Ma v Secretary, Department of Social Services [2024] FCA 1467

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA Ma v Secretary, Department of Social Services [2024] FCA 1467 File number(s): NSD 630 of 2024

Judgment of: PERRY J

Date of judgment: 18 December 2024

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – appeal on questions of law under s 44(1) of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) – whether notice of appeal raises questions of law – where some questions sought impermissible merits review Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – whether no evidence for concluding that the applicant failed to satisfy the activity test – whether applicant denied procedural fairness because Tribunal declined to issue summons SOCIAL SECURITY LAW – whether Tribunal erred in refusing waiver of debt – whether Tribunal erred in applying s 1237AAD of the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) – concession that second debt should be recalculated

Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) s 40A, 44 Legislation: Administrative Review Tribunal (Consequential and Transitional Provisions No 1) Act 2024 (Cth) sch 16 item 25 Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) ss 568, 569, 569A, 569C, 569D, 569E, 1223(AB)(c)-(d), 1236(1), 1237(1), 1237A, 1237AAD Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 (Cth) ss 94, 196

Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond [1990] HCA 33; (1990) 170 CLR 321 Brown v Repatriation Commission [1985] FCA 236; (1985) 7 FCR 302 Commissioner of Taxation v Brixius [1987] FCA 612; (1987) 16 FCR 359 Cosco Holdings Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1997] FCA 1504; (1997) 37 ATR 432 Haritos v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [2015] FCAFC 92; (2015) 233 FCR 315 Manikantan v Secretary, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations [2024] FCA 94 Martincevic v Commonwealth [2007] FCAFC 164; (2007) 164 FCR 45 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] HCA 40; (1986) 162 CLR 24 Cases cited: Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf [2001] HCA 30; (2001) 206 CLR 323 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v Huynh [2004] FCAFC 256; (2004) 139 FCR 505 Oberhardt v Secretary, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations [2008] FCA 1923; (2008) 174 FCR 157 Onassys v Comcare [2022] FCA 90 Palassis v Commissioner of Taxation [2011] FCA 1305 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala [2000] HCA 57; (2000) 204 CLR 82 SZBEL v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2006] HCA 63; (2006) 228 CLR 152 Trade Practices Commission v Kimberley Homes Pty Ltd [1989] FCA 262 VAAD v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2005] FCAFC 117 Wills v Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Skills Quality Authority [2022] FCAFC 10; (2022) 289 FCR 175