O'Neill v Mann [2000] FCA 1180

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

O'Neill v Mann [2000] FCA 1180

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - original jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Australia - common law matters in the Australian Capital Territory - defamation proceeding cross-vested from ACT Supreme Court to Federal Court - motion to have proceeding permanently stayed for want of jurisdiction - whether Cross-Vesting (Jurisdiction of Courts) Act 1987 (Cth) invalid to extent it purports to invest Federal Court with jurisdiction to entertain defamation action - Chapter III of the Constitution - Re Wakim; Ex parte McNally (1999) 163 ALR 270. COURTS AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM - Federal Court of Australia - original jurisdiction - jurisdiction to entertain common law matters arising in the ACT - s 122 of the Constitution. WORDS AND PHRASES - "matter", "arising under". Constitution, s 51, s 76(ii), s 77(i), s 122 Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-Vesting) Act 1987 (Cth), s 4, s 4(2), s 4(3), s 5, s 5(1), s 6(1), s 9, s 9(2) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 30B, s 39B, s 39B(1A)(c), s 78B Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909 (Cth), s 6, s 6(1) Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910 (Cth), s 3, s 4 Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth) Supreme Court Act 1933 (ACT) Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1997 (Cth), Sched 12 Jurisdiction of Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2000 (Cth), Sched 1 cll 61-69 Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth), s 8 Federal Court Rules, O 22 r 2, O 62 r 3(3) Re Wakim; Ex parte McNally (1999) 163 ALR 270 referred Federal Capital Commission v Laristan Building and Investment Co Pty Ltd (1929) 42 CLR 582 followed Eastman v R (2000) 172 ALR 39 discussed O'Neill v Mann (1994) 49 FCR 370 referred O'Neill v Mann (1994) 54 FCR 212 referred Mann v O'Neill (1997) 191 CLR 204 quoted Federated Engine-Drivers and Firemen's Association of Australasia v Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd (1911) 12 CLR 398 referred Hooper v Kirella (1999) 96 FCR 1 referred Fencott v Muller (1982) 152 CLR 570 referred Abebe v Commonwealth of Australia (1999) 197 CLR 510 referred Northern Territory of Australia v GPAO (1999) 161 ALR 318 discussed R v Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration; Ex parte Barrett (1945) 70 CLR 141 quoted Kruger v Commonwealth of Australia (1997) 190 CLR 1 referred Berwick Ltd v Gray (1976) 133 CLR 603 referred Spinks v Prentice (1999) 163 ALR 270 referred Bateman Project Engineering Pty Ltd v Pegasus Gold Australia Pty Ltd (Full Court, Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, 6 June 2000) referred Re Governor, Goulburn Correctional Centre, Goulburn; Ex parte Eastman (1999) 165 ALR 171 referred Buchanan v The Commonwealth (1913) 16 CLR 315 referred Anderson v Eric Anderson Radio & TV Pty Ltd (1965) 114 CLR 20 mentioned In the Matter of an Application under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 [2000] FCA 975 referred JAMES JOSEPH O'NEILL v ARNOLD MANN ACT G15 of 1994, ACT G29 of 1994 FINN J 23 AUGUST 2000 CANBERRA