JM v Victims Compensation Fund Corporation [2009] NSWSC 1300

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : JM v Victims Compensation Fund Corporation [2009] NSWSC 1300 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S) : 19 August 2009

JUDGMENT DATE : 2 December 2009

JURISDICTION : Common Law

JUDGMENT OF : Rothman J

(i) That applications 79590, 131810, 131811, 131812, 131814, 131815, 131816 before the Victims Compensation Tribunal, being applications by JM, be removed into this Court;

(ii) That the decision of the Victims Compensation Tribunal in the aforesaid matters, made on 2 October 2008, be quashed;

DECISION : (iii) That the further hearing of the said proceedings be remitted to the Victims Compensation Tribunal, to be heard in accordance with law;

(iv) That the first defendant pay the plaintiff's costs, of and incidental to these proceedings;

(v) Otherwise, the proceedings in this Court be dismissed.

CATCHWORDS : ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Victims Compensation Tribunal – error of law – orders in the nature of certiorari – 'related acts' for purpose of definition of 'act of violence' – irrationality – sufficiency of reasons – orders issued

LEGISLATION CITED : Victims Support and Rehabilitation Act 1996

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

Abebe v The Commonwealth of Australia [1999] HCA 14; (1999) 197 CLR 510 Aldridge v Victims Compensation Fund Corporation [2008] NSWSC 724 Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin [1990] HCA 21; (1990) 170 CLR 1 Avon Downs Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1949] HCA 26; (1949) 78 CLR 353 Director-General of the Attorney-General's Department v District Court of New South Wales & Stark (1993) 32 NSWLR 409; (1993) 69 A Crim R 324 Kruger v The Commonwealth of Australia [1997] HCA 27; (1997) 190 CLR 1 CASES CITED : McErlain v Victims Compensation Fund Corporation (District Court of New South Wales, 30 August 1996, unreported) Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu [1999] HCA 21; (1999) 197 CLR 611 MJW v Victims Compensation Fund Corporation (District Court of New South Wales, 18 November 1997, unreported) Project Blue Sky Inc & Ors v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 R v C (Supreme Court of New South Wales, Hunt J, 5 March 1982, unreported) Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Applicant S20/2002 [2003] HCA 30 Victims Compensation Fund Corporation v Brown [2003] HCA 54; (2003) 201 ALR 260; (2003) 77 ALJR 1797 Victims Compensation Fund Corporation v GM [2004] NSWCA 185; (2004) 60 NSWLR 310