element of double punishment. Such a construction
was, it was said, to be avoided. In that regard, reference
was made to the general common law principle precluding
double punishment which is inherent in the notion "autrefois
convict" and to the statutory presumptions against double
punishment which one finds in s.11(2) of the Crimes Act, 1914
and s.30 of the Act Interpretation Act, 1901. This argument
should be rejected for a number of reasons.
Notwithstanding the reference to "punishment" in
the general introductory words of Regulation 18(1), the
provisions of Regulation 22(2), which preclude the imposition
of a fine or reduction of salary where a member is guilty of
the disciplinary offence constituted by clause (h), indicate
that the disciplinary procedures for which the Regulations
make provision are, in so far as clause (h) is concerned,
aimed not at punishment as such but at the protection of the
standards and standing of the Australian Police Force.
Moreover, to the extent that an element of double punishment
is involved, it will be involved regardless of whether the
words of clause (h) are given their prima facie meaning or
the artificial meaning for which the appellant contends. [In
any event, the provisions of s.11(2) of the Crimes Act, 1914
are not relevant to the question whether the provisions of a
different Act or Ordinance impose a double punishment in
respect of an offence and any other relevant statutory
presumption or common law principle is subject to a contrary
intention appearing from the relevant statutory instrument.
As I have indicated, I consider that the plain meaning of the
words used in clause (h) is that the finding of guilt in
itself constitutes the relevant disciplinary offence. The
plain purpose and effect of the provisions of the Regulation
is that that disciplinary offence can constitute a basis for
disciplinary proceedings under the Regulations.
Counsel for the appellant also sought to derive
assistance from the inapplicability of the transitional
provisions which are contained in s.79 of the Australian
Federal Police Act, 1979. The conclusion that the finding of
guilt, on its own, constitutes the disciplinary offence under
clause (h) deprives the submission in that regard of real
content. The findings of guilt by the Supreme Court, which
are the basis of the disciplinary proceedings in the present
matter, were not made until after the commencement of the
Australian Federal Police Act, 1979. At the time of
commencement of that Act the disciplinary proceedings based
on those findings had not - and could not have - been
commenced. That being the case, there were no pending
disciplinary proceedings and it is unnecessary to call in aid
any transitional provisions. Those provisions are simply
irrelevant.
Nor, in my view, is there real weight in the
appellant's argument that unless the provisions of clause (h)
are modified in the manner which he suggests, the clause has
a retrospective operation. Findings of guilt of the offence
of which the appellant was found guilty by the Supreme Court
could have lead to dismissal or reduction in rank of the
appellant as a member of the former Police Force of the
Australian Capital Territory under the Police (Disciplinary
Provisions) Ordinance, 1972 (s.45(2)). Moreover, once it is
accepted that it is being found guilty of an offence which
constitutes the disciplinary offence to which clause (h)
refers, it is apparent that the clause does not, strictly
speaking, have a retrospective operation merely because
matters leading to that finding of guilt may have occurred
before the relevant person was a member of the Australian
Police Force or, indeed, before the making of the
Regulations. Thus, a law which provides for disqualification
of a bankrupt or a convicted felon does not, strictly
speaking, have retrospective operation if it relates to
bankruptcy or conviction after its commencement
notwithstanding that the debt which resulted in bankruptcy
was incurred or the offence which resulted in conviction was
committed before the commencement of the relevant law.
-10-
In the result, each finding by the Supreme Court
that the appellant was guilty of an offence against the law
of the Territory constituted a disciplinary offence under the
provisions of Regulation 18(1)(h). The respondent
Commissioner was entitled to institute disciplinary
proceedings against the appellant in respect of each of those
disciplinary offences. It has not been suggested that the
notices served upon the appellant were other than an
appropriate method of instituting such disciplinary
proceedings. The attack on those notices and upon the
proceedings which they instituted accordingly fails. There
remains for consideration the appellant's attack on his
purported suspension from duty as a member of the Australian
Police Force.
The appellant's appointment to the Australian
Federal Police was as from 19 October, 1979. On 2 November,
1979 he attended before a delegate of the respondent
Commissioner and entered into the prescribed undertaking and
subscribed the prescribed oath or affirmation. Immediately
after he had entered into the undertaking and had subscribed
the oath or affirmation, he was served with a notice over the
hand of the respondent Commissioner purporting to suspend him
from duty as on and from 19 October, 1979. The suspension
did not purport to be without pay. The basis of the
notification of suspension was that the appellant had "been
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charged with having committed offences against the law of the
Australian Capital Territory". The notice mentioned specific
charges and recited that the respondent Commissioner
considered that the charged offences were of such a nature
that the appellant should not continue to perform his duties
until the charges had been determined.
The appellant attacks his suspension from duty on
grounds which correspond to his attack upon the bringing of
disciplinary procedures against him. It is common ground
that the charges which formed the basis of the suspension
were in respect of offences which it was alleged the
appellant had committed before he was a member of the
Australian Police Force and before the Regulations in
pursuance of which the suspension was purportedly made had
come into operation. At the commencement of the Australian
Federal Police Act, 1979 and of the Regulations, the
appellant had actually been found guilty of those charges and
an appeal, by way of rehearing, was pending in the Supreme
Court of the Australian Capital Territory. In these
circumstances, so the appellant argues, the relevant
provisions of the Regulations should not be read in such a
way as would authorize his suspension.
Regulation 20(2) provides, for present purposes,
that where "a member is charged with having committed an
offence against a law of ... a Territory ... punishable
"
-12-
either on andictment or on summary conviction" and the
Commissioner considers that the offence is of such a nature
that the member should not continue to perform his duties
until the charge has been determined, the Commissioner may at
any time, suspend the member from duty. By its plain words,
the Regulation refers to the fact that the member 1s charged
with having committed the offence. It makes no reference to
the time when the offence was committed or alleged to have
been committed. It is, in my view, clear that the
Commissioner's power to suspend arises when "a member is
charged with having committed an offence" regardless of when
the alleged offence was or is alleged to have been committed.
The more difficult question which arises for
determination on this aspect of the appeal is whether the
words "a member is charged" refer to the actual bringing of
the charge or refer generally to a situation in which a
member is the subject of a charge. The conclusion which I
have reached is that, as a matter of construction, the words
used, in their context, refer to a situation in which a
member is the subject of a charge. The power conferred by
Regulation 20(2) upon the Commissioner subsists, in the view
I take, throughout the whole period in which a member is the
subject of a pending charge. As a matter of ordinary
language, a person who is subject to a pending charge of an
n
offence against a law of a Territory is a person who "is
charged with having committed an offence" against such a law.
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~It follows that the appeal also fails in so far as
it relates to the suspension of the appellant from his duties
as a member of the Australian Police Force.
It should be mentioned that a number of arguments
which were apparently advanced before "Davies J. in the
Supreme Court were not pursued on behalf of the appellant on
the hearing of the appeal. In particular, it has not been
argued that the finding of Lockhart J. that charges had been
proved did not, at least in so far as those charges in
respect of which his Honour imposed fines were concerned,
constitute findings that the appellant was guilty of the
relevant offences. Nor was it argued on the appeal that the
appellant was not, at the time of his suspension, subject to
pending charges by reason of the fact that the pending
proceedings were the appeals to the- Supreme Court by way of
rehearing rather than the initial proceedings in the Court of
Petty Sessions or that the purported suspension was invalid
by reason of a failure to give the appellant the opportunity.
of being heard in relation to it.
The appeal should be dismissed with costs.
I certify that this and the Aeaccloe
preceding pages are a true copy of the
Reasons for Judgment herein of his Honour
Mr. Justice Mang
Associate
Dated: / 7 i OL
n
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