Parsons, James Kenneth & Ors v Martin, Ian Geoffrey & Ors [1984] FCA 312

UUDGMENT No. udu! sal 0S

CATPRPCHWORDS '

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - application for judicial review of decisions of magistrate made in course of preliminary hearing - \ revocation by magistrate of letter of request issued out of Perth Court of Petty Sessions to High Court in Hong Kong - direction by magistrate that documents obtained pursuant to letter of request be returned to Hong Kong - whether decisions of an "administrative character" - whether power in Court of Petty Sessions to issue letter of request - nature and purpose of letters of request - no statutory power - whether power to issue arises from inherent power of Court of Petty Sessions to regulate their own procedure - letters found to be nullities - obtaining of documents unauthorised - consideration of principles upon which discretion to exclude evidence illegally or improperly obtained should be exercised.

Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations, regs. 40 and 41 Judiciary Act 1903, s.68 "7 Extradition (Commonwealth Countries) Act1966, 8.33 r Extradition (Foreign States) Act 1966, s.27

Justices Act 1902 (W.A.), 33. 42,43,53,68,69,102

Evidence Act 1906 (W.A.)

Evidence Act Amendment Act 1914 (W.A.), ss. 2 and 4

Hong Kong Evidence Ordinances, ss. 75, 77B !

JAMES KENNETH PARSONS, IAN STEPHEN JAMES, PATRICK REDMOND McCARTHY (Applicants) -vV-

IAN GEOFFREY MARTIN, IAN McKENZIE MURCHISON, PETER HUGH LLOYD, PETER D'ARCY CLARKE, DAVID JOHN GERMAIN, JOHN MICHAEL GILLON, ROBIN DAVID HUSTON, JOHN ARTHUR PRIDEAUX (REX) BOYDEN, and ROGER JAMES HUNTINGON (Respondents)

W.A. G69 of 1984

SPENDER J. PERTH 24 AUGUST 1984

cy

IN THE FEDERAL

COURT OF AUSTRALIA )

WESTERN AUSTRA GENERAL DIVISI

LIA DISTRICT REGISTRY ) W.A. G69 of 1984 ON )

BETWEEN:

JAMES KENNETH PARSONS

First Applicant

IAN STEPHEN JAMES Second Applicant