Nepal v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] FCA 499

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Nepal v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] FCA 499 Citation: Nepal v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] FCA 499

Appeal from: Nepal v Minister for Immigration & Anor [2015] FCCA 305

Parties: ARUN NEPAL v MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROTECTION and MIGRATION REVIEW TRIBUNAL

File number: QUD 79 of 2015

Judge: EDELMAN J

Date of judgment: 26 May 2015

Catchwords: MIGRATION – whether Migration Act provisions concerning "immigration assistance" provide a positive right for a non-lawyer sponsor to represent applicant in court – circumstances in which "compelling and compassionate circumstances" must be considered – whether Tribunal was bound to accept expert evidence in its conclusion on the ultimate issue – whether judge was required to call sponsor to give evidence – effect of failure to notify applicant of Minister's decision on a visa application – whether Tribunal afforded natural justice – sponsor's desire to make submissions by extension of the concept of a McKenzie friend

Legislation: Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999 (Cth) ss 44, 44(b) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 24(1A) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) ss 55A, 55B Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 5CB(1), 5CB(2), 5CB(3), 31(3), 276, 276(1), 276(2), s 276(2)(c), 276(2A), 276(3), 276(4), 277, 280, 280(1), 280(1A), 280(2), 280(3), 280(4), 280(5), 280(5A), 280(5B), 280(5C), 280(6), 280(7), 349(1), 359AA, 359AA(b)(iii), 359A, 359A(1), 359A(3), 359A(4), 359A(4)(b), 360(a), 360(b), 379A, 467 Migration Legislation Amendment (Migration Agents Integrity Measures) Act 2004 Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) reg 1.09A, 1.09A(1), 1.09A(2), 1.09A(3), 1.09A(3)(d)(iv), 2.03(1), 2.03A, 2.03A(1), 2.03A(2), 2.03A(3), 2.03A(3)(b), 2.03A(4), 2.03A(5), 2.03AA; Sch 2; cl 801.221, 801.221(1), 801.221(2), 801.221(2A), 801.221(3), 801.221(4), 801.221(5), 801.221(6), 801.221(8), 820.21, 820.211(2), 820.211(2)(a)(i) High Court Rules 2004 Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 1.34, 4.01(1) Cases cited: Chen v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2013] FCA 1137; (2013) 218 FCR 561 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf [2001] HCA 30; 206 CLR 323 Nepal v Minister for Immigration & Anor [2014] FCCA 2463 Nepal v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] FCCA 305 Nepal v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] FCA 366 Obacelo Pty Ltd v Taveraft Pty Ltd (1986) 10 FCR 518 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 Re Enoch and Zaretsky Bock & Co [1910] 1 KB 327 Remely v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2014] FCA 619