Comcare v Maganga [2008] FCA 285

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Comcare v Maganga [2008] FCA 285

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – whether Administrative Appeals Tribunal denied Comcare procedural fairness in refusing leave to inspect summonsed documents – documents related to previous injury of compensation claimant – credit of claimant main issue in proceedings – documents therefore not available for cross examination – Tribunal must give parties a reasonable opportunity to present case – "reasonable opportunity" includes right to test evidence – Tribunal's refusal potentially denied Comcare opportunity to cross-examine effectively – whether access to documents should be denied as going only to credit – purpose for seeking documents clearly identifiable – not fishing to seek documents going to credit – wrong to determine questions of inspection by whether documents ought to be admitted into evidence – no need for documents to establish any specific fact – test of relevance is whether documents relate to issue in proceedings – discretion of Tribunal under Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) is subject to overarching obligation of procedural fairness – procedural fairness denied Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) ss 33(1), 39(1), 40(1D), 44 Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) s 5(1)(f) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 102 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Albert Hadid v Lenfest Communications Inc [1998] FCA 470 cited Alister v The Queen (1983-1984) 154 CLR 404 cited Applicant S214/2003 v Refugee Review Tribunal [2006] FCAFC 166 cited Australian Postal Corporation v Hayes (1989) 23 FCR 320 applied Bailey v Beagle Management Pty Ltd (2001) 105 FCR 136 cited Carter v Hayes SM (1994) 61 SASR 451 cited Clements v Independent Indigenous Advisory Committee (2003) 131 FCR 28 cited Dolan v Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation (1993) 42 FCR 206 cited Fried v National Australia Bank (2000) 175 ALR 194 distinguished Haberfield v Department of Veterans Affairs (2002) 121 FCR 233 cited Lawrance v Centrelink (2005) 88 ALD 664 cited Maronis Holdings Ltd v Nippon Credit Australia Ltd (2000) 18 ACLC 609 cited National Employers' Mutual General Association Ltd v Waind (1978) 1 NSWLR 372 cited Piddington v Bennett & Wood Proprietary Limited (1940) 63 CLR 533 cited R v Spizzirri [2001] 2 QdR 686 cited Repatriation Commission v Farley-Smith (2007) 96 ALD 348 cited Re Ruddock; Ex parte Applicant S154/2002 (2002) 201 ALR 437 cited Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82 cited Stead v State Government Insurance Commission (1986) 161 CLR 141 cited Telstra Corporation Ltd v Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts [2007] FCA 1398 cited Trade Practices Commission v Arnotts (No 2) (1989) 21 FCR 306 cited COMCARE v FERDINAND MAGANGA ACD 34 OF 2007 COMCARE v THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL AND FERDINAND MAGANGA ACD 35 OF 2007