Yanner v Minister, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Affairs [2001] FCA 36

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Yanner v Minister, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Affairs [2001] FCA 36

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - Disqualification for appointment as ATSIC Commissioner on basis of conviction and punishment for criminal offence - validity of jurisdiction conferred on Court to relax disqualification - whether Act ascribes a judicial function in absence of specific criteria to gauge appropriateness of Court's determination - analysis of considerations of potential relevance to that decision - whether continued disqualification warranted on basis of applicant's character or because that would be a just and equitable outcome - difficulty of applying tests where specific offences relevant to role as a Commissioner not identified by legislation - analysis of interests affected by the decision Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 (Cth) ss 3,7,12,5,14,17,27,30,31,40 102,122, 122A, 131, 132, 137, 138 Banking Act 1974 (Cth) Corporations Law s 206G, 206B Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) ss 229, 231, 228, 232 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 78B The Constitution (Cth) ss 71, 76, 77 Stevedoring Industry Act 1954 (Cth) ss 36, 37 Companies Act 1961 (NSW) s 122 Industrial Relations Act 1988 (Cth) ss 229, 231 Matrimonial Causes Act 1959 (Cth) s 86 Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 (Cth) s 132E Zone Election Rules 1990 Precision Data Holdings Limited v Wills (1991) 173 CLR 167 Discussed, Applied Talga Ltd & Ors v MBC International Ltd & Others (1976) 133 CLR 622 Cited Brandy v Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1995) 183 CLR 245 Cited HA Bachrach Pty Limited v The State of Queensland (1998) 195 CLR 547 Cited The Queen v Davison (1954) 90 CLR 353 Cited In re Wood (1988) 167 CLR 145 Referred to The Queen v Hegarty; Ex parte City of Salisbury (1981) 147 CLR 617 Cited The Queen v Spicer; Ex parte Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia (1957) 100 CLR 312 Applied Sue v Hill (1999) 199 CLR 462 Applied Re Yanner (2000) 100 FCR 551 Cited The Queen v Trade Practices Tribunal; Ex parte Tasmanian Breweries Proprietary Limited (1970) 123 CLR 361 Cited Wilson v Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (1996) 189 CLR 1 Cited Mistretta v United States (1989) 488 US 461 Cited Huddart, Parker & Co Proprietary Limited v Moorehead (1909) 8 CLR 330 Cited The Queen v Spicer; Ex parte Builders' Labourers' Federation (1957) 100 CLR 227 Referred to The Queen v Commonwealth Industrial Court; Ex parte Amalgamated Engineering Union, Australian Section (1960) 103 CLR 368 Cited Cominos v Cominos (1972) 127 CLR 588 Cited The Queen v Joske & Ors; Ex parte Shop Distributive and Allied Employees' Association & Others (1976) 135 CLR 194 Cited Mikasa (NSW) Pty Ltd v Festival Stores (1972) 127 CLR 617 Cited The Queen v Smithers; Ex parte McMillan (1982) 152 CLR 477 Cited Re Magna Alloys & Research Pty Ltd (1975) 1 ACLR 203 Applied Re Marsden (1981) 29 SASR 454 Cited Re Harrison (1998) 81 FCR 436 Cited Re Ferris (1983) 4 IR 343 Cited Bingham v Gallagher (1985) 65 ALR 531 Cited Robertson v State Public Services Federation (1993) 49 IR 356 Cited The Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia v JW Alexander Limited (1918) 25 CLR 434 Cited The Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, Ex parte Barrett & Ors; Barrett & Others v Opitz & Others and Belcher & Others v Opitz & Others (1945) 70 CLR 141 Cited R v Ludeke & Others; Ex parte The Customs Officers' Association of Australia, Fourth Division (1985) 155 CLR 513, 522 Cited Oil Basins Limited v The Commonwealth of Australia & Others (1993) 178 CLR 643 Cited Attorney-General for the Commonwealth v Breckler & Others (1999) 197 CLR 83 Cited Knight & Anor v FP Special Assets Limited & Ors (1992) 174 CLR 178 Cited Irving v Minister of State for Immigration, Local Government & Ethnic Affairs (Davies, Lee and RD Nicholson JJ, 30 July 1996, unreported) Cited Australian Law Reform Commission, The Judicial Power of the Commonwealth (Discussion Paper 64, 2000). MURRANDOO BULYANI MUNGABAYI YANNER v MINISTER FOR ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AFFAIRS NO Q 78 OF 2000 DRUMMOND, SACKVILLE, KIEFEL JJ BRISBANE 5 FEBRUARY 2001