Akpata v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2004] FCA 563

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Akpata v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2004] FCA 563 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – ss 501E, 501F(3) and 48A of the Migration Act 1958 (the Act) challenged as being beyond the power of the Parliament – whether ss 501E, 501F(3) and 48A of the Act come within Parliament's power under s 51(xix) of the Constitution – whether ss 501E, 501F(3) and 48A of the Act confer judicial powers upon the Parliament – whether ss 501E and 48A of the Act are inconsistent with the Refugees Convention as amended by the Refugees Protocol and are invalid.

MIGRATION – whether ss 48A, 501E and 501F(3) of Migration Act 1958 (Cth) within power – challenge to constitutional validity of those sections dismissed. Commonwealth of Australia Constitution (Cth) s 51(xix) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 13, 14, 15, 36(1), 48A, 189, 196, 501, 501E, 501F(3) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) s 4C Migration Legislation Amendment Act 1989 (Cth) Migration Legislation Amendment (Strengthening of Provisions Relating to Character and Conduct) Act 1998 (Cth) Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1986 (SA) Akpata v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs [2001] FCA 402 cited Akpata v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs [2001] FCA 1868 cited Plaintiffs 157/2002 v Commonwealth of Australia (2003) 211 CLR 476 cited Akpata v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2003] FCA 389 cited Akpata v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2004] FCAFC 65 cited Pochi v MacPhee (1982) 151 CLR 101 applied Nolan v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1988) 165 CLR 178 cited Milne v Huber (1843) 17 Fed Cas 403 referred to Chu Kheng Lim v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1992) 176 CLR 1 followed Re Patterson: Ex parte Taylor (2001) 207 CLR 391 applied Robtelmes v Brenan (1906) 4 CLR 395 applied The Queen v Kirby, Ex parte Boilermakers' Society of Australia (1956) 94 CLR 254 cited NSW Bar Association v Stevens [2003] NSWCA 261 cited Polites v The Commonwealth (1945) 70 CLR 60 applied Horta v The Commonwealth (1994) 181 CLR 183 applied Dietrich v The Queen (1992) 177 CLR 292 cited Chow Hung Ching v The King (1948) 77 CLR 449 applied Bradley v The Commonwealth (1973) 128 CLR 557 applied Simsek v MacPhee (1982) 148 CLR 636 cited STEPHEN OGHO AKPATA v MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION & MULTICULTURAL & INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS S 595 of 2003 MANSFIELD J 18 MAY 2004 ADELAIDE