Eshetu v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs [1997] FCA 603

CATCHWORDS IMMIGRATION - Whether s420 of the Migration Act prescribes procedures to be observed - whether a breach of s420 may be a ground of review - whether a misunderstanding of the legal issue may be an error involving an incorrect interpretation of the applicable law - ambit of the exclusions specified in s476(2) - whether the Tribunal erred in its understanding of Article 1 of the Refugee Convention. STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - clear provisions required if common law rights abrogated - construction which accords with obligations under international treaty to be favoured - privative clause to be strictly construed - Act to be read as a whole - presumption that Parliament has acted in the public interest - explanatory memorandum. Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) Adoption of Children Act 1965 (NSW) s46 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s39B Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss420, 420(2)(b), 424, 425, 457, 476, 476(1)(a), 476(1)(e), 476(2)(a), 476(2)(b) Migration Reform Act 1992 (Cth) s166J

A v Veterans' Review Board (1995) 59 FCR 195 Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596 Asrat v Vrachnas (unreported, O'Loughlin J, 23 August 1996) Associated Provincial Picture Corporation v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223 Baker v Campbell (1983) 153 CLR 52 Bolton, Re; ex parte Beane (1987) 162 CLR 514 Bouton v Labiche (1994) 33 NSWLR 225 Chan Yee Kin v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (1989) 169 CLR 379 Chu Kheng Lim v Minister for Immigration, Local Government & Ethnic Affairs (1992) 176 CLR 1 Collins v Repatriation Commission (1988) 8 AAR 184 Colpitts v Australian Telecommunications Commission (1986) 9 FCR 52 Commissioner of Police v Tanos (1958) 98 CLR 383 Commissioner of Taxation v McCabe (1990) 26 FCR 431 Courtney v Peters (1990) 27 FCR 404 Dai Xing Yao v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (unreported, 18 September 1996, Black CJ, Davies and Sundberg JJ) Dai Xing Yao v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (1997) 144 ALR 147 Darling Casino Ltd v NSW Casino Control Authority (1997) 143 ALR 55 de Motte v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (unreported Kumar v Immigration Review Tribunal (1992) 36 FCR 544 Li v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs (1997) 144 ALR 179 - 2 - Mahon v Air New Zealand Ltd [1984] AC 808 Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Guo Wei Rong (unreported, Brennan CJ, Dawson, Toohey, Gaudron, McHugh & Gummow JJ, 13 June 1997) Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Singh (1997) 142 ALR 191 Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Tang Jia Xin (1994) 125 ALR 203 Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Teoh (1995) 183 CLR 273 Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 Moheedin v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (unreported, 17 April 1997, Olney J) Nguyen v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (unreported, Goldberg J, 6 May 1997) Pash and Repatriation Commission; Re (1988) 8 AAR 184 R v Cain [1985] 1 AC 46 R v District Court of Sydney; Ex parte White (1966) 116 CLR 644 R v War Pensions Entitlement Tribunal; Ex parte Bott (1933) 50 CLR 228 Sarbjit Singh v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (unreported, 18 October 1996, Lockhart J) Sun Zhan Qui v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (unreported, 6 May 1997, Lindgren J) Than Phat Ma v Billings (1996) 142 ALR 158 Velmurugu v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (unreported, 23 May 1996, Olney J) Walsh and Johnson, ex parte; Re Yates (1925) 37 CLR 36 Wannakuwattewa v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (unreported, 24 June 1996, North J) Wentworth v New South Wales Bar Association (1992) 176 CLR 239 Zakinov v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (unreported, 26 July 1996, North J) MOGES ESHETU v MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION & MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS No. NG 129 of 1997 Davies, Burchett & Whitlam JJ 10 July 1997 Sydney IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ) ) NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY ) No NG 129 of 1997 ) GENERAL DIVISION )