AIX20 v Director-General of Security (No 2) [2024] FCA 1130

Federal Court of Australia AIX20 v Director-General of Security (No 2) [2024] FCA 1130 File number(s): VID 711 of 2022

Judgment of: DOWLING J

Date of judgment: 26 September 2024

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – public interest immunity claim – restricted counsel procedure – national security information – public interest in national security – public interest in administration of justice – whether Court has power to implement restricted counsel procedure – whether Court should exercise its discretion to implement restricted counsel procedure – application for restricted counsel procedure dismissed – public interest immunity claim upheld

Legislation: Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) ss 39A, 39B Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 (Cth)

A & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2004] UKHL 56; [2005] 2 AC 68 Al Rawi v Security Service [2012] 1 AC 531 Alister v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 404 Assistant Commissioner Condon v Pompano Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 7; 252 CLR 38 Church of Scientology v Woodward (1980) 154 CLR 25 Commissioner of Police v Attorney-General for New South Wales [2022] NSWSC 595 Cases cited: HT v The Queen [2019] HCA 40; 269 CLR 403 Leghaei v Director-General of Security [2007] FCAFC 37; 241 ALR 141 New South Wales v Public Transport Ticketing Corporation (No 3) [2011] NSWCA 200; 81 NSWLR 394 R v Collaery (No 11) [2022] ACTSC 40; 364 FLR 418 R v Khazaal [2006] NSWSC 1061 Sankey v Whitlam (1978) 142 CLR 1 SDCV v Director-General of Security [2022] HCA 32; 277 CLR 241 Thomson Australian Holdings Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1981) 148 CLR 150