Guillot, David John & Ors v Hender, Francis William & Anor [1998] FCA 1033

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

CRIMINAL LAW – Offences against Commonwealth – Imposing upon Commonwealth by untrue representation with view to obtaining benefit or advantage – Elements of offence – Whether benefit must be obtained or detriment suffered – Mental element.

CRIMINAL LAW – Attempt – Impossibility – Imaginary crime – Whether "attempt" provision of Crimes Act applies to offence of "endeavouring" to impose on Commonwealth – Whether accused can be convicted of endeavouring to impose where imposition established.

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Summary dismissal – Abuse of process – Applicants committed for trial in County Court – Applicants seek Federal Court review of magistrate's decision to commit – Whether Federal Court proceeding abuse of process –Whether filing of indictments in County Court superseded decision to commit.

Crimes Act 1914, ss 7, 29B Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 Federal Court Rules O 20 r 2

Coleman v Gray (1994) 55 FCR 412 mentioned Flanagan v Australian Federal Police (1996) 60 FCR 149 applied Yates v Wilson (1989) 168 CLR 338 applied Dougherty v Coate (unreported, Full Court of the Federal Court, 7 June 1996) applied Australian Securities Commission v Burns (1995) 130 ALR 89 applied Seymour v Attorney‑General (Cth) (1984) 4 FCR 498 considered Scouller v Brown (1994) 49 FCR 328 applied Daemar v Stipendiary Magistrate at Southport (unreported, Queensland Court of Appeal, 18 March 1994) applied Bacon v Salamane (1965) 112 CLR 85 applied Reg v Wescombe [1987] VR 1012 applied Reg v Lockett (1980) 41 FLR 164 applied Jacobsen v Piepers (1980) 32 ALR 293 applied Stephens v Abrahams (1902) 27 VLR 753 distinguished Britten v Alpogut [1987] VR 929 considered Reg v Cogley [1989] VR 799 considered Reg v Mai (1992) 26 NSWLR 371 considered Reg v Lee (1990) 1 WAR 411 considered Reg v English (1993) 10 WAR 355 considered Reg v Prior (1992) 91 NTR 53 considered Reg v Barbouttis (1995) 37 NSWLR 256 considered Kristo v The Queen (1989) 39 A Crim R 86 considered Haughton v Smith [1975] AC 476 considered Reg v Gulyas (1985) 2 NSWLR 260 mentioned Reg v Shivpuri [1987] AC 1 considered Reg v Sew Hoy [1994] 1 NZLR 257 considered Reg v Donnelly [1970] NZLR 980 considered The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v Henley (1984) 474 A 2d 1115 considered United States of America v Dynar (1997) 115 CCC (3d) 481 mentioned Webley v Buxton [1977] QB 481 applied