Mitchell v Bailey [2008] FCA 426

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Mitchell v Bailey [2008] FCA 426

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - Court of Disputed Returns – Parliamentary Election (Cth) – House of Representatives – Whether court has power to grant parties to a petition pre-trial access to ballot-papers – Consideration of s 360(1)(iii) Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Cth) ss 268(1)(d), 281, 281(3), 360, 360(1), 360(i)(iii) Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 – 1921 (Cth) s 115 Commonwealth Electoral Act 1922 (Cth) ss 23, 24 Commonwealth Electoral Legislation Amendment Act 1984 s 5 Electoral Referendum Regulations 1919 Regs 40(1), 41(2), 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 59(1), 68, Forms 23, 26 Electoral and Referendum Regulations 1966 Reg 12 Commonwealth Electoral Act 1965 (Cth) s 18 Commonwealth Electoral Act 1911 (Cth) s 29 Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 15AA, 15AB(2) Hedges v Burchell (1913) 17 CLR 327 considered Anthony Hordern and Sons Ltd v The Amalgamated Clothing and Allied Trades Union of Australia (1932) 47 CLR 1 referred to R v Wallis; Ex Parte Employers Association of Wool Selling Brokers (1949) 78 CLR 529 referred to Mills v Meeking (1990) 169 CLR 214 referred to CIC Insurance Limited v Bankstown Football Club Limited (1997) 187 CLR 384 referred to Avel Pty Ltd v Attorney-General (NSW) (1987) 11 NSWLR 126 referred to Richardson v Austin (1911) 12 CLR 463 referred to Scott v Scott [1913] 1 AC 417 referred to John Fairfax Group v Local Court (NSW) (1911) 26 NSWLR 131 referred to Kean v Kerby (1920) LR 449 considered Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550 referred to Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596 referred to Russell v Duke of Norfolk [1949] 1 All E R 109 referred to ROB MITCHELL v FRAN BAILEY and AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION

VID 123 OF 2008

TRACEY J

22 APRIL 2008

MELBOURNE

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA