Hastwell v Health Care Complaints Commission [2021] NSWCA 22

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hastwell v Health Care Complaints Commission [2021] NSWCA 22 Hearing dates: 9 February 2021 Decision date: 03 March 2021 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Leeming JA at [22]; White JA at [95]. Decision: Summons dismissed, with costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - Health Care Complaints Commission - decision not to take further steps to progress complaint against psychiatrist - decision reviewed and confirmed by Commission - primary judge dismissed summons seeking judicial review - whether judicial review available - whether any judicially reviewable error disclosed by decisions - leave refused Legislation Cited: Australian Courts Act 1828 (Imp), s 5 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 79 Health Care Complaints Act 1993 (NSW), ss 3, 3A, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20, 20A, 21A, 22, 27, 28, 80, 90B; Pt 2, Div 9 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101 Cases Cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564; [1992] HCA 10 Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596; [1990] HCA 57 Barton v The Queen (1980) 147 CLR 75; [1980] HCA 48 Hot Holdings Pty Ltd v Creasy (1996) 185 CLR 149; [1996] HCA 44 Maxwell v The Queen (1996) 184 CLR 501; [1996] HCA 46 R v Director of Public Prosecutions; Ex parte C [1995] 1 Cr App R 136 R v Director of Public Prosecutions; Ex parte Manning [2001] QB 330 Reg v Prosser (1848) 11 Beav 306; 50 ER 834 Saeed v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2010) 241 CLR 252; [2010] HCA 23 The Queen v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; Ex parte Hardiman (1980) 144 CLR 13; [1980] HCA 13 Texts Cited: American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed, 2013) Aronson, M, Groves, M, Weeks, G, Judicial Review of Administrative Action and Government Liability (6th ed, Lawbook Co, 2017) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Haydyn Gary Hastwell (Applicant) Health Care Complaints Commission (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Applicant in person B Tronson, C Roberts (Respondent) File Number(s): 2020/182649 Publication restriction: Nil Decision under appeal Court or tribunal: Supreme Court of New South Wales Jurisdiction: Common Law Citation: [2020] NSWSC 728 Date of Decision: 12 June 2020 Before: Rothman J File Number(s): 2018/271285