Croker, An application by

An application was made by Croker to the High Court of Australia concerning the interpretation of s 117 of the *Constitution*. The application arose from a dispute concerning the validity of a conviction and sentence imposed by the Supreme Court of Queensland.

The central legal issue before the High Court was whether s 117 of the *Constitution*, which prohibits discrimination against residents of one State in another State, had any application to the circumstances of the applicant's conviction and sentence. Specifically, the Court was required to determine if the applicant, a resident of New South Wales, was subjected to unlawful discrimination by the Queensland courts by reason of his State of residence.

The High Court held that s 117 of the *Constitution* does not operate to invalidate a conviction or sentence imposed by a State court, even if the person convicted or sentenced is a resident of another State. Their Honours explained that s 117 is concerned with the imposition of disabilities or burdens on a person by reason of their being a resident of a particular State, and does not extend to the general operation of State laws or the administration of justice within that State. The section was not intended to confer a right to be tried or sentenced in a particular way based on one's State of residence.

The application was dismissed.