Harris v Repatriation Commission [2000] FCA 873

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Harris v Repatriation Commission [2000] FCA 873 VETERANS' AFFAIRS - appeal from a decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal ("the Tribunal") affirming that the appellant's condition of lumbar spondylosis was not war-caused - application of Statement of Principles defining "trauma to the lumbar spine" - whether Tribunal correctly applied the third stage of Repatriation Commission v Deledio (1998) 83 FCR 82 - assumed facts - whether "acute signs and symptoms of … altered mobility … " could have been assumed by the Tribunal based upon the material before it. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - error of law detected in the decision of the Tribunal - whether it would be futile to remit the matter for redetermination. Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth), s 44, s 44(2A), s 44(4) Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth), s 120(1), s 120(3), s 120A, s 120A(3), s 196B Repatriation Commission v Keeley [2000] FCA 532 referred Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321 applied Repatriation Commission v Deledio (1998) 83 FCR 82 discussed Repatriation Commission v Stares (1996) 66 FCR 594 distinguished Critch v Repatriation Commission (1996) 43 ALD 574 distinguished Deledio v Repatriation Commission (1997) 47 ALD 261 approved Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Gungor (1982) 63 FLR 441 referred Commissioner of Taxation v Polla-Mounter (FCA, 30 November 1995, unreported) applied Morales v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1995) 60 FCR 550 referred

TERRENCE JOHN HARRIS v REPATRIATION COMMISSION

VG 157 of 1999 FINN J 4 JULY 2000 SYDNEY (HEARD IN MELBOURNE)

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY VG 157 OF 1999

BETWEEN: TERRENCE JOHN HARRIS

APPLICANT

AND: REPATRIATION COMMISSION