Stratton v State of New South Wales; Pandolfi v Minister for Health and Medical Research [2023] NSWSC 396

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Stratton v State of New South Wales; Pandolfi v Minister for Health and Medical Research [2023] NSWSC 396 Hearing dates: 1 and 2 September 2022 Date of orders: 20 April 2023 Decision date: 20 April 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Mitchelmore J Decision: The Summons is dismissed. Catchwords: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – implied freedom of political communication – where plaintiffs each issued a penalty notice for breaching directions in public health orders made pursuant to Public Health Act by attending protests – where orders made and penalty notices issued during COVID-19 pandemic – challenge to validity of orders and statute – whether constitutional analysis takes place at level of orders or statute – whether powers burdened implied freedom – whether burden necessary – whether law adequate in its balance – whether offence-making provision impermissibly infringed implied freedom Legislation Cited: Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 (NSW) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018 (Cth) Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (Vic) Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Cases Cited: APLA Pty Ltd v Legal Services Commissioner (NSW) (2005) 224 CLR 322; [2005] HCA 44 Attorney-General (SA) v Adelaide City Corporation (2013) 249 CLR 1; [2013] HCA 3 Australian Communist Party v Commonwealth (1951) 83 CLR 1 Bassi v Commissioner for Police (NSW) [2020] NSWCA 109 Brown v Tasmania (2017) 261 CLR 328; [2017] HCA 43 Burton v Director of Public Prosecutions [2022] NSWCA 242 Clubb v Edwards (2019) 267 CLR 171; [2019] HCA 11 Coleman v Power (2004) 220 CLR 1; [2004] HCA 39 Comcare v Banerji (2019) 267 CLR 373; [2019] HCA 23 Commissioner of Police (NSW) v Gibson [2020] NSWSC 953 Commissioner of Police (NSW) v Gray [2020] NSWSC 867 Commonwealth v AJL20 (2021) 273 CLR 43; [2021] HCA 21 Cotterill v Romanes [2021] VSC 498 Cotterill v Romanes [2023] VSCA 7 Farm Transparency International Ltd v State of New South Wales (2022) 403 ALR 1; [2022] HCA 23 Kassam v Hazzard; Henry v Hazzard (2021) 106 NSWLR 520; [2021] NSWCA 299 Kassam v Hazzard; Henry v Hazzard (2021) 393 ALR 664; [2021] NSWSC 1320 Knight v Victoria (2017) 261 CLR 306; [2017] HCA 29 LibertyWorks Inc v Commonwealth (2021) 95 ALJR 490; [2021] HCA 18 Maloney v R (2013) 252 CLR 168; [2013] HCA 28 McCloy v New South Wales (2015) 257 CLR 178; [2015] HCA 34 Miller v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (1991) 161 CLR 556 at 613-614; [1986] HCA 60 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Padraic Gibson (on behalf of the Dungay family) v Commissioner of Police (NSW Police Force) (2020) 102 NSWLR 900; [2020] NSWCA 160 Palmer v State of Western Australia (2021) 272 CLR 505; [2021] HCA 5 Tajjour v New South Wales (2014) 254 CLR 508; [2014] HCA 35 Tey v New South Wales [2023] NSWSC 266 Thomas v Mowbray (2007) 233 CLR 307; [2007] HCA 3 Unions NSW v New South Wales (2013) 252 CLR 530; [2013] HCA 58 Unions NSW v New South Wales (2019) 264 CLR 595; [2019] HCA 1 Wotton v Queensland (2012) 246 CLR 1; [2012] HCA 2 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Chad Stratton (First Plaintiff) Ruby Pandolfi (Second Plaintiff) State of New South Wales (First Defendant) Minister for Health and Medical Research (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: S Prince SC with F Graham and T Wong (Plaintiffs) M G Sexton SC SG with M Adams (Defendants)