Malek Fahd Islamic School Limited v Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning [2022] NSWSC 1176

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Malek Fahd Islamic School Limited v Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning [2022] NSWSC 1176 Hearing dates: 21 April 2022 Decision date: 01 September 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (1) Judgment for the defendant; (2) Summons and proceedings dismissed; (3) The plaintiff shall pay the defendant's costs of and incidental to the proceedings. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – orders in the nature of certiorari – operation of s 69 of the Supreme Court Act on determination of a Minister – construction of the Education Act and discretion of a Minister as to whether to recover financial assistance and the amount of financial assistance – engagement with clearly articulated argument – unreasonable or disproportionate response – mandatory considerations – operation of Limitation Act – when cause of action accrues – no legal error – no jurisdictional error Legislation Cited: An Act for the better Government of Her Majesty's Australian Colonies 1850, 13 & 14 Vic I, c 59 An Act to make provision for the better Administration of Justice in the colony of Victoria 1852 (Vic) Australian Education Act 2013 (Cth) Charter of Justice 1823 (UK) Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW), s 83 Commonwealth Constitution, ss 73, 75 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 9 Education Act 1990 (NSW), ss 4, 5, 6, 20A, 21, Pt 5, Pt 5A, Pt 6, Pt 7, 37, 46, 47, 50, 52, 54A, 55, 57A, 59, Pt 7 Div 3, 83B, 83BA, 83C, 83D, 83E, 83F, 83G, 83H, 83I, 83J, 83K, 83L Limitation Act 1969 (NSW), ss 14, 55, 63 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), 23, 63, 69, 91 Cases Cited: Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223 Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin (1990) 170 CLR 1; [1990] HCA 21 Baldwin & Francis Ltd v Patents Appeal Tribunal [1959] AC 663; [1959] 2 All ER 433 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan (2006) 67 NSWLR 372; [2006] NSWCA 284 Collector of Customs v Pozzolanic (1993) 43 FCR 280 at 287; [1993] FCA 456 Colonial Bank of Australasia v Willan (1874) LR 5 PC 417 Craig v South Australia (1995) 184 CLR 163; [1995] HCA 58 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2003) 77 ALJR 1088; [2003] HCA 26 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89; [2007] HCA 22 Hill v Zuda Pty Ltd (2022) 96 ALJR 540; [2022] HCA 21 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales (2010) 239 CLR 531; [2010] HCA 1 L&B Linings Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2011] NSWSC 474 Lovell v Lovell (1950) 81 CLR 513; [1950] HCA 52 Minister For Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1986) 185 CLR 259; [1996] HCA 6 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu (1999) 197 CLR 611; [1999] HCA 21 Murphyores Incorporated Ltd v The Commonwealth (1976) 136 CLR 1; [1976] HCA 20 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1994) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Public Service Board of New South Wales v Osmond (1986) 159 CLR 656; [1986] HCA 7 R v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; ex parte 2HD Pty Ltd (1979) 144 CLR 45; [1979] HCA 602 R v Electricity Comrs, ex p London Electricity Joint Committee Co (1920) Ltd [1924] 1 KB 171 R v Hickman; ex parte Fox and Clinton (1945) 70 CLR 598; [1945] HCA 53 R v Metal Trades Employers' Association; Ex parte Amalgamated Engineering Union, Australian Section (1951) 82 CLR 208, [1951] HCA 3 R v Toohey; ex parte Northern Land Council (1981) 151 CLR 170; [1981] HCA 74 Re Coldham; ex parte Brideson (1989) 166 CLR 338; [1989] HCA 2 Rex v Titchmarsh (1915) 22 DLR 272 Sharp v Wakefield [1891] A. C. 173 Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission (NSW) v Browning (1947) 74 CLR 492; [1947] HCA 21 Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Ltd v Kocak (2013) 252 CLR 480; [2013] HCA 43 Texts Cited: Mark Aronson, Matthew Groves and Greg Weeks, Judicial Review of Administrative Action and Government Liability (6th Ed, Thomson Reuters) The Rt Hon Lord Woolf et al, De SMITH'S JUDICIAL REVIEW (8th ed, 2018, Sweet & Maxwell) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Malek Fahd Islamic School Limited (Plaintiff) Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: L Livingston SC / A Bhasin (Plaintiff) H Younan SC / L Coleman (Defendant)