Beck v Headland Golf Club

The applicant, Andrew Beck, sought an interim order from the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) to stay his suspension as a member of the Headland Golf Club and to prohibit the Club from further suspending, revoking, or cancelling his membership. The application was made before any referral of his complaint to QCAT by the Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC). The legal issues before the Tribunal were whether an interim order under s 144 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld) should be made and if so, what form that order should take. The Tribunal considered the principles applicable to the grant of an interlocutory injunction and found that Mr Beck had not demonstrated a serious question to be tried or a prima facie case that would justify the preservation of the status quo pending the hearing. The Tribunal was not satisfied that if an order was not made prohibiting the continued suspension or revocation of Mr Beck's membership, it would cause prejudice to the orders which the Tribunal might otherwise make after a hearing. Accordingly, the application for an order under s 144 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld) was dismissed. The Tribunal did not make any orders in relation to the application for interim relief.