Members of the Board of the Wesley Mission Council v OV and OW (No 2) [2009] NSWADTAP 57

Set aside by Appeal :

Appeal Panel - Internal

CITATION: Members of the Board of the Wesley Mission Council v OV and OW (No 2) [2009] NSWADTAP 57

APPELLANT Members of the Board of the Wesley Mission Council

PARTIES: RESPONDENT OV and OW

INTERVENOR Attorney-General

FILE NUMBER: 089034

HEARING DATES: 20 April 2009

SUBMISSIONS CLOSED: 20 April 2009

DATE OF DECISION: 1 October 2009

BEFORE: Hennessy N - Magistrate (Deputy President); Grotte E - Judicial Member; Schembri A - Non-Judicial Member

CATCHWORDS: equal opportunity - discrimination on ground of homosexuality - homosexual couple refused permission to apply to become foster carers - religious exceptions - meaning of 'religion' - 'doctrines of religion' - 'adherents of that religion' - whether selection process prohibiting homosexual foster carers unlawful - Anti-Discrimination Act 1977, ss49ZP, 56(c) and (d)

DECISION UNDER APPEAL: OV and anor v QZ and anor (No.2) [2008] NSWADT 115

FILE NUMBER UNDER APPEAL: 041154

DATE OF DECISION UNDER APPEAL: 10/01/2009

Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 LEGISLATION CITED : Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act 1997 Interpretation Act 1987 Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998

B & L Linings Pty Limited and Anor v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2008] NSWCA 187 Vetter v Lake Macquarie City Council [2001] HCA 12; 202 CLR 439 Health Care Complaints Commission v Karalasingham [2007] NSWCA 267 Ormwave Pty Ltd v Smith [2007] NSWCA 210; 5 DDCR 180 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Cohen (2001) 177 ALR 573 Australian Gas Light Co Valuer-General (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 126 Williams v Bill Williams Pty Ltd [1971] 1 NSWLR 547 Collector of Customs v AGFA-Gevaert Ltd [1996] HCA 36; (1996) 141 ALR 59 An v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2007) 160 FCR 480 Attorney-General (Vic); Ex Rel Black v Commonwealth (DOGS case) [1981] HCA 2; (1981) 146 CLR 559 Church of the New Faith v Commissioner of Pay-Roll Tax (Vic) [1983] HCA 40; (1983) 154 CLR 120 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Pochi (1980) 44 FLR 41 Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation Ltd v McAuslan (1993) 47 FCR CASES CITED: Kirkpatrick v Commonwealth of Australia (1985) 9 FCR 36 Shorten v David Hurst Constructions Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 134 S.W.M Broeks v the Netherlands CCPR/C/OP/2 p 197-201 (9/4/1987) Regina v Secretary of State for Education and Employment and others (Respondents) ex parte Williamson (Appellant) and others [2005] 2 AC 246 Hozack v Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (1997) 79 FCR 441 Fordham v Brideson [1986] VR 587 Icm Agriculture Pty Ltd v Perry [2002] NSWCA 257 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] HCA 40; 162 CLR 24 Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Assn v Minister for Transport & Ors (No 2) Nuevo v Minister for Transport & Ors (No 2) Neira v Minister for Transport and ors (No 2) [2006] NSWADT 260 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 Absolon v NSW TAFE [1999] NSWCA 311 House of Peace Pty Ltd and Anor v Bankstown City Council [2000] NSWCA 44; (2000) 48 NSWLR 498