Commonwealth of Australia v Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission [2000] FCA 1854

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Commonwealth of Australia v Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission

[2000] FCA 1854 HUMAN RIGHTS & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY – discrimination in employment or occupation – whether placing person in particular promotion band constituted discrimination on ground of age – whether Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention definition of "discrimination" covers indirect discrimination – whether "discrimination" excludes distinction, exclusion or preference having rational and proportionate connection to legitimate non-discriminatory objective – whether distinction, exclusion or preference based on inherent requirements of job. STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – construction of domestic legislative provision implementing international obligation in accordance with construction in international law of international obligation – reliance in construction of international obligation on "la doctrine" and "la jurisprudence" – "loose" construction of international obligations. STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – use of definition in one statute to construe definition in another. INTERNATIONAL LAW – International Labour Organisation – functions of ILO Committee of Experts and ILO Commissions of Inquiry. WORDS & PHRASES – "requirements" (of a job). Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) ss 3(1), 3(8), 31(b), 32(1)(b), 35(2), 50 Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Regulations (Cth) regs 2, 4(a)(i) Naval Forces Regulations 1935 (Cth) regs 21, 102 Naval Defence Act 1910 (Cth) ss 8(1), 17 Defence Instructions (Navy) PERS 52-2 Defence Act 1903 (Cth) s 9A(3) Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) ss 5, 6, 7, 7A, 7B Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) ss 9(1), 9(2) Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) ss 5, 6 Commonwealth of Australia v Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1999) 57 ALD 623 cited Commonwealth v Bradley (1999) 95 FCR 218 discussed Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen (1982) 153 CLR 168 discussed Konrad v Victoria (1999) 91 FCR 95 referred to Fothergill v Monarch Airlines [1981] AC 251 referred to Somaghi v Minister for Immigration, Local Government & Ethnic Affairs (1991) 31 FCR 100 referred to Rocklea Spinning Mills Pty Limited v Anti-Dumping Authority (1995) 56 FCR 406 referred to South West Africa Cases [1962] ICJR 319 referred to Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc v South Australia (No 1) (1995) 64 SASR 551 cited Australian Medical Council v Wilson (1996) 68 FCR 46 cited James Buchanan & Co Ltd v Babco Forwarding & Shipping (UK) Ltd [1978] AC 141 discussed Yager v The Queen (1977) 139 CLR 28 discussed Commonwealth v Riley (1984) 5 FCR 8 cited Owners of 'Shin Kobe Maru' v Empire Shipping Co Inc (1994) 181 CLR 404 discussed Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v South Australia (1990) 169 CLR 436 cited Street v Queensland Bar Association (1989) 168 CLR 461 cited Waters v Public Transport Corporation (1991) 173 CLR 349 cited Kawitt v US 842 F2d 951 (7th Cir, 1988) discussed Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade v Styles (1989) 23 FCR 251 discussed Australian Iron and Steel Pty Ltd v Banovic (1989) 168 CLR 165 discussed X v Commonwealth of Australia (1999) 167 ALR 529 referred to Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention ILO Constitution,Arts 26, 28, 29, 32, 33 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Art 5(1) Valticos & von Potobsky International Labour Law 2nd rev ed. at pp. 284-85, 292-93 Leary "Lessons from the Experience of the International Labour Organisation" in Alston (ed.) The United Nations and Human Rights at pp. 596-97 ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (Special Survey on) Equality in Employment and Occupation (1996) ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (General Survey of) Equality in Employment and Occupation (1988) ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (1963) Swepston "Supervision of ILO Standards" [1997] IJCLLIR 327 at p. 339 ILO Commission of Inquiry (1991) 74 ILO Official Bulletin, Ser B, Supp 3 ILO Commission of Inquiry (1987) 70 ILO Official Bulletin, Ser B, Supp 1 THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA v HUMAN RIGHTS & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION & ANDREW HAMILTON N 1366 of 1999 KATZ J SYDNEY 15 DECEMBER 2000