Higgins, Barry Thomas Patrick v The Commonwealth of Australia [1998] FCA 39

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - Commonwealth powers - Validity of a provision suspending unemployment benefits on moving to an area of lower employment prospects - Whether provision within the incidental aspect of s 51 (xxiiiA) only - Whether s 51 (xxiiiA) a purposive power - Whether provision fails requirement of reasonable proportionality.

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - Implied rights and immunities - Validity of a provision suspending unemployment benefits on moving to an area of lower employment prospects - Whether provision contravenes an implied freedom of movement - Whether provision fails requirement of reasonable proportionality - Social Security Act 1991 s 634 - Commonwealth Constitution s 51 (xxiiiA) - s 92.

British Medical Association v The Commonwealth (1948) 79 CLR 201 (Applied)

Alexandra Private Geriatric Hospital Pty Ltd v The Commonwealth (1987) 162 CLR 271 (Applied)

Cunliffe v The Commonwealth (1994) 182 CLR 272 at 353 (Applied)

Stenhouse v Coleman (1944) 69 CLR 457 (Applied)

Leask v The Commonwealth (1996) 140 ALR 1 (Applied)

Cole v Whitfield (1988) 165 CLR 360 (Applied)

R v Smithers; Ex Parte Benson (1912) 16 CLR 99 (Considered)

Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 145 ALR 96 (Applied)

Kruger v Commonwealth of Australia (1997) 146 ALR 126 (Considered)

Edwards v California 314 US 160 (1941) (Referred to)

Shapiro v Thompson 394 US 618 (1969) (Referred to)

BARRY THOMAS PATRICK HIGGINS (Applicant) v THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Respondent)

ACT G66 of 1996

FINN J

CANBERRA

3 FEBRUARY 1998

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY DISTRICT REGISTRY ACT G66 of 1996

BETWEEN: BARRY THOMAS PATRICK HIGGINS

Applicant

AND: THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

Respondent

JUDGE: FINN J

DATE OF ORDER: 3 february 1998