Guo v Commonwealth of Australia [2017] FCA 1355

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Guo v Commonwealth of Australia [2017] FCA 1355 File number(s): NSD 1142 of 2015

Judge(s): JAGOT J

Date of judgment: 24 November 2017

Catchwords: MIGRATION – visa application – refusal of permanent visa on character grounds – defective notifications – temporary entry permit still in force resulting in periods of unlawful detention of a lawful non-citizen – whether detaining officers held reasonable suspicion that detained person was an illegal non-citizen TORTS – false imprisonment – detention under s 189 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) – whether detaining officers held reasonable suspicion that detained person was an illegal non-citizen – whether lawful justification for actions DAMAGES – nominal damages – appellant would have been lawfully detained as an unlawful non-citizen if notices not defective DAMAGES – exemplary damages – period of unlawful detention known to Commonwealth – appellant detained unlawfully – exemplary damages awarded for purpose of punishment and deterrence

Legislation: Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) s 29 Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 5, 13, 14, 15, 37, 66, 189, 194, 195, 196, 500, 501, 501E Migration Legislation Amendment (Strengthening of Provisions relating to Character and Conduct) Act 1998 (Cth) s 32 Migration (1993) Regulations 1992 (Cth) Sch 3, rr 2.8 Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) Sch 2 Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) ss 3B, 5, 26A

Cases cited: Al-Kateb v Godwin [2004] HCA 37; (2004) 219 CLR 562 Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome [1972] AC 1027 Chan Ta Srey v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2003] FCA 1292; (2003) 134 FCR 308 Commonwealth of Australia v Fernando [2012] FCAFC 18; (2012) 200 FCR 1 CPCF v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] HCA 1; (2015) 255 CLR 514 Fernando v Commonwealth [2014] FCAFC 181, (2014) 231 FCR 251 Fernando v Commonwealth (No 5) [2013] FCA 901 George v Rocket (1990) 170 CLR 104 Goldie v Commonwealth of Australia [2002] FCA 433; (2002) 117 FCR 566 Gray v Motor Accident Commission [1998] HCA 70; (1998) 196 CLR 1 Guo and Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2004] AATA 729 Guo v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2004] FCA 1585 Houda v New South Wales [2005] NSWSC 1053 Hyder v Commonwealth of Australia [2012] NSWCA 336; (2012) 217 A Crim R 571 Kostopoulos v Commonwealth of Australia [2012] NSWSC 1534 Maritime Union of Australia v Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development [2015] FCAFC 187 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v VFAD [2002] FCAFC 390; (2002) 125 FCR 249 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZIZO [2009] HCA 37; (2009) 238 CLR 627 Nye v New South Wales [2003] NSWSC 1212 Okwume v Commonwealth [2016] FCA 1252 Plaintiff M168/10 v The Commonwealth of Australia [2011] HCA 25; (2011) 279 ALR 1 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 R (Kambadzi) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] 1 WLR 1299 Re Woolley; Ex parte Applicants M276/2003 (2004) 225 CLR 1; [2004] HCA 49 Regina (Lumba) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] 1 AC 245 Ruddock v Taylor [2005] HCA 48; (2005) 222 CLR 612 Ruddock v Taylor (2003) 58 NSWLR 269; [2003] NSWCA 262 Spautz v Butterworth (1996) 41 NSWLR 1 State of New South Wales v Riley [2003] NSWCA 208; (2003) 57 NSWLR 496 SZOFE v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2010] FCAFC 79; (2010) 185 FCR 129 Thompson v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [1998] QB 498 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Limited (1966) 117 CLR 118 VHAF v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2002] FCA 1243 Whitfield v De Lauret and Company Limited (1920) 29 CLR 71