NAAX v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs [2002] FCA 263

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NAAX v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs

[2002] FCA 263

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – judicial power of the Commonwealth – whether decision to grant or refuse protection visa is exercise of judicial power of the Commonwealth – whether privative clause excludes breach of natural justice from grounds of judicial review is inconsistent with s 75(v) of the Constitution – validity of Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 474

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – operation of privative clause – whether breach of rules of natural justice by denial of procedural fairness grounds relief notwithstanding privative clause – Hickman principles – whether Hickman principles exhaustive – whether rules concerning procedural fairness fall within Hickman principles – whether decision made absent procedural fairness made "under the Act" within Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 474(2)

MIGRATION – protection visas – whether use of undisclosed independent information by Refugee Review Tribunal in a manner adverse to applicant constituted breach of procedural fairness – whether provision of such information governed by Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 424A

Commonwealth Constitution ss 71, 75(v) Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 36(2), 52-59, 62, 65, 359A, 359B, 415, 420, 424A, 425, 430, 474, 476(2) Migration Legislation Amendment (Judicial Review) Act 2001 (Cth) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 39B Migration Reform Act 1992 (Cth) Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Miah (2001) 75 ALJR 889 applied Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2001) 204 CLR 82 referred to Walton v Ruddock [2001] FCA 1839 referred to SAAA v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2002] FCA 101 referred to R v Hickman; Ex parte Fox & Clinton (1945) 70 CLR 598 followed R v Coldham; Ex parte Australian Workers' Union (1983) 153 CLR 415 followed O'Toole v Charles David Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 232 followed Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Richard Walter Pty Ltd (1995) 183 CLR 168 followed Darling Casino Ltd v NSW Casino Control Authority (1997) 191 CLR 602 followed Re Australian Bank Employees Union; Ex parte Citicorp Australia Ltd (1989) 167 CLR 513 distinguished Vanmeld Pty Ltd v Fairfield City Council (1999) 46 NSWLR 78 not followed Stock v Grubb (1985) 39 SASR 1 cited R v Mill & Toon; Ex parte Visona [1960] Qd R 123 cited R v Chairman of General Sessions of Hamilton; Ex parte Atterby [1959] VR 800 cited R v War Pensions Entitlement Appeal Tribunal; Ex parte Bolt (1933) 50 CLR 228 referred to Craig v South Australia (1995) 184 CLR 163 referred to Australian Coal & Shale Employees Federation v Aberfield Coal Mining Co Ltd (1942) 66 CLR 161referred to Morgan v Ryland Bros (Australia) Ltd (1927) 39 CLR 517 applied R v Commonwealth Rent Controller; Ex parte National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Ltd (1947) 75 CLR 361 followed Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs v Bhardwaj [2002] HCA 11 referred to Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 referred to Wang v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2002] FCA 167 referred to Abebe v Commonwealth (1999) 197 CLR 510 followed Attorney General (Commonwealth) v Breckler (1999) 197 CLR 83 followed SZ v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs (2000) 101 FCR 342 followed Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550 referred to Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu (1999) 197 CLR 611 referred to Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259 referred to Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 referred to Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Guo (1997) 191 CLR 559 referred to Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf (2001) 75 ALJR 1105 referred to Xu v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs (1999) 95 FCR 425 cited Re Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Durairajasingham (2000) 74 ALJR 405 cited Somagahi v Minister for Immigration, Local Government & Ethnic Affairs (1991) 31 FCR 100 referred to Heshmati v Minister for Immigration, Local Government & Ethnic Affairs (1991) 31 FCR 123 referred to Lek v Minister for Immigration, Local Government & Ethnic Affairs (1993) 43 FCR 100 referred to David v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs (unreported, Federal Court of Australia, Wilcox J, 2 October 1995) referred to Herijanto v Refugee Review Tribunal (High Court application S 97 of 1998) referred to Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2001) 204 CLR 82 referred to Muin v Refugee Review Tribunal (High Court application S 36 of 1999) referred to Lie v Refugee Review Tribunal (High Court application S 89 of 1999) referred to Thairasa v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs (2000) 98 FCR 281 cited Kola v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs [2001] FCA 630 cited Bitani v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs [2001] FCA 631 cited Pannasara v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs [2001] FCA 570 cited Re Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte PT (2001) 75 ALJR 808 referred to Re Minister; Ex parte Epeabaka (2001) 75 ALJR 848 referred to Keller v Drainage Tribunal [1980] VR 449 applied Minister for Health v Thomson (1985) 8 FCR 213 cited Kalil v Bray [1977] 1 NSWLR 256 cited Maloney v National Coursing Association [1978] 1 NSWLR 161 cited APPLICANT NAAX and APPLICANT NAAV v MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS N 1467 OF 2001 and N 1468 OF 2001 GYLES J SYDNEY 15 MARCH 2002 IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA