Baker v Commissioner of the Australian Border Force [2020] FCA 836

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Baker v Commissioner of the Australian Border Force [2020] FCA 836 File number: VID 380 of 2020

Judge: MORTIMER J

Date of judgment: 15 June 2020

Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – COVID-19 travel ban – where applicants requested exemption from travel ban to attend son's wedding in New Jersey – where decision -maker refused exemption requests – whether decision-maker asked wrong question – whether decision-maker inflexibly applied policy – whether decision-maker failed to take into account relevant considerations – whether decision-maker failed to afford procedural fairness – application dismissed

Legislation: Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) s 13(2) Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Overseas Travel Ban Emergency Requirements) Determination 2020 (Cth) ss 5-7 Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth) ss 475, 477

Cases cited: Commissioner for Australian Capital Territory Revenue v Alphaone Pty Ltd [1994] FCA 293; 49 FCR 576 Goundar v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2016] FCA 1203; 160 ALD 123 Jabbour v Secretary, Department of Home Affairs [2019] FCA 452; 269 FCR 438 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] HCA 40; 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v MZYTS [2013] FCAFC 114; 230 FCR 431 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang [1996] HCA 6; 185 CLR 259 Plaintiff M64/2015 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] HCA 50; 258 CLR 173 Plaintiff S297/2013 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] HCA 3; 255 CLR 231 SZBEL v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2006] HCA 63; 228 CLR 152