Faruqi v Hanson (evidence rulings) [2024] FCA 225

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Faruqi v Hanson (evidence rulings) [2024] FCA 225 File number: NSD 372 of 2023

Judgment of: STEWART J

Date of judgment: 12 March 2024

Catchwords: HUMAN RIGHTS – offensive behaviour because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin – Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), s 18C – "piss off back to Pakistan" –relevance of evidence of the subjective effect of the impugned conduct on particular people – relevance of expert witness evidence on rhetoric, social psychology and social epidemiology, including as to constitutional facts in relation to the implied freedom of political communication EVIDENCE – Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987 (Cth), s 16(3) – scope of paragraph (c) exclusion – Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) – hearsay – tendency – opinion – probative value and prejudicial effect

Legislation: Constitution Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 10, 44(3), 48, 59, 60, 64, 66A, 78, 97(1), 135, 136, 192A(a) Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987 (Cth) s 16 Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) Pt IIA, ss 18C, 18D Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 40.04 Bill of Rights 1688 (1 Will & Mary, Sess 2 c 2) Art 9

Cases cited: Beitzel v Crabb [1992] 2 VR 121 Breen v Sneddon [1961] HCA 67; 106 CLR 406 Bropho v Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission [2004] FCAFC 16; 135 FCR 105 Buchanan v Jennings (AG of New Zealand intervening) [2005] 1 AC 115 (PC) Coleman v Sellars [2000] QCA 465; 181 ALR 120 Commonwealth Freighters Pty Ltd v Sneddon [1959] HCA 11; 102 CLR 280 Commonwealth v Vance [2005] ACTCA 35; 158 ACTR 47 Creek v Cairns Post Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1007; 112 FCR 352 Eatock v Bolt [2011] FCA 1103; 197 FCR 261 Hagan v Trustees of the Toowoomba Sports Ground Trust [2000] FCA 1615 Hamilton v Al Fayed [2001] 1 AC 395 (HL) Hughes v The Queen [2017] HCA 20; 263 CLR 338 Jones v Scully [2002] FCA 1080; 120 FCR 243 Laurance v Katter [2000] 1 Qd R 147 Leyonhjelm v Hanson-Young [2021] FCAFC 22; 282 FCR 341 Maloney v The Queen [2013] HCA 28; 252 CLR 168 McGlade v Lightfoot [2002] FCA 1457; 124 FCR 106 Minister for Home Affairs v Lee [2021] FCAFC 89 North Eastern Dairy Co Ltd v Dairy Industry Authority (NSW) [1975] HCA 45; 134 CLR 559 Office of Government Commerce v Information Commissioner (Attorney General Intervening) [2008] EWHC 774; [2010] QB 98 Prebble v Television New Zealand Ltd [1995] 1 AC 321 (PC) R v Theophanous [2003] VSCA 78; 141 A Crim R 216 Rann v Olsen [2000] SASC 83; 76 SASR 450 Re GHI (a protected person) [2005] NSWSC 466 Thomas v Mowbray [2007] HCA 33; 233 CLR 307 Toben v Jones [2003] FCAFC 137; 129 FCR 515 Unions NSW v New South Wales [2019] HCA 1; 264 CLR 595 Vanderstock v Victoria [2023] HCA 30