Subramaniam v Mental Health Review Tribunal [2012] NSWSC 918

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Subramaniam v Mental Health Review Tribunal [2012] NSWSC 918 Hearing dates: 7 August 2012 Decision date: 17 August 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Pembroke J Decision: See paragraph [69] Catchwords: STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - Mental Health Act, s 51(1) - whether treatment of immigration detainee is capable of being "in the community" - meaning of "in the community" dependent on comparison of scope of operation of Parts 2 and 3 of Chapter 3 STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - Mental Health Act, s 53(3) - whether mental health facility "capable of implementing" treatment plan in relation to immigration detainee STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - Mental Health Act, s 51(1) - whether immigration detainee held in detention centre "resides in NSW" - ordinary meaning of residence - question of fact - voluntariness not necessary - designation of "Commonwealth place" does not result in excision of detention centre from New South Wales CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - Inconsistency of laws (Section 109, Constitution) - Mental Health Act 2007 (NSW) and Migration Act 2001 (Cth) - operational inconsistency between powers under both Acts - resolved by giving supremacy to federal law - powers or obligations under State law "suspended inoperative and ineffective" to extent necessary CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - inconsistency of laws (Section 109, Constitution) - Regulation 5.35 of Migration Regulations does not "cover the field" Legislation Cited: Commonwealth Places (Application of Laws) Act 1970 (Cth) Lunacy Act 1891 (UK) Mental Health Act 2007 Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 Migration Act 2001 (Cth) Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 Cases Cited: AMS v AIF [1999] HCA 26; (1999) 199 CLR 160 APLA Ltd v Legal Services Commissioner of New South Wales [2005] HCA 44; (2005) 224 CLR 322 Brokelmann v Barr [1971] 2 QB 602 Cesena Sulphur Co v Nicholson [1876] 1 Ex D 428 Commonwealth v Western Australia [1999] HCA 5; (1999) 196 CLR 392 Day & Dent Constructions Pty Ltd (in liq) v North Australian Properties Pty Ltd [1982] HCA 20; (1982) 150 CLR 85 Firebrace v Firebrace (1878) 4 PD 63 Flaherty v Girgis [1987] HCA 17; (1987) 162 CLR 574 K & S Lake City Freighters Pty Ltd v Gordon and Gotch Ltd [1985] HCA 48; (1985) 157 CLR 309 Keil v Keil [1947] VLR 383 Levene v IRC [1928] AC 217 Matalon v Matalon [1952] P 233 Permanent Trustee Australia Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue [2004] HCA 53; (2004) 220 CLR 388 R v Foster; Ex parte Commonwealth Steamship Owners' Association [1953] HCA 86; (1953) 88 CLR 549 R v Phillips [1970] HCA 50; (1970) 125 CLR 93 R v Porter [2004] NSWCCA 353; (2004) 61 NSWLR 384 R v Winneke; Ex parte Gallagher [1982] HCA 77; (1982) 152 CLR 211 Re X Y [1937] Ch 337 Stoke-on-Trent Council v Cheshire Council [1915] 3 KB 699 Telstra Corporation Limited v Worthing [1999] HCA 12; (1999) 197 CLR 61 Victoria v The Commonwealth [1937] HCA 82; (1937) 58 CLR 618 Category: Separate question Parties: Premakumar Subramaniam by his tutor Kokilakumar Subramaniam - plaintiff Mental Health Review Tribunal - first defendant South Western Sydney Local Health District - second defendant Commonwealth of Australia - third defendant Attorney General of New South Wales - intervenor Representation: Counsel: J S Gleeson - for the plaintiff P D Herzfeld - for the second defendant A M Mitchelmore - for the third defendant P D Herzfeld - for the Attorney General of New South Wales (intervening) Solicitors: Shine Lawyers Limited - for the plaintiff I V Knight, Crown solicitor - for the first and second defendants and the Attorney-General of New South Wales Greg Kathner - Australian Government Solicitor - for the third defendant File Number(s): 2012/097112