MONIS, Man Haron v R; DROUDIS, Amirah v R [2011] NSWCCA 231

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: MONIS, Man Haron v R; DROUDIS, Amirah v R [2011] NSWCCA 231 Hearing dates: 23 August 2011 Decision date: 06 December 2011 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; Allsop P at [70]; McClellan CJ at CL at [93] Decision: Appeals dismissed. Catchwords: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - constitutional challenge to validity of statute - whether s 471.12 Criminal Code infringes implied freedom of political communication - test in Lange v Australian Broadcasting Commission - whether section burdens freedom of communication about government or political matters - whether reasonably appropriate and adapted to serve legitimate end compatible with maintenance of system of government prescribed by the Constitution (Cth)

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - constitutional challenge to validity of statute - implied freedom of political communication - whether necessary to have regard to actual communication

CRIMINAL LAW - using a postal service to menace, harass or offend - constitutional validity of statutory offence - whether s 471.12 Criminal Code infringes implied freedom of political communication

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - s 471.12 Criminal Code - meaning of "offensive" Legislation Cited: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth), s 15A Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Criminal Code 1995 (Cth), s 470, s 471 Customs Act 1901 (Cth) Police Offences Act 1928 (Vic), s 25 Police Offences Ordinance 1930-1961 (ACT), s 17(d) Summary Offences Act 1988 Vagrants, Gaming and Other Offences Act 1931 (Qld), s 7(1)(d) Cases Cited: Anderson v Kynaston [1924] VLR 214 APLA Ltd v Legal Services Commissioner (NSW) [2005] HCA 44; (2005) 224 CLR 322 Australian Capital Television Pty Ltd v Commonwealth of Australia (No 2) [1992] HCA 45; (1992) 177 CLR 106 Ball v McIntyre (1966) 9 FLR 237 Cohen v California 403 US 15 (1971) Coleman v Power [2004] HCA 39; (2004) 220 CLR 1 Cunliffe v The Commonwealth of Australia [1994] HCA 44; (1994) 182 CLR 272 Evans v Stevens (1791) 4 TR 224 Ex parte Collier (1877) 1 Knox (NSW) 513 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Applegate (1979) 38 FLR 1 Gypsy Jokers Motorcycle Club Inc v Commissioner of Police [2008] HCA 4; (2008) 234 CLR 532 Hogan v Hinch [2011] HCA 44; (2011) 85 ALJR 398 Holland v The Queen [2005] WASCA 140 Inglis v Fish [1961] VR 607 Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [1997] HCA 25; (1997) 189 CLR 520 Lend Lease Real Estate Investments Ltd v GPT RE Ltd [2006] NSWCA 207 Levy v State of Victoria [1997] HCA 32; (1997) 189 CLR 579 Melser v Police [1967] NZLR 437 Mulholland v Australian Electoral Commission [2004] HCA 41; (2004) 220 CLR 181 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Wills [1992] HCA 46; 177 CLR 1 New South Wales v The Commonwealth [2006] HCA 52; 229 CLR 1 Plaintiff S157/2002 v The Commonwealth [2003] HCA 2; 211 CLR 476 R v Burgmann (Court of Criminal Appeal, 4 May 1973, unreported) R v Smith (1974) 2 NSWLR 586 Roberts v Bass [2002] HCA 57; (2002) 212 CLR 1 Rowan v United States Post Office Department 397 US 728 (1970) Sellers v Bishop (1905) 11 ALR (CN) 61 Theophanous v Herald & Weekly Times Ltd [1994] HCA 46; (1994) 182 CLR 104 Windred v Manion (1918) 14 Tas LR 36 Worcester v Smith [1951] VLR 316 Texts Cited: D C Pearce and R S Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia (7th Ed, 2011) F C Hutley 'Insulting Words' (1941) 14 ALJ 384 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Man Haron Monis (First Appellant) Amirah Droudis (Second Appellant) Regina (Respondent) Attorney General (NSW) (Intervening) Representation: Counsel G O'L Reynolds / G R Rubagotti (First Appellant) D M J Bennett QC / S E Grant (Second Appellant) J Agius SC / M McHugh (Respondent) M G Secton SC SG / J G Renwick (on behalf of the Attorney General) Solicitors Sydney Defense Lawyers (First Appellant) Ford Criminal Lawyers (Second Appellant) Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (Respondent) Solicitor General (Attorney General) File Number(s): 2009/00236443 2010/260817 Decision under appeal Citation: R v Monis; R v Droudis [2011] NSWDC 39 Date of Decision: 2011-04-18 00:00:00 Before: Tupman DCJ File Number(s): 2009/00236443 2010/260817