CJG18 v Minister for Home Affairs

The applicant, CJG18, sought an extension of time to appeal a decision of the Minister for Home Affairs. The Minister applied to dismiss the application for an extension of time, arguing that the applicant had no reasonable prospect of successfully prosecuting the application. The matter came before Judge Manousaridis in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether the applicant had demonstrated a sufficient basis to warrant an extension of time for their appeal. This required the Court to consider the merits of the proposed appeal and whether there was a real prospect of success, as contemplated by section 477(2) of the *Migration Act 1958* (Cth).

Judge Manousaridis reasoned that the applicant had failed to provide any substantive grounds for their proposed appeal, nor had they offered any explanation for the significant delay in seeking the extension. The Court found that without any indication of a arguable case or a reasonable excuse for the lateness, the application for an extension of time lacked merit and therefore had no reasonable prospect of success. Consequently, the application for an extension of time was dismissed.