Oates, Anthony Gordon v The Honourable Daryl Williams QC in his Capacity as Attorney-General & Anor [1998] FCA 775

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - judicial review - consent to institution of criminal proceedings under the Corporations Law - whether consent is required for indictable offence - whether accused has a right to be heard CORPORATIONS - offences - expiry of time limit for instituting prosecution without ministerial consent - whether Minister must notify prior to granting consent Corporations Law s 1316 Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596 mentioned Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin (1989-1990) 170 CLR 1 discussed Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321 mentioned Barton v R (1980) 147 CLR 75 discussed Berwin v Donohue (1915) 21 CLR 1 mentioned Bond v Minister for Justice (1992) 72 FCR 505 mentioned Buffier v Bowen (1988) 32 A Crim R 222 disapproved in part Commissioner of Police v Reid (1989) 16 NSWLR 453 discussed Carswell v Dairy Produce Quota Tribunal for England and Wales [1990] 2 AC 738 mentioned Civil Service Unions v Minister for the Civil Service [1985] 1 AC 374 mentioned Cooper v Wandsworth Board of Works (1863) 14 CB(NS) 180 mentioned FAI Insurances Ltd v Winneke (1982-1983) 151 CLR 342 discussed Goldsbrough & Co v MacMahon (1887) 8 NSWR 118 mentioned Gouriet v Union of Post Office Workers [1978] AC 435 mentioned Haoucher v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1989-1990) 169 CLR 648 discussed Heatley v Tasmanian Racing and Gaming Commission (1977) 137 CLR 487 mentioned James v Robinson (1963) 109 CLR 593 mentioned Johns v Australian Securities Commission (1993) 178 CLR 408 mentioned Karounos v Flavel (1984) 75 FLR 46 mentioned Kovess v Director of Public Prosecutions (C'th) (1997) 74 FCR 297 mentioned Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Teoh (1994-1995) 183 CLR 273 discussed Newby v Moodie (1988) 83 ALR 523 referred to Nicol v Attorney General for the State of Victoria [1982] VR 353 discussed and disapproved in part O'Reilly v Mackman [1983] 2 AC 237 mentioned R v Electricity Commissioners [1924] 1 KB 171 Ex parte Electricity Joint Committee Company (1920) Ltd mentioned R v Rogerson (1991-1992) 174 CLR 268 mentioned Rees v Crane [1994] 2 AC 173 mentioned Re Magistrates Court at Melbourne; ex parte Slater (1984) 9 ACLR 713 mentioned Salemi v MacKellar (No. 2) (1977) 137 CLR 396 mentioned Save the Showgrounds for Sydney Inc. v The Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning (1997) 95 LGERA 33 mentioned Schmidt v Secretary of State for Home Affairs [1969] 2 Ch 149 discussed Smiles v Commissioner of Taxation (1992) 37 FCR 538 discussed and disapproved in part South Australia v O'Shea (1987) 163 CLR 378 mentioned Swan Hill Corporation v Bradbury (1937) 56 CLR 746 mentioned Twist v Randwick Municipal Council (1976) 136 CLR 106 mentioned Wiseman v Borneman [1971] AC 297 mentioned Wouters v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (1988) 84 ALR 577 mentioned ANTONY GORDON OATES v THE HONOURABLE DARYL WILLIAMS (in his capacity as Attorney General of Australia) and THE SENATOR THE HONOURABLE AMANDA VANSTONE (in her capacity as the Minister for Justice for the Commonwealth of Australia) WG 37 of 1998 FOSTER, VON DOUSSA & FINKELSTEIN JJ 6 JULY 1998 SYDNEY