Hoxton Park Residents Action Group Inc v Liverpool City Council [2015] NSWSC 136

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hoxton Park Residents Action Group Inc v Liverpool City Council [2015] NSWSC 136 Hearing dates: 10 and 11 June 2014, 15 December 2014 and 25 and 26 February 2015 Date of orders: 03 March 2015 Decision date: 03 March 2015 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Pembroke J Decision: Claim dismissed with costs Catchwords: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – whether the Schools Assistance Act 2008 and Australian Education Act 2013 are contrary to Section 106 and 107 of the Constitution – insofar as they permit or provide for Commonwealth funding of the Malek Fahd Islamic School

CONSTITUIONAL LAW – whether the Schools Assistance Act 2008 and Australian Education Act 2013, insofar as they permit or provide for Commonwealth funding of the Malek Fahd Islamic School, exceed the constitutional power of the Commonwealth by overriding the power of the State of New South Wales in the areas of religion and education

EDUCATION & SCHOOLS – independent non-government religious school – Malek Fahd Islamic School – effect of funding by Commonwealth – whether 'establishes' a religion, 'imposes' any religious observance or 'prohibits' the free exercise of religion – contrary to Section 116 of the Constitution

STANDING – whether the plaintiffs have standing to challenge validity and laws and executive acts relating to Commonwealth funding in respect of past expenditure Legislation Cited: Appropriation Act 2008 Australian Education Act 2013 Australian Education (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2013 Australian Education Regulation 2013 Commonwealth of Australia Constitution 1901 Schools Assistance Act 2008 Cases Cited: APLA Limited v Legal Services Commissioner (NSW) (2005) 224 CLR 322 Attorney-General for the State of Victoria; Ex rel Black v Commonwealth (1981) 146 CLR 559 Austin v Commonwealth (2003) 215 CLR 185 Cheedy on behalf of the Yindjibarndi People v State of Western Australia [2010] FCA 690 Church of Scientology v Woodward (1982) 154 CLR 25 Gardner v Dairy Industry Authority (1977) 18 ALR 55 Hoxton Park Residents' Action Group Inc v Liverpool City Council [2010] NSWSC 1312; (2010) 246 FLR 207 Hoxton Park Residents' Action Group Inc v Liverpool City Council (No 2) [2011] NSWCA 363; (2011) 256 FLR 156 Hoxton Park Residents' Action Group Inc v Liverpool City Council [2014] NSWSC 322 ICM Agriculture v The Commonwealth (2009) 240 CLR 140 Kruger v Commonwealth (1997) 190 CLR 1 Krygger v Williams (1912) 15 CLR 366 Melbourne Corporation v Commonwealth (1947) 74 CLR 31 Nelson v Fish (1990) 21 FCR 429 Pape v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2009) 238 CLR 1 Spencer v Commonwealth (2010) 241 CLR 118 Victoria v The Commonwealth (1926) 38 CLR 399 Victoria v The Commonwealth (1957) 99 CLR 575 Victoria v The Commonwealth (1975) 134 CLR 338 Williams v The Commonwealth (2012) 248 CLR 156 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Hoxton Park Residents Action Group Inc – first plaintiff Marella Harris – second plaintiff Liverpool City Council – first defendant Malek Fahd Islamic School Ltd – second defendant Australian Federation of Islamic Councils Inc – third defendant State of New South Wales – fourth defendant Commonwealth of Australia – fifth defendant Representation: Counsel: P E King – plaintiffs M Pesman SC – second and third defendants H El-Hage – fourth defendant S Free – fifth defendant