Morgan and Anor v Commissioner of Police [2012] NSWSC 1141

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Morgan and Anor v Commissioner of Police [2012] NSWSC 1141 Hearing dates: 6 March 2012 Decision date: 21 September 2012 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Johnson J Decision: 1. Summons dismissed. 2. Cross-Summons dismissed. 3. Parties to be heard on costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - judicial review - claim for declaratory and injunctive relief - plaintiffs serving police officers - elaborate statutory scheme for consideration of promotion applications - scheme allows for final review of decision as to ranking on promotion list - review by Promotions Review Committee - ground for review confined to "ground that the person has been disadvantaged by a failure to comply with the procedural requirements at the previous stage of the review process" - whether implied incidental function of Commissioner's delegate to consider whether review application disclosed a permissible ground - whether implied or incidental gatekeeping or screening function open as a matter of construction - whether grant of relief futile if relevant error established - error demonstrated - no implied or incidental gatekeeping or screening function - grant of relief futile - patently clear that plaintiffs' grounds not within permitted statutory ground - relief refused Legislation Cited: Police Act 1990 Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act 1997 Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 Motor Accident Compensation Act 1999 Police Regulation 2000 Police Regulation 2008 Federal Court Rules 1979 Cases Cited: SZBEL v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2006] HCA 63; 228 CLR 152 The Queen v The Judges of the Federal Court of Australia; Ex parte The Western Australian National Football League (Incorporated) [1979] HCA 6; 143 CLR 190 Lindon v Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers [2001] FCA 265 Satchithanantham v National Australia Bank Limited [2010] FCAFC 47; 268 ALR 222 SZBYR v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2007] HCA 26; 235 ALR 609 Blanch v Stroud Shire Council (1947) 48 SR 37 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan [2006] NSWCA 284; 67 NSWLR 372 Siddik v WorkCover Authority of NSW [2008] NSWCA 116 Mahenthirarasa v State Rail Authority of NSW [2008] NSWCA 101 Meeuwissen v Boden [2010] NSWCA 253; 78 NSWLR 143 Nguyen v Motor Accidents Authority (NSW) [2011] NSWSC 351; 58 MVR 296 Farache v Motor Accidents Authority of NSW [2011] NSWSC 446 Ekermawi v Administrative Decisions Tribunal of NSW [2009] NSWSC 143 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Clark [2003] NSWCA 91; 57 NSWLR 113 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; 194 CLR 355 Rohatgi v Medical Tribunal of New South Wales (Court of Appeal, 20 April 1994, unreported, BC9402485)