Owens, Albert James v Repatriation Commission [1995] FCA 845

CATCHWORDS ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - Veterans' Entitlements - whether adenocarcinoma of the colon of the veteran was a war-caused disease - whether "reasonable hypothesis" connecting the disease with the service of the veteran - meaning of "reasonable hypothesis" - what constitutes "known scientific facts", conflict with which will make hypothesis unreasonable - whether Tribunal "considered the whole of the material before it" - whether conclusion of the Tribunal open having regard to the evidence - whether error of law - s.120 Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth). EVIDENCE - judicial notice - whether s.144 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) alters common law position. Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) - ss.120(1), (3) Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) - s.33 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) - s.144 Arm Constructions Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1986) 10 FCR 197 Bell v Repatriation Commission (1992) 26 ALD 545 BTR PLC v Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co (Aust) Ltd (1992) 106 ALR 35 Bushell v Repatriation Commission (1992) 175 CLR 408 Byrnes v Repatriation Commission (1993) 177 CLR 564 Collector of Customs v Pozzolanic Enterprises Pty Ltd (1993) 115 ALR 1 East v Repatriation Commission (1987) 16 FCR 517 Gilbert v Repatriation Commission (1989) 86 ALR 713 Hamling v Repatriation Commission (1989) 19 ALD 354 Horman v Bingham [1972] VR 29 Lowerson v Repatriation Commission (1994) 50 FCR 252 Re Dell and Repatriation Commission (1986) 9 ALD 596 Repatriation Commission v Bushell (1991) 23 ALD 13 Webb v Repatriation Commission (1988) 19 FCR 139 ALBERT JAMES OWENS v REPATRIATION COMMISSION NG 815 of 1994 Davies, Einfeld & Drummond JJ 27 September 1995 Sydney

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ) ) NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY ) NG 815 of 1994 ) GENERAL DIVISION ) On appeal from a single judge of the Federal Court of Australia BETWEEN: ALBERT JAMES OWENS Appellant AND: REPATRIATION COMMISSION Respondent Coram: Davies, Einfeld & Drummond JJ. Place: Sydney Date: 27 September 1995 MINUTES OF ORDER The Court Orders That: 1. The appeal be allowed. 2. The orders below be set aside and in lieu thereof it be ordered:- i. That the decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal be set aside. ii. The matter be remitted to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to be heard and decided again with or without the hearing of further evidence. iii. The applicant's costs of the proceeding be paid by the respondent. 3. The appellant's costs of the appeal be paid by the respondent. NOTE: Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.