Pallett v Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Human Services - Centrelink [2017] FCA 1132

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Pallett v Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Human Services - Centrelink [2017] FCA 1132 File number: SAD 454 of 2015

Judge: CHARLESWORTH J

Date of judgment: 22 September 2017

Catchwords: EVIDENCE – proof of disease, illness or disorder affecting the mind – whether expert evidence necessary – whether documents recording out-of-court expressions of opinion admissible under exceptions to the opinion rule – whether Court may correctly infer the existence of a mental illness by reference to admissible evidence concerning a person's mental state – whether discretion under s 136 of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) must be exercised having regard to s 46PR of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth). HUMAN RIGHTS – allegations of direct and indirect discrimination on the grounds of disability – disability in the nature of mental illness – necessity to prove existence of actual disability where imputed disability not alleged on the facts.

Legislation: Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth), ss 46PH, 46PO, 46PR Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), ss 4, 5, 6, 24, 29 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), ss 56, 57, 59, 60, 66A, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 136, 140, 183 Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 (Cth) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 23.11

Cases cited: Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar (2011) 243 CLR 588 Fitness Australia Ltd v Copyright Tribunal [2010] FCAFC 148 HG v The Queen (1999) 197 CLR 414 Honeysett v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 122 Lithgow City Council v Jackson (2011) 244 CLR 352 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Mulligan v Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd (2015) 234 FCR 207 Murphy v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 94 Ocean Marine Mutual Insurance Association (Europe) OV v Jetopay Pty Ltd (2000) 120 FCR 146 R v Perry (1990) 49 A Crim R 243 R v Runjanjic (1991) 56 SASR 114 Seltsam Pty Ltd v McNeill [2006] NSWCA 158 Watts v Australian Postal Corporation (2014) 222 FCR 220