BW v Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice & Ors [2024] NSWSC 1354

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: BW v Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice & Ors [2024] NSWSC 1354 Hearing dates: 11 September 2024 Date of orders: 28 October 2024 Decision date: 28 October 2024 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Faulkner J Decision: (1) Pursuant to s 69 of the Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), quash the judgment of her Honour Magistrate Richardson of the Children's Court on 21 May 2024 declining to recuse herself from any further hearing of proceedings 2020/00273771. (2) An order in the nature of prohibition prohibiting her Honour Magistrate Richardson Magistrate from further hearing proceedings 2020/00273771. (3) No order as to costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review – Children's Court Magistrate - bias – apprehended bias – application for disqualification of Magistrate – fair-minded lay observer – error of law on the face of the record – adequacy of reasons Legislation Cited: Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) ss 3, 7, 9, 23, 24, 30, 34, 60, 61, 63, 68, 71, 72, 78, 80, 83, 87, 90, 91, 93, 94, 98, 99, 107 Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) ss 6, 8 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 76, 128, 140, 165A Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Cases Cited: Antoun v The Queen (2006) 80 ALJR 497; [2006] HCA 2 Briginshaw v Briginshaw 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan (2006) 67 NSWLR 372; [2006] NSWCA 284 Chamoun v District Court of New South Wales [2018] NSWCA 187 CNY17 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2019) 268 CLR 76 Commissioner of Police v Attorney General for New South Wales [2022] NSWSC 595 D v C; Re B (No. 2) [2018] NSWCA 310 Director General, New South Wales Department of Community Services v Children's Court of New South Wales (2002) 56 NSWLR 555; [2002] NSWSC 679 Ebner v Official Trustee (2000) 205 CLR 337 FAB v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2003) 131 FCR 102 Goldsworthy v Local Court of NSW [2013] NSWSC 459 Heywood v Local Court of New South Wales [2024] NSWSC 1047 IFTC Broking Services Limited v Commission of Taxation [2010] FCAFC 22 Isbester v Knox City Council (2015) 255 CLR 135; [2015] HCA 20 Kaycliff Pty Ltd v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal (1989) 90 ALR 310 Lee v Cha [2008] NSWCA 13 M v M (1988) 166 CLR 69; [1988] HCA 68 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia Legeng (2001) 205 CLR 507; [2001] HCA 17 Polsen v Harrison [2021] NSWCA 23 NADH of 2001 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2004] FCAFC 328; 214 ALR 264 QYFM v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (2023) 409 ALR 65; [2023] HCA 15 Re Henry; LJ v Secretary, Department of Family and Community Services [2015] NSWCA 89 Re June (No 2) [2013] NSWSC 1111 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82; [2000] HCA 57 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte H [2001] HCA 28 Resources Pacific Pty Ltd v Wilkinson [2013] NSWCA 33 Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice v KH [2022] NSWCA 221 SZBLY v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2007] FCA 765 SZRUI v Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship [2013] FCAFC 80 Vakauta v Kelly (1989) 167 CLR 568; [1989] HCA 44 VFAB v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2003) 131 FCR 102; [2003] FCA 872 Wainohu v New South Wales (2011) 243 CLR 181; [2011] HCA 24 Webb v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 41 Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Ltd v Kocak (2013) 252 CLR 480; [2013] HCA 43 Category: Principal judgment Parties: BW (Plaintiff) Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice (First Defendant) MK (Second Defendant) BA (Third Defendant) Children's Court of NSW (Fourth Defendant) Attorney General (Fifth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A Gallimore (Plaintiff) A M Hochroth (Second Defendant) L M Saw / T J Robertson (Third Defendant) D T Kell SC / J G Wherrett (Fifth Defendant)