Commonwealth of Australia v Westwood [2007] FCA 1282

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Commonwealth of Australia v Westwood [2007] FCA 1282

jurisdiction – whether the Court has jurisdiction to entertain an application for purely declaratory relief in relation to an evidentiary ruling of a court martial – whether the Director of Military Prosecutions is the Commonwealth for the purposes of s 39B(1A)(a) of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth).

judicial review – discretion – application for declaratory relief in relation to pending court martial – whether circumstances of the case are 'most exceptional' – prejudice to accused – likelihood of alternative remedies.

Words and Phrases – 'the Commonwealth', 'most exceptional'.

Constitution ss 51(vi), 75, 76, 77(i), 77(iii) Defence Act 1903 (Cth), s 9A Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 (Cth) ss 3(1), 10, 40(1), 44(1), 29(1), 101, 101ZB, 101ZC, 114, 115(1), 119(1), 133, 134, 140(1), 141, 146, 188F, 188FA, 188G, 188GA, 188GF, 188GH, 188GN, 190(1) Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955 (Cth) Defence Legislation Amendment Act 2006 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), s 8(1) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 39B(1A)(a)

Defence Instruction (General) ADMIN 45-2 Defence Instruction (General) ADMIN 20-29 Defence Security Manual ('SECMAN 4') Defence Legislation Amendment Bill 2007 (Cth), cl 19A Explanatory Memorandum, Defence Legislation Amendment Bill 2007 (Cth)

Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) s 5F

ACS v Anderson [1975] 1 NSWLR 212 cited Austral Pacific Group Ltd (in liq) v Airservices Australia (2000) 203 CLR 136 cited Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd (2001) 204 CLR 559 applied Bacon v Rose [1972] 2 NSWLR 793 distinguished Commonwealth v Lyon (2003) 133 FCR 265 cited Mellifont v. Attorney-General (Qld) (1991) 173 CLR 289 cited Re Tracey; Ex parte Ryan (1989) 166 CLR 578 cited Sankey v Whitlam (1978) 142 CLR 1 followed White v Director of Military Prosecutions [2007] HCA 29 cited COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA v BRIG IAN WESTWOOD & ANOR NSD1253 OF 2007