Australian Institute of Private Detectives Ltd v Privacy Commissioner [2004] FCA 1440

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Institute of Private Detectives Ltd v Privacy Commissioner [2004] FCA 1440 PRIVACY LAW – applicant seeks declarations that certain actions of its members on behalf of their clients are not prohibited by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) – whether the Court has jurisdiction to make such a declaration

FEDERAL COURT – jurisdiction – whether there is a 'matter' before the Court – whether what is sought is an advisory opinion on a hypothetical question – lack of concrete facts – Constitution, ss 76(ii), 77(i) – Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 38B(1A)(c)

Constitution ss 75, 76, 77

Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) ss 6, 6C, 13A, 16A, Pt IIIA, 36, 52, 55A, 72, 98, Sch 3 cl 2.1(g) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 39B(1A)(c) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 21 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 50

Re McBain; Ex parte Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (2002) 209 CLR 372 followed In re Judiciary and Navigation Acts (1921) 29 CLR 257 followed Gould v Brown (1988) 193 CLR 346 cited Bass v Permanent Trustee Company Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 334 followed Commonwealth v Sterling Nicholas Duty Free Pty Ltd (1972)126 CLR 297 cited Director of Fisheries (NT) v Arnhem Land Aboriginal Land Trust (2001) 109 FCR 488 cited Harts Australia Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (2001) 109 FCR 405 cited Kockums AB v Commonwealth [2002] FCAFC 138 cited BP Australia Pty Ltd v Nyran Pty Ltd [2002] FCAFC 163 cited SmithKline Beecham (Aust) Pty Ltd v Chipman [2002] FCA 674 cited Australian Gas Light Company v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (No 2) [2003] FCA 1229 distinguished AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PRIVATE DETECTIVES LTD v PRIVACY COMMISSIONER NSD 307 of 2004 SACKVILLE J SYDNEY 5 NOVEMBER 2004

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY NSD 307 of 2004

BETWEEN: AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PRIVATE DETECTIVES LTD