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The Presumption of Constitutionality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 January 2025

Henry Burmester
Henry Burmester*
Affiliation:
Australian National University
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Abstract

The presumption of constitutionality has been frequently invoked in recent judgments of Murphy J in the High Court. The article examines the use of the presumption in the United States and Canada. It then considers the way in which the presumption has been applied in Australia and the justification given for it. It is suggested that although the presumption does not have a clearly recognised place in Australian constitutional theory, the presumption is important and it should be given much greater prominence. For this to happen will require changes in judicial attitude. It also requires Parliament to reassert its role in the determination of constitutional questions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Federal Law Review , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , December 1983 , pp. 277 - 298
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 The Australian National University

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Footnotes

The author acknowledges the helpful comments of his colleagues Professor L Zines and Mr G Lindell on earlier drafts.

References

1 (1977) 16 ALR 487.

2 (1976) 138 CLR 492.

3 (1981) 38 ALR 25. See case note (1982) 13 FL Rev 191.

4 Ibid 45.

5 Congressional Research Service, The Constitution of the United States of America, Analysis and Interpretation (1973) 681.

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12 (1810) 10 US 87, 128.

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14 Eg Ninth Decennial Digest Part I, 1976-1981, Vol 5, 1746, para 48.

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21 (1976) 426 833, 856.

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48 (1954) 92 CLR 565, 598 per Fullagar J.

49 (1966) 115 CLR 418.

50 Ibid 442 per Menzies J.

51 Ibid 436 per Kitto J.

52 Ibid 442.

53 (1981) 38 ALR 25.

54 (1982) 40 ALR 609.

55 (1981) 38 ALR 25.

56 Ibid 38, quoting in part Victoria v Commonwealth (1957) 99 CLR 515, 614 per Dixon CJ.

57 Ibid 48.

58 (1952) 86 CLR 169, 179.

59 Herald & Weekly Times Ltd v Commonwealth (1966) 115 CLR 418, 437 per Kitto J.

60 Herald & Weekly Times Ltd v Commonwealth (1966) 115 CLR 418; Griffin v Constantine (1954) 91 CLR 136.

61 (1981) 38 ALR 25.

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68 (1978) 140 CLR 120. See, for instance, the editorial comment in (1979) 53 ALJ 7-8, and L Zines, supra n 45, 318.

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70 Ibid 507.

71 Clark King & Co Pty Ltd v Australian Wheat Board (1978) 140 CLR 120 and Uebergang v Australian Wheat Board (1980) 145 CLR 266.

72 Above p 287.

73 Commonwealth Freighters Pty Ltd v Sneddon (1959) 102 CLR 280. See also Brazil, P, “The Ascertainment of Facts in Australian Constitutional Cases” (1970) 4 FL Rev 65, 73Google Scholar.

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76 Supra n 74.

77 (1951) 83 CLR 1, 262.

78 J A Thomson, “Judicial Review in Australia: The Courts and the Constitution” Vol I unpublished SJD Thesis, Harvard 1979. But compare Lindell, G, “Duty to Exercise Judicial Review” in L Zincs (ed) Commentaries on the Australian Constitution (1977) 150Google Scholar; Galligan, B, “Judicial Review in the Australian Federal System: Its Origin and Function” (1979) 10 FL Rev 367Google Scholar; Lane, P H, The Australian Federal System (2nd ed 1979) 1135-1208Google Scholar.

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81 Eg Petroleum Retail Marketing Franchise Act 1980 (Cth) ss 3, 4.

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83 Supra n 10.

84 (1981) 38 ALR 25.

85 (1953) 83 CLR 1, 263.

86 (1942) 65 CLR 373, 432.

87 Ibid.

88 Australian Communist Party v Commonwealth (1953) 83 CLR 1.

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91 Ibid 116.

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94 Attorney-General (WA) ex rel Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd v Australian National Airlines Commission (1976) 138 CLR 492, 531.

95 (1926) 38 CLR 153, 180. Compare Gibbs J who has said in relation to appropriation Acts that “it should in my opinion be assumed in the absence of proof to the contrary that the appropriation is valid.” Victoria v Commonwealth and Hayden (1975) 134 CLR 338, 375.

96 (1810) 10 US 87, 128.

97 J B Thayer supra n 8, 147.

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106 Supra n 103.

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109 Hammond v Commonwealth (1982) 42 ALR 327, 338-343.

110 Actors & Announcers Equity Association v Fontana Films Pty Ltd (1982) 40 ALR 609, 642.

111 (1981) 38 ALR 25, 44.

112 Supra n 35.

113 Eg Kramer v Union Free School District No 15 (1969) 395 US 621, 627-628. J H Ely, supra n 35, Chs 4, 5. Cf L H Tribe, “The Puzzling Persistence of Process-Based Constitutional Theories” (1980) 89 Yale Law Journal 1063.

114 Made at his swearing in as a High Court Justice, 27 July 1982, see (1982) Legal Reporter, Vol 3, No 13, 3.

115 Above p 294.

116 See Galligan, J, “Judicial Review and Democratic Principles: Two Theories” (1983) 57 ALJ 69Google Scholar.

117 Report of the Royal Commission on the Constitution, 1929. Minority Report, p 245.

118 See for a recent view on the role of the Senate as a States house, a paper by J Uhr, 'The Australian Senate and Federalism: A Research Note” delivered to the Third Federalism Project Conference, ANU, February 1983.

119 S 15AA Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth).

120 (1982) 40 ALR 609, 619. See also Milicevic v Campbell (1975) 132 CLR 307;R v Smithers; ex parte McMillan (1982) 44 ALR 53.

121 See Report of Senate Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs on “Advisory Opinions by the High Court”, Parl P No 222/1977; Australian Constiutional Convention, Report of Standing Committee D (1982); Constitution Alteration (Advisory Jurisdiction of High Court) Bill 1983.

122 Western Australia v Commonwealth (The first Territories Representation case) (1975) 134 CLR 201,271 per Mason J; Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd (1920) 28 CLR 129, 151-152; South Australia v Commonwealth (1942) 65 CLR 373, 429 per Latham CJ.

123 Unreported, 1 July 1983.

124 Judgment 126.

125 Judgment 126-132.

126 Judgment 132.

127 Judgment 209.

128 Judgment 86.

129 Judgment 126.

130 Above p 291.

131 Judgment 132.