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Reflections on the Current Operation of the ADJR Act

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 January 2025

W M C Gummow
W M C Gummow*
Affiliation:
Federal Court of Australia
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Extract

There are five recent decisions of the High Court of Australia, four of which were given in matters which had arisen under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) (“the Act”), and all of which have a significance for the operation of the Act, as well as for public law generally. They are Park Oh Ho v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, Chan fee Kin v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin, Haoucher v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond. The primary concern of this paper is to consider some aspects of their significance for the operation of the Act.

Type
Research Article
Information
Federal Law Review , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , March 1991 , pp. 128 - 137
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 The Australian National University

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Footnotes

Revised version of an address at the Conference: “Ten Years of the Federal Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act” in September 1990.

References

1 (1989) 167 CLR 637.

2 (1989) 169 CIR 379.

3 (1990) 170 CLR 1.

4 (1990) 169 CLR 648.

5 (1990) 170 CLR 321.

6 AuStralian lnstitllU of Marilu and Power EngiMers V Secretary, Department of Transport (1986) 13 FCR 124, 131-133pcrGummowJ.

7 United S1a1es Tobacco Company vMinisler for Consumer Affairs (1988) 20 FCR 520,526-530.

8 Supra n I, 645.

9 Lamb v Cotogno (1987) 164 CLR l, 10-12.

10 Supra n 5, 357-358.

11 Ibid 355.

12 Queensland Medical Laboratory v Blewett (1988) 84 ALR 61S, 633-637 per Gummow J.

13 Minister for Arts, Heritage and Environment VPelw-Wallsend Ltd (1986-87) 13 FCR 19, 41 per Beaumont J; on appeal (1986-87) IS FCR 274, 277-278 per Bowen J, 280-281 per Sheppard J, 302-304 per Wilcox J.

14 Supra n 5.

15 (1983) 76 FLR 296.

16 Supra n S, 336.

17 (1990) 169 CLR 62S, 637.

18 See also Tam v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs(1989) 87 ALR 373, 378.

19 Supra n S, 340-341.

20 M J Detmold, Courts and Administrators: A Study in Jurisprudence (1989) 66.

21 (1956] AC 14.

22 Supra n 19, 71.

23 Supra n 5, 328, 340-341 per Mason CJ.

24 305 us 197, 229-230 (1938).

25 The English and United States decisions are usefully discussed in J Beatson, “The Scope of Judicial Review for Error of Law” (1984) 4 Oxf J Leg Stud 22, 39-45, and in J Beatson and M H Matthews, Administrative Law: Cases and Materials, (2nd ed 1989) 125; see also CT Emery and B Smythe, “Error of Law in Administrative Law” (1984) 100 LQR 612, 617-636; R J Pierce, SA Shapiro and PR Verkuil, Administrative Law and Process (1985) §7.3. New Zealand has followed the English developments: Daganayasi V Minister for Immigration (1980] 2 NZLR 130, 145-149

per Cooke J, and in Auckland City Council V Minister for Transporl (1990] l NZLR 264, 293 per Cooke J.

26 Supra n S, 357-358 per Mason CJ.

27 Ibid 366-368. Deane J had spoken to similar effect in the Federal Court in Minis1er for Immigration and E1hnic Affairs V Pochi (1980) 31 ALR 666, 689-690.

28 (1945) 71 CLR 184, 195. The relationship between “due process"”, as understood in the United States, and the rules of natural justice, as understood in Australia, was emphasised by Deane Jin Pochi, supra n 27, 687-688.

29 Pierce el al, supra n 25, 6.3.

30 Supra n 5, 359-360.

31 Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory, 19 September 1990, unreported decision of Pincus J.

32 Supra n 2.

33 M Allars, Introduction to Australian Adminis1rati11e Law (1990) (5.50)-(5.60].

34 (1907) 4 CLR 977.

35 Carter v The Egg and Egg Pulp Marketing Board for the Stale of Victoria (1942) 66 CLR 557, 576-577 per Latham CJ, 584-585 per Starke J, 591-593 per McTieman J and 599-600 per Williams J; Foley v Padley (1984) 154 CLR 349, 353 per Gibbs CJ and 375 per Dawson J.

36 (1989) 166 CLR 161, 165.

37 Commonweallh v Tasmania (the Tasmanian Dam Case) (1983) 158 CLR 1, 260 per Deane J.

38 Brind V Secretary of Stale for the Home Deparlmenl [1991] 1 All ER 720.

39 R V Secretary of Stale for Transport; ex parle Pegasus Holidays (London) Lid (1989) 2

All ER 481, 490 per Schicmann J.

40 See Nollinghamshire County Council V Secretary of Stale for lhe Environment (1986] AC 240, 249 per Lord Scarman, 252 per Lord Bridge; Secretary of S1a1e for Education and Science V Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (1977] AC 1014, 1064 perLord Diplock; Note (1990) 64 AU 95; and compare R V Governor of Pentonville Prison; ex parte Osman (1989] 3 All ER 701, 722-723 per Lloyd U.

41 Quin, supra n 3, 36-37 per Brennan J.

42 Supra n 5, 343.

43 C T Emery and B Smythe adumbraled il lo some exlenl in lheir article, supra n 25, 638.

44 Azzopardi V Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139: Mahony V Industrial Registrar of New Souih Wales (1986) 8 NSWLR l; Haines v Leves (1987) 8 NSWLR 442.

45 Supra n 5, 367.

46 Ibid at 365-366.

47 (1924] I KB 171, 205.

48 Anisminic Ltd v Foreign Compensation Commission (1969] 2 AC 147.

49 W Wade, Administrative Law (6th ed 1988) 298-299.

50 (1989) 90 ALR 112. The subject was not dealt with in the High Court's consideration of the case (1991) 171 CLR 232.

51 (1986] AC 937, 962.

52 Wies/ v Direclor of Public Prosecuiions (1988) 86 ALR 464, 466-467 per Sheppard J,

469-470 per Burchett J, 510-511 per Gummow J.

53 Zoeller V Allorney-General for lhe Commonwealth (1987) 16 FCR 153, 161-162 per Beaumont J.

54 Eg The Queen V The Judges of lhe Federal Cour1 of Auslralia; ex parle Pilkinglon AC/(Opera1ions) Ply limiled (1978) 142 CLR 113.

55 Supra n 4.

56 Supra n 3.

57 Forsyth “The Provenance and Protection of Legitimate Expectations” (1988) 47 CU 238; J Beatson and M H Matthews, supra n 25, 235.

58 (1984] 1 WLR 1337.

59 [1987] 1 WLR 1482.

60 Supra n 3, 22-23 per Mason CJ, 39-40 per Brennan J, 53-54 per Dawson J and 66-67 per Toohey J.

61 Supra n 4,652 per Deane J, 659 per Dawson J, 669-670 per Toohey J and 681-682 per McHugh J.

62 Utah Power & Light Company vUnited States 243 US 389,409 (1917) cf Heckler V

CommwiiJy Health Services of Crawford County Inc 461 US 51, 60 (1984).

63 [1949] 1 KB 227, 231.

64 Supra n 3, 17.

65 Supra n 4, 678.