Whitby v Garlett [2000] FCA 245

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Whitby v Garlett [2000] FCA 245

ELECTIONS – Aborigines – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act – Regional Council elections – disputed election – petition – whether facts alleged in petition sufficient to invalidate election – whether necessary to allege effect on election result – illegal practices – official errors and omissions – particulars – time limit – particulars not able to be used to support insufficient factual allegations – various allegations – petition dismissed. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 s 91(1), s 92(1), s 94, s 130(1), s 131, s 27, s 101, s 110, Schedule 4 Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 Robertson v Australian Electoral Commission (1993) 116 ALR 407 followed Nile v Wood (1988) 167 CLR 133 cited Sykes v Australian Electoral Commission (1993) 115 ALR 645 followed Rudolphy v Lightfoot (1999) 167 ALR 105 followed Australian Iron Steel Ltd v Hoogland (1962) 108 CLR 471 cited Bruce v Odhams Press Limited [1936] 1 KB 697 cited H 1976 Nominees Pty Ltd v Galli (1979) 40 FLR 242 cited Trade Practices Commission v David Jones (Australia) Pty Ltd (1985) 7 FCR 109 cited Charlie Carter Pty Ltd v The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association of Western Australia (1987) 13 FCR 413 cited Cole v Lacey (1965) 112 CLR 45 discussed Kean v Kerby (1920) 27 CLR 449 cited Varty v Ives [1986] VR 1cited Hudson v Lee (1993) 177 CLR 627 cited Australian Electoral Commission v Lalara (1994) 53 FCR 156 cited Pettit v Atkinson (1994) 50 FCR 174 cited Webster v Deahm (1993) 116 ALR 223 followed Yarran v Blurton (No 2) (1992) 36 FCR 152 followed

LORRAINE WHITBY v FARLEY GARLETT, GARRY WILLIAMS, DANIEL MORRISON, KEVIN FITZGERALD, ERIC WYNNE, CEDRIC JACOBS, DOREEN NELSON, RICHARD WILKES, MURRAY YARRAN, DIANNE TAYLOR, KAREN ROSE HAYWARD and GORDON COLE and THE AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION W 153 of 1999 FRENCH J 8 MARCH 2000 PERTH