Alford & Anor v Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services

In the High Court of Australia, Alicia Jayne Atkinson and another party (the plaintiffs) sought a writ of certiorari to quash directions requiring them to appear before the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services concerning an inquiry into the Franchising Code of Conduct. Alternatively, the plaintiffs sought a declaration that these directions were void. The plaintiffs also sought interlocutory relief in the form of a stay of the directions. The Attorney-General of the Commonwealth intervened in the proceedings.

The primary legal issue before the Court was the validity of the directions issued by the Parliamentary Joint Committee requiring the plaintiffs' appearance. The plaintiffs contended these directions were void, seeking to quash them or obtain a stay. The defendant Committee indicated it would file a submitting appearance.

The Court dismissed the plaintiffs' summons for interlocutory relief, ordering that costs follow the event. The Court also directed that the matter be relisted for directions to address the future management of the plaintiffs' substantive application, involving the plaintiffs, the defendant, and the intervener, the Attorney-General of the Commonwealth.