Algahamdi v State of Queensland (Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service)

The case of Algahamdi v State of Queensland (Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service) involved Dr Algahamdi's application to reopen reinstatement proceedings that had been struck out for failure to comply with directions. The application to reopen was made more than four years after the initial decision. The court was required to determine whether it was in the interests of justice to reopen the proceedings and whether Dr Algahamdi's request for suppression of her name should be granted.

The court held that reopening of proceedings that have been finalised by a decision of a court or tribunal should be regarded as an extraordinary event. A reopening of proceedings must be reserved for the most extraordinary of circumstances, and Dr Algahamdi did not particularise any circumstances that impressed the court as being extraordinary. The court was not convinced by Dr Algahamdi's assertions that she had not been aware of the proceedings leading to the (then) Deputy President's decision. The court found that email service was allowed by rule 28 of the Rules, and there was no evidence that Dr Algahamdi's email service was interrupted or malfunctioning. The court was satisfied that the attempts to contact Dr Algahamdi in 2016 and the means used to communicate with her were adequate.

The orders made by the court were that the application to reopen proceedings was dismissed, the application for the suppression of Dr Algahamdi's name was dismissed, and any application as to costs was to be made within 14 days of the date of this decision. The court held that the decision in this matter did not make any findings about Dr Algahamdi's clinical practice, professional performance, or whether the termination was unfair.