Tankey v Adams [2000] FCA 1089

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Tankey v Adams [2000] FCA 1089 ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – HEALTH – referral under the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) in relation to a general practitioner alleged to have engaged in "inappropriate practice" – appeal from primary judge confirming decision of the Professional Services Review Tribunal which confirmed determination made by a Determining Officer – whether Tribunal exercising judicial power of the Commonwealth – whether Tribunal's reference to "exceptional circumstances" relevant to sustainability of determination – whether nature of referral required sampling techniques used by Tribunal to comply with legislative requirements – role of medical practitioners in considering referral – whether primary judge erred in relying on statistical evidence in considering whether error of law made by Health Insurance Committee – relevance of earlier counselling by the Committee – weight to be given by Committee to evidence of testimonials and surveys in support of appellant – whether Tribunal required to give reasons for finding that all services rendered were inappropriate– whether appellant accorded procedural fairness by Committee and effect on Tribunal's determination. Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) ss 10(1), 81(2), 82(1), 86, 87(1), 114, 106S(1), 106T(1), 106U, 124A Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 33(3A) Re Ranger Uranium Mines Pty Ltd; Ex parte Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union of Australia (1987) 163 CLR 656 Re Cram; Ex parte Newcastle Wallsend Coal Co Pty Ltd (1987) 163 CLR 140 Precision Data Holdings Ltd v Wills (1991) 173 CLR 167 The Queen v Trade Practices Tribunal; Ex parte Tasmanian Breweries Pty Ltd (1970) 123 CLR 361 Reg v Spicer; Ex parte Australian Builders' Labourers' Federation (1957) 100 CLR 277 Brandy v Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1995) 183 CLR 245 Attorney-General (Cth) v Breckler (1999) 197 CLR 83 The Queen v White; Ex parte Byrnes (1963) 109 CLR 665 Yung v Adams (1998) 80 FCR 453 Adams v Yung (1998) 83 FCR 248 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259 Collector of Customs v Pozzolanic Enterprises Pty Ltd (1993) 43 FCR 280 Project Blue Sky v ABA (1998) 194 CLR 355 Artinian v Commonwealth (1996) 43 ALD 235 Retnaraja v Morauta (1999) 93 FCR 397 Edelsten v Health Insurance Commission (1990) 27 FCR 56 Freeman v McCubbery (1985) 5 FCR 367 Secretary, Department of Social Security v McKenzie (1993) 31 ALD 55 at 61-2 Morales v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1995) 60 FCR 550 Sinja v Asher (1989) 22 FCR 423 JAMES ADRIAN TANKEY v ANTHONY ADAMS Q185 of 1999 RYAN, O'CONNOR & WEINBERG JJ 10 AUGUST 2000 SYDNEY (HEARD IN BRISBANE)