Bropho v State of Western Australia [2004] FCA 1209

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Bropho v State of Western Australia [2004] FCA 1209 DISCRIMINATION – racial discrimination – motion to strike out aspects of application and claim – motion brought on grounds of no jurisdiction or no reasonable cause of action – allegations that enactment of State legislation contrary to Commonwealth legislation – absence of compliance with complaint procedure - whether allegation of inconsistency of State enactment should be struck out – whether allegations of discrimination arising from enactment or actions of authorised party should be struck out – whether other aspects of pleadings embarrassing CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – inconsistency – claim that State enactment invalid because of inconsistency with Commonwealth legislation - whether claim on ground of inconsistency open – claim relating to s 9 of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) and the Reserves (Reserve 43131) Act 2003(WA) –whether such claim precluded by decision of the High Court in Re East; Ex parte Nguyen Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) ss 46P, 46PH, 46PO Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) ss 78B, 39B Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) ss 9, 10, 12 Reserves (Reserve 43131) Act 2003 (WA) ss 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11 Land Act 1933 (WA) s 33 Land Administration Act 1997 (WA) s 46 Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) s 35 Federal Court Rules O 11 r 16, O 20 r 2, O 81 r 5 The Constitutionss 75(i), 109 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Opened for signature on 21 December 1965. Entry into force on 2 January 1969) art 5 Abebe v Commonwealth (1999) 197 CLR 510 cited Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc v State of South Australia (1995) 64 SASR 558 considered Bartlett v Swan Television & Radio Broadcasters Pty Ltd (1995) ATPR 41-434 cited East, Re; Ex parte Nguyen (1998) 196 CLR 354 applied Gerhardy v Brown (1985) 159 CLR 70 applied Golovcenco v Centrelink [2003] FCA 527 cited Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen (1982) 153 CLR 168 cited Mabo v Queensland (1988) 166 CLR 186 considered Western Australia v Ward (2002) 213 CLR 1 cited BELLA BROPHO ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SWAN VALLEY NYUNGAH COMMUNITY ABORIGINAL CORPORATION AND ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF RESERVE 43131 v STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS PLANNING AUTHORITY and BARRY CHARLES JAMESON W157 of 2003 RD NICHOLSON J 15 SEPTEMBER 2004 PERTH