Tran v The Commonwealth [2008] FCA 901

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Tran v The Commonwealth [2008] FCA 901

CUSTOMS – MIGRATION – Automatic forfeiture of fishing boat engaged in transportation of unauthorised persons to Australia – whether Commonwealth's failure to invoke condemnation procedure affects automatic forfeiture – whether acquisition of property results from automatic forfeiture Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 15B Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1901 (Cth) s 51(xxxi) Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951 as amended by the Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees 1967 art 31(1) Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) s 10.3(1) Customs Act 1901 (Cth) ss 4AB, 185B, 203, 205, 229 Customs Consolidation Act 1876 (UK) ss 202, 226 Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth) ss 100(1), 100(2), 106(1)(a), 106A, 106C, 106E Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 3B, 5, 42(1), 229(1), 232(1), 232A, 233, 261A, 261B, 261D, 261E, 261F, 261G, 261H, 261I Federal Court Rules (Cth) O 29 r 2 Attorney-General of New Zealand v Ortiz and Others [1984] AC 1 referred to Banwell v Erceg (1984) 1 NSWLR 90 referred to Bert Needham Automotive Co. Pty. Ltd. v Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia (1976) 26 FLR 108 referred to Burton v Honan (1952) 86 CLR 169 referred to Cheatley v The Queen and Others (1972) 127 CLR 291 referred to De Keyser v British Railway Traffic and Electric Company, Limited [1936] 1 KB 224 referred to Dimella Constructions Pty. Ltd. v Stocker and Stocker (1976) 14 SASR 215 cited Georgiadis v Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation (1994) 179 CLR 297 referred to Mutual Pools & Staff Pty. Limited v The Commonwealth of Australia (1994) 179 CLR 155 referred to Nguyen v R [2005] WASCA 22 referred to Olbers Co Ltd v Commonwealth and Another (2004) 143 FCR 449 followed Olbers Co Ltd v The Commonwealth of Australia and Another (2004) 136 FCR 67 followed Powers v Maher (1959) 103 CLR 478 referred to Re Director of Public Prosecutions; Ex parte Lawler and Another (1994) 179 CLR 270 followed Re Venice Nominees Pty Ltd (Receiver and Manager appointed) (In liquidation) (1992) 108 FLR 237 referred to The Annandale (1877) 2 PD 218 cited The Commonwealth v Hazeldell Limited (1918) 25 CLR 552 referred to Whim Creek Consolidated NL v Colgan and Another (1991) 31 FCR 469 referred to Willey v Synan (1935) 54 CLR 175 cited