Director-General, Department of Community Services; Re Thomas [2009] NSWSC 217

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Director-General, Department of Community Services; Re Thomas [2009] NSWSC 217

HEARING DATE(S) : 26 February 2009

JUDGMENT DATE : 31 March 2009

JURISDICTION : Equity Division Expedition List

JUDGMENT OF : Brereton J

DECISION : Grant orders sought, with matter to remain under judicial review, and parties being granted liberty to apply on two days notice

CATCHWORDS : FAMILY LAW AND CHILD WELFARE - Parens patriae - Scope of power - Where 15-year-old child has extensive history of serious self-harming, violent and anti-social behaviour – Where experts strongly support preventative confinement of child in secure accommodation to facilitate treatment plan – Where Director-General seeks order authorising indefinite involuntary detention of child in secure accommodation unit – Whether such order may be made in parens patriae jurisdiction – Relevance of child's human rights under Convention on Rights of the Child

(CTH) Family Law Act 1975 (CTH) Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (CTH) Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987 (NSW) Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 LEGISLATION CITED : (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (UK) Children Act 1989 CONVENTIONS: (European) Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (United Nations) Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 37

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

A Local Authority v Ma, Sa, Na [2005] EWHC 2942 (Fam); [2007] 2 FCR 563, [2006] 1 FLR 867 B and B: Family Law Reform Act 1995 (1997) 21 Fam LR 676; (1997) FLC 92-755; (1997) 140 FLR 11 Chu Kheng Lim v Minister for Immigration (1992) 176 CLR 1 DoCS v Y [1999] NSWSC 644 Frances and Benny [2005] NSWSC 1207 Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority [1986] AC 112; [1985] 3 All ER 402 In Re K (A Child) (Secure Accommodation Order: Right to Liberty) [2001] 2 WLR 1141 K v Minister for Youth and Community Services [1982] 1 NSWLR 311 Mabo v Queensland [No.2] (1992) 175 CLR 1 Minister of State for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Ah Hin Teoh [1995] HCA 20; (1995) 183 CLR 273 Murray v Director Family Services (ACT) (1993) FLC 92-416 CASES CITED : Re B (A Minor) (Wardship: Sterilisation) [1988] AC 199; [1987] 2 All ER 206 Re C [1997] 2 FLR 180 Re Christina (NSWSC, 2168/07, 5 April 2007) Re Eve [1986] 2 SCR 388 Re Frances and Benny [2005] NSWSC 1207 Re Nellie (NSWSC, 5150/08, 10 October 2008) Re R (a Minor) [1992] Fam 11; [1991] 3 WLR 592; [1991] 4 All ER 177 Re Victoria (2002) 29 Fam LR 157 Re W [1992] 3 WLR 758; [1992] 4 All ER 627 Re X [1975] 1 All ER 697 Secretary, Department Of Health And Community Services v JWB and SMB (Marion's Case) (1992) 175 CLR 218 Wellesley v Duke of Beaufort (1827) 2 Russ 1; 38 ER 236, 243 Wellesley v Wellesley (1828) 2 Bli N S 124; 4 ER 1078