VIETNAM VETERANS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES BRANCH INC. v. SPECIALIST MEDICAL REVIEW COUNCIL & ORS [1999] NSWSC 403

New South Wales Supreme Court CITATION : VIETNAM VETERANS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES BRANCH INC. v. SPECIALIST MEDICAL REVIEW COUNCIL & ORS [1999] NSWSC 403 revised - 05/05/99 CURRENT JURISDICTION : Administrative Law FILE NUMBER(S) : 30133 of 1996; 30139 of 1996 HEARING DATE(S) : 26.8.98; 27.8.98; 3.9.98 JUDGMENT DATE : 4 May 1999

PARTIES : VIETNAM VETERANS' ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES BRANCH INC. v. SPECIALIST MEDICAL REVIEW COUNCIL & ORS JUDGMENT OF : Greg James J at 1

COUNSEL : Plaintiff: M. Smith Defendant: P. Hanks SOLICITORS : Plaintiff: T.A. Murphy Defendant: Australian Government Solicitor CATCHWORDS : Declaration as to construction of legislation - discretion - parties' standing, statutory functions, public interest - jurisdiction in construing Federal Statute - nature of Statements of Principles under Veterans Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) - nature of review process by Specialist Medical Review Council - statutory right to be heard on review - principles for ascertaining "sound medical-scientific evidence". Veterans Entitlement Act 1986 (Cth) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Veterans Affairs (1994-95 Budget Measures) Legislation Amendment Act 1994 (Cth) ACTS CITED : Administrative Divisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-Vesting) Act 1987 (Cth) Repatriation Act 1920 R. v. Australian Broadcasting Tribunal ex parte Hardiman (1980) 144 CLR 13 Vietnam Veterans' Affairs Association of Australia New South Wales Branch Inc. v. Cohen & Ors (1996) 70 FCR 419 Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association v. Minister for Industrial Affairs (SA) (1995) 183 CLR 552 Batemans Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council & Anor v. The Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund Pty. Limited & Anor (1998) HCA 49 McGarrigle v. Public Service Board (1979) 1 NSWLR 292 CIC Insurance Limited v. Bankstown Football Club Limited (1997) 187 CLR 384 CASES CITED : Neal v. The Queen (1982) 149 CLR 305 Murray v. Legal Services Commissioner & Anor [1999] NSWCA 70 East v. Repatriation Commission (1987) 16 FCR 517 Beale v. Administrative Appeals Tribunal (1998) 26 AAR 497 Vietnam Veterans' Association v. Cohen (1996) 70 FCR 419 Jenkin v. Repatriation Commission (1997) 24 AAR 494 Repatriation Commission v. Deledio (1998) 27 AAR 144 re Repatriation Commission v. McKenna (1997) 26 AAR 139 Deledio v. Repatriation Commission (1997) 25 AAR 396 DECISION : First defendant held have erred.