Gaillard, Gitsadawan v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs

[1983] FCA 419

,

/

CATCHWORDS

/

Immigration a n d A l i e n s - c a n c e l l a t l o n of Temporary Ent ry Permlt -

p r o h l b l t e d l m m l g r a n t - d e p o r t a t l o n - w h e t h e r c o m p l l a n c e w l t h

p r l n c i p l e s	o f	n a t u r a l	j u s t l c e	r e q u l r e d	-	meanlng	o f	" a b s o l u t e
d l s c r e t i o n "

e M l g r a t i o n Act 1 9 5 8 ( C t h ) , s s . 7 ( 1 ) , 18

A d m i n l s t r a t i v e D e c l s i o n s ( J u d i c i a l Review) - Act 1 9 7 7 ( C t h ) , s . 5

Human Rlghts Commiss ion Act 1 9 8 1 ( C t h )

S a l e m i v Mackellar NO.^), ( 1 9 7 7 ) 1 3 7 C L R 396

The Queen Heat ley v Tasmanlan v MacKellar; Ex p a r t e R a t u , ( 1 9 7 7 ) 1 3 7 C L R 461

Racing and Gamlng Commlssion, (1977) 137 C L R

487

M l n l s t e r	f o r	I m m l g r a t i o n	a n d	E t h n i c	A f f a l r s	v	Raj-Ismall ,	40	ALR
3 4 1

Schmldt v S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r Home A f f a l r s , [ l 9691 2 Ch 149

Cinnamond v B r l t i s h A l rpo r t s A u t h o r l t y , [ l 9 8 0 1 2 A l l ER 368

e

GITSP.DAWAN G A I L L A R D v MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS

~

No. ACT G . l of 1 9 8 3

Davies , J

Melbourne

31 March 1983

I N THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ) )

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY )

DISTRICT REGISTRY	)	No. ACT G . l of 1983
)
GENERAL DIVISION	)

BETWEEN :

GITSADAWAN GAILLARD

A p p l l c a n t

- AND :

MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION

AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS

Respondent

O R D E R

J U D G E MAKING ORDER Davies , J

a DATE OF ORDER 31 March 1983 -

WHERE MADE Melbourne

T H E COURT ORDERS 1. T h a t t h e Honourable d e c i s i o n o f The

J . C . Hodges, MP, t h e n

M i n i s t e r o Af fa i r s , f S t a t e f o r I m m l g r a t i o n

and E thn lc J a n u a r y made on t e m p o r a r y 10

1 9 8 3 t h a t t h e

e n t r y p e r m i t h e l d b y G l t s a d a w a n

Pot lkum be cance l led be and t h e

same i s h e r e b y 5e t a s i d e .

2. T h a t t h e d e c i s l o n o f The

Honourable J . C . Hodges, MP, t h e n

M l n i s t e r o A f f a i r s , f S t a t e for Immigra t ion

a n d E t h n l c J a n u a r y made on 1 0

1 9 8 3 t h a t G i t s a d a w a n

P o t 1 k u m d e p o r t e d b e f r o m

A u s t r a l l a b e a n d t h e s a m e IS

h e r e b y s e t a s i d e .

3 . T h a t t h e r e s p o n d e n t p a y t h e

applrcan t ' s c o s t s o f t h i s

a p p l i c a t i o n	to	be	a g r e e d	o r
t a x e d .

4 . That ' l l b e r t y be reserved to t h e

p a r t i e s t o a p p l y €or a n y f u r t h e r

o r other order a s may seem meet.

. ,

,	,”.
/	,I

I N THE	FEDERAL COURT	OF A U S T R A L I A	)
)

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY )

DISTRICT REGISTRY 1 No. ACT G . l of 1983

GENERAL D I V I S I O N

BETWEEN :

GITSADAWAN GAILLARD

Appl ican t

- AND :

MINISTER FOR I M M I G R A T I O N

AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS

Respondent

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

CORAN : DAVIES, J

e 7 A p r i l 1 9 8 3

T h i s i s (Judicial Review) Act a n a p p l l c a t i o n u n d e r s.5 o f I t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e D e c l s i o n s

1 9 7 7 t o r e v i e w two d e c i s i o n s made on 1 0

Janua ry 1983 by The Honourable J . C . Hodges, MP, t h e n Minister o f

S t a t e f o r I m m i g r a t l o n a n d E t h n l c A f f a i r s . The f i r s t d e c i s i o n

was a d e c i s i o n u n d e r s.7(1) o f t h e M i q r a t l o n Act 1 9 5 8 t h a t a

t e m p o r a r y e n t r y p e r m i t t h e n h e l d b y t h e a p p l i c a n t be c a n c e l l e d

a n d t h c d e c i s i o n s t h e a p p l i c a n t s e c o n d t h a t s h e b e d e p o r t e d f r o m A u s t r a l i a . I n t h e

was ca l l ed G i t sadawan Po t ikum.

2.

T h e a p p l l c a t l o n f l l e d i n t h i s Court r a l s e d a number o f g r o u n d s

b u t t h e o n l y g r o u n d p u r s u e d a t t h e h e a r i n g w a s t h a t , I n m a k l n g

h l s d e c i s l o n s , n a t u r a l t h e M l n l s t e r d i d n o t o b s e r v e t h e p r i n c l p l e s o f

j u s t i c e , t h a t h e d i d n o t g l v e t o c a n c e l l a t l o n t h e a p p l l c a n t a d e q u a t e

n o t l c e o f h l s l n t e n t l o n t o c o n s l d e r t h e of h e r e n t r y

p e r m l t a n d h e r d e p o r t a t i o n f r o m A u s t r a l l a a n d t h a t , b e f o r e o p p o r t u n l t y m a k i n g

h i s d e c l s l o n s , h e d l d n o t g l v e her a n a d e q u a t e t o b e

h e a r d o n t h e s e mat ters .

!) a The a p p l i c a n t , who was t h e n Gi t sadawan P o t i k u m , a p p l i e d I n 1 9 7 8

f o r a acknowledgement t e m p o r a r y e n t r y p e r m l t a n d , o n 27 O c t o b e r 1 9 7 8 , s i g n e d a n

whlch " I , MISS GITSADAWAN in , I ts h g l l s h form, r e a d :

POTIKUM h e r e b y a c k n o w l e d g e , 1 n

r e l a t i o n t o my engagemen t In t h e h o u s e h o l d I n

A u s t r a l l a o f MRS ( X ) , ATTACHE t h a t my t e m p o r a r y

e n t r y a n d s t a y I n A u s t r a l i a h a v e b e e n a p p r o v e d b y

t h e A u s t r a l i a n G o v e r n m e n t o n t h e s t r i c t c o n d i t i o n

t h a t :

( a )	I
w i l l b e h o u s e h o l d e m p l o y e d o n d o m e s t l c d u t l e s i n t h e

o f MRS ( X ) , ATTACHE

(b) I have been made aware I n w r l t l n g b y c o n d i t l o n s o r o n

b e h a l f o f of my employment i n MRS ( X ) , ATTACHE o f t h e

h l s / h e r h o u s e h o l d a n d I

h a v e f u l l y u n d e r s t o o d a n d h a v e a c c e p t e d t h o s e

c o n d l t i o n s ;

( c ) I u n d e r t a k e t o d e p a r t from A u s t r a l i a ~n

a c c o r d a n c e w l t h t h e t r a v e l a r r a n g e m e n t s m a d e

f o r me by or on beha l f o f my d i p l o m a t i c or

c o n s u l a r e m p l o y e r u p o n t h e c e s s a t i o n o f my

employment in h l s /her household , whether upon

t h e t e r m i n a t i o n o f h l s / h e r o f f i c i a l p o s t i n g t o

A u s t r a l i a o r t h r o u g h cessation o f my

e m p l o y m e n t f o r o t h e r r e a s o n s ;

( d ) I w i l l n o t b e e l l g l b l e t o r e m a i n I n A u s t r a l l a

a s a r e s l d e n t o r I n a n y o t h e r c a p a c i t y . "

I have used "Mrs X " f o r t h e name of t h e a t t a c h e a n d will c o n t l n u e

t o do s o h e r e a f t e r .

A t e m p o r a r y e n t r y p e r m l t , v a l i d fo r t w e l v e m o n t h s , was g r a n t e d t o

t h e a p p l l c a n t a n d s h e a r r i v e d i n A u s t r a l i a o n 5 J a n u a r y 1 9 7 9 .

. I .

,'

3 .

She commenced t o l i v e , a n d w o r k , a t a n e m b a s s y i n C a n b e r r a .

S u b s e q u e n t e n t r y p e r m i t s were i s s u e d w l t h a v a l i d l t y o f t w e l v e

months each. The l a s t e n t r y p e r m i t e x p l r e d o n 30 J a n u a r y 1 9 8 3 .

A t t h e e n d o f J u l y 1 9 8 2 , t h e a p p l l c a n t m a r r l e d Mr Robert Andre

G a i l l a r d and l e f t t h e embassy. Some o f t h e s u b s e q u e n t e v e n t s

may be December g leaned f rom a s u b m i s s i o n , p u t o f f l c e r t o . t h e M i n l s t e r o n 2 3

1982 by Mr A f f a i r s , A.E . F a u b e l , a n o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t a f

1 0 I m m i g r a t i o n a n d E t h n i c w h i c h r e c o r d e d ,

" 4 On 28.7.82 Mrs ( X ) , A t t a c h e , ... Embassy,

C a n b e r r a , c o n t a c t e d t h e e m p l o y . D e p a r t m e n t o f F o r e i g n

A f f a l r s . S h e w a s w o r r l e d t h a t MS Pot lkum was

p l a n n l n g t o a b s c o n d r e m o v e d f r o m h e r MS Pot lkum

h a d a p p a r e n t l y b e l o n g i n g s m o s t o f h c r p e r s o n a l

f r o m t h e r e s i d e n c e a n d l n f o r m a t l o n h a d

come t o t h e n o t i c e o f Mrs ( X ) t h a t MS Potlkum had

d e v i s e d a p l a n , w l t h t h e h e l p o f a T h a l p e r s o n , t o

e n t e r i n t o A u s t r a l i a n c i t l z e n . a m a r r l a g e o f c o n v e n i e n c e w l t h a n

5 T h e F o r e i g n a c t i o n A f f a i r s o f f l c e r l n f o r m e d Mrs ( X )

t h a t n o P o t l k u m f o r m a l r e m a l n e d c o u l d b e t a k e n w h l l e MS

a d o m e s t l c s e r v a n t ~n t h e

r e s l d e n c e . I t was s u g g e s t e d t o Mrs (X) t h a t s h e

m l g h t c o u n s e l MS P o t l k u m t o l e a v e A u s t r a l l a

v o l u n t a r l l y r a t h e r t h a n a b s c o n d l n g a n d f a c l n g t h e

p o s s l b l e c o n s e q u e n c e s .

6 On 2.8.82 Mrs p r e s e n t e d ( X ) c a l l e d a t t h e Depar tmen t o f

F o r e i g n A f f a i r s a n d a f o r m a l .. . E-nbassy

N o t e w h l c h 'Mlss s t a t e d Gl t sadawan t h a t :

has r u n away from Mrs (X)'s

r e s l d e n c e o n T h u r s d a y 29 J u l y 1 9 8 2 . '

7 On 23.8.82 t h e Department of F o r e i g n Affa i r s

r e c e i v e d a f u r t h e r f o r m a l n o t e f r o m t h e c a n c e l l a t l o n ...

Embassy. T h e E m b a s s y s o u g h t t h e o f

MS P o t l k u r n ' s a u t h o r i t y t o r e m a l n i n A u s t r a l i a a n d

t h a t s h e be d i r e c t e d t o l e a v e A u s t r a l l a q u i c k l y .

8 Mrs ( X ) (... A t t a c h e ) c a l l e d a t t h e ACT Reg iona l

Of f l ce on 6 .10 .82 . She was accompanied by a MS

.... The l a d l e s p r o v i d e d f o l l o w i n g t h e

i n f o r m a t l o n :

MS P o t l k u m 1s r o m a n t i c a l l y a t t a c h e d t o Mr

S a n c h a i I s r a b h a d k l who h a s p r o v l d e d h e r w l t h

accommodation and employment;

r

I

4 .

Mr I s r a b h a d k l , who came t o Austral ia 20 y e a r s

a g o a s t h e a d o p t e d s o n o f a ( f o r m e r ) T h a i

Ambassador, i s c u r r e n t l y i n v o l v e d w l t h t h r e e

l a d i e s : MS .. . (who has 3 c h i l d r e n b y h i m ) ,

Mrs ... and MS Potlkurn. Mr I s r a b h a d k i owns 4

t a x i s , a h o u s e i n C a n b e r r a a n d i s a p a r t owner

o f t h e T h a l R e s t a u r a n t i n P h l l l i p , ACT;

Mr I s r a b h a d k i a r r a n g e d t h e m a r r i a g e o f MS

P o t i k u m t o Mr G a l l l a r d , a n A u s t r a l l a n c l t i z e n ,

on 31.7.82. Mr G a l l l a r d , who i s employed by

Mr I s r a b h a d k l a s a t a x i d r i v e r , d o e s n o t l i v e

I a w l t h MS Potikum. M r I s r a b h a d k l a r r a n g e d t h e

m a r r i a g e s o t h a t MS P o t i k u m c o u l d r e m a i n I n

A u s t r a l i a t o be one o f h i s l o v e r s .

I n c o n c l u s i o n , Mrs ( X ) g i v e n and MS . . . s ta ted MS

P o t i k u m ' s a c t l o n s h a v e a b a d r e p u t a t i o n

t o T h a i ' s g e n e r a l l y and p a r t i c u l a r l y t h o s e

T h a i n a t i o n a l s who a r e e m p l o y e d b y see MS Potikum d l p l o m a t s

as d o m e s t i c s t a f f . The l a d i e s s a i d t h a t t h e

. . . Ambassador would l i k e t o

d e p o r t e d .

R e p r e s e n t a t l o n s f r o m . . . Embassy

9 Mrs ( X ) , Attache w i t h t h e B n b a s s y o f ... , s t a t e d

I n h e r l e t t e r d a t e d 1 7 . 1 1 . 8 2 , a t t a c h e d a t a n n e x

'B', t h a t MS P o t i k u m absconded f rom her employ and

e n t e r e d I n t o a non bona f i d e m a r r l a g e w i t h a n

A u s t r a l i a n c i t i z e n . Mrs ( X ) , a n d also MS

P o t i k u m ' s f a m i l y i n T h a l l a n d a r e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t

t h e p r o s p e c t o f MS P o t i k u m r e m a l n i n g i n Australia

n o t t o p u r s u e a m a r r l a g e , b u t t o m a l n t a i n a d e

f a c t o r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h a b o y f r i e n d who a b u s e s

A u s t r a l i a n laws f o r h i s own p u r p o s e .

I n t e r v i e w w i t h MS P o t i k u m -

10 MS Pot ikum responded t o a r e q u e s t t o c a l l a t

t h e ACT Reg iona l OfZ ice and was i n t e r v l e w e d o n

2 .12 .82 . She p rovided t h e f o l l o w l n g i n f o r m a t l o n :

her p a r e n t s a r e d e c e a s e d . I n T h a l l a n d s h e

h a s two s i s t e r s a n d a h a l f - b r o t h e r .

s h e m a r r i e d l o c a l I n c u s t o m s , T h a l l a n d i n a c c o r d a n c e w l t h

i n t h a t s h e c l a i m s s h e m a r r i e d

' w l t h o u t c e r t l f i c a t e ' a n d t h e r e f o r e c a n b e

d i v o r c e d ' w i t h o u t c e r t l f i c a t e ' a c c o r d i n g t o

l o c a l c u s t o m . S h e was t h e n 1 8 y e a r s o f a g e

a n d t h e r e d a u g h t e r was a d a u g h t e r ( A c c o r d i n g of t h e u n i o n . Her

i s now 5 y e a r s o f a g e a n d is i n t h e

c a r e o f t h e f a t h e r i n T h a i l a n d .

5.

t o t h e A C T R e g l s t r a r o f M a r r l a g e s , w h o s e

o f f i c e h a s b e e n p r o v i d e d w i t h d e t a i l s o f

s t a t e m e n t s r e l a t i n g t o t h e m a r r i a g e , MS

P o t i k u m r e c o r d e d h e r s t a t u s a s ' s p i n s t e r ' a t

t h e time o f employment m a r r i a g e ) .

Durlng her wlth Mrs ( X ) , t h e .. .

A t t a c h e , s h e was p o o r l y p a i d ( $ 2 0 - 4 0 P .w . ) and

f r e e d o m h e r was r e s t r i c t e d . h a d S h e

d i s a g r e e m e n t s w i t h Mrs ( X ) o v e r m i n o r m a t t e r s

and Mrs ( X ) was j e a l o u s o f h e r when s h e s a id

s h e had a boyf r i end and cou ld mar ry him and be -

a l l o w e d t o r e m a l n here.

She met Mr Ga i l l a rd be tween Sep tember and

December 1981 and t h e l r r e l a t i o n s h i p d e v e l o p e d

i n March 1982. She marrled Mr G a l l l a r d o n 2 9

o r 30 J u l y 1 9 8 2 ( s h e was u n s u r e of t h e e x a c t

d a t e ) . T h e y d i d n o t h a v e a honeymoon. He

n e v e r t o o k h e r o u t .

She does n o t l i v e w l t h Mr G a l l l a r d b e c a u s e

t h e y d o n o t know e a c h o t h e r well. ( From MS

P o t l k u m ' s s t a t e m e n t s It a p p e a r s t h a t s h e h a s G a i l l a r d

n e v e r l l v e d w l t h Mr G a i l l a r d ) . Mr

l l v e s w l t h f r l e n d s ( i n a g r o u p h o u s e ) . He

h a s a d o g w h l c h c a n n o t b e k e p t i n a f l a t .

Mr G a l l l a r d v i s i t s h e r o c c a s i o n a l l y .

She works a t t h e T h a i R e s t a u r a n t o n 3 n i g h t s

e a c h week and a t S u d a ' s G l f t S h o p 3 d a y s p e r

week. Her t o t a l w e e k l y i n c o m e 1 s $135 and

s h e h a s S o c l e t y . s a v i n g s o f a b o u t $ 5 , 0 0 0 I n a B u l l d l n g

S h e d o e s n o t I n t e n d t o l e a v e Aus t r a l i a b e f o r e

t h e e x p i r y o f h e r t e m p o r a r y e n t r y p e r m l t o n r e a s o n s

30.1.83. When asked t o p r o v i d e why

h e r t e m p o r a r y e n t r y perm1 t s h o u l d n o t be

c a n c e l l e d a n d h e r d e p a r t u r e e n f o r c e d M S

P o t l k u m r e p o r t e d l y r e s p o n d e d t o t h e e f f e c t

t h a t e v e n t h o u g h s h e l e f t Mrs (X)'s household

and i s e n g a g e d I n u n a u t h o r i s e d w o r k m a r r i e d a t t h e

g i f t s h o p a n d t h e r e s t a u r a n t s h e h a s

a n A u s t r a l l a n and l o v e s h l m a n d w a n t s t o s t a y

w l t h hlm h e r e s u g g e s t i o n I n A u s t r a l l a . S h e d i d n o t

r e s p o n d t o t h e t h a t s h e was n o t

s t a y i n g w i t h hlm a t A u s t r a l i a p r e s e n t n o r had she been

w l t h h i m . MS P o t l k u m s a l d s h e wishes t o

remain p e r m a n e n t l y i n b e c a u s e s h e 1s

m a r r i e d t o a n some A u s t r a l l a n c l t i z e n . She added

t h a t , a t time i n t h e f u t u r e s h e would

v i s i t T h a i l a n d t o see h e r d a u g h t e r .

6.

I n t e r v i e w w i t h Mr G a i l l a r d

11 Mr G a l l l a r d a c c o m p a n i e d MS P o t i k u m t h e t o

l n t e r v l e w o n 2 . 1 2 . 8 2 a n d h e w a s l n t e r v i e w e d

s e p a r a t e l y . He s a l d t h a t h e s o m e t h i n g m a r r l e d h e r b e c a u s e

h e knew t h a t s h e wou ld o the rwise be r e q u l r e d t o

l e a v e A u s t r a l i a a n d t h a t h e f e l t f o r MS

Potikum. When Mr Gal l la rd was a s k e d a b o u t h l s

c o u r t s h l p w i t h MS f u r t h e r P o t l k u m , h e s a l d t h a t h e d l d n o t

w l s h t o a n s w e r a n y Gai l la rd was q u e s t l o n s w l t h o u t l e g a l

c o u n s e l . Mr i n v l t e d t o c a l l a g a l n t o

t h e o f f l c e , w l t h a s o l i c i t o r , a t a l a t e r d a t e .

1 2 Mr G a l l l a r d h a d I n f a c t moved I n t o new p r e m l s e s

o n 2 9 . 1 1 . 8 2 w l t h o u t t e l l i n g MS o f f i c e r s P o t i k u m ( h l s w i f e )

o f h l s new a d d r e s s . D e p a r t m e n t a l I n v i t e d

him t o a t t e n d t h e D e p a r t m e n t a g a i n o n 3 . 1 2 . 8 2 w i t h

o r w i t h o u t a s o l i c l t o r . He came a l o n e . Mr

G a l l l a r d was c o u n s e l l e d I n h l s own b e s t I n t e r e s t s

t h a t h e s h o u l d d e t a i l s u b s e q u e n t t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f

h l s r e l a t i o n s h i p

c o u r t s h i p a n d m a r r l a g e . I t was

e x p l a l n e d t o h l m t h a t I f c o n s l d e r t h e was

g e n u i n e t h e n t h e D e p a r t m e n t w l s h e d t o t h e

q u e s t i o n o f t h e g r a n t o f r e s i d e n c e t o MS Pot ikum.

I t was r e l a t i o n s h l p a l s o e x p l a l n e d t o Mr G a i l l a r d t h a t I f t h e

was n o t g e n u i n e a n d t h e m a r r i a g e was a

m a r r l a g e c o n t r i v e d s o l e l y t o e n a b l e MS P o t l k u m t o

become e l l g l b l e f o r t h e g r a n t s l l e n t . " f o r r e s l d e n t s t a t u s ,

t h e n h e G a i l l a r d m i g h t b e l l a b l e t o p r o s e c u t i o n . Mr

r e m a i n e d

A s t o t h e i n t e r v l e w h e l d o n 2 December 1982 , Mr P.M. B u t t o n , a n

o f f l c e r I n t h e C o n t r o l I m m i g r a t i o n S e c t l o n of t h e C a n b e r r a R e g i o n a l O f f l c e o f

t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f a n d E t h n l c A f f a l r s , h a s s w o r n :

" 2 . On 2 December 1 9 8 2 1 - i n t e r v i e w e d t h e a p p l i c a n t

h e r e l n . P r e s e n t a t B a n d a h a r a n g s k i t h e i n t e r v l e w was a T h a l

i n t e r p r e t e r P r a m o n d a t o a i d t h e d l f f l c u l t i e s

a p p l i c a n t h a v e u n d e r s t a n d i n g s h o u l d s h e

t h e h g l l s h l a n g u a g e .

3 . A t t h e commencemen t o f t he l n t e rv i ew I asked

t h e a p p l l c a n t h e r name. She r e p l l e d t h a t h e r name

was G l t sadawan I n t e r v i e w Po t lkum. Dur ing t he cour se o f t he

I asked MS P o t i k u m t h a t now s h e h a d l e f t

Mrs (X)'s employmen t wha r ea sons t d ld she have now

t o s t a y i n A u s t r a l l a ? MS P o t i k u m r e p l i e d t h a t as

s h e had l e f t Mrs (X)'s h o u s e , Mrs ( X ) had n o t h l n g

t o d o w l t h h e r b e c a u s e s h e was m a r r i e d , h a d a

h u s b a n d a n d h a d t h e r l g h t t o s t a y h e r e .

4 . I a s k e d MS Potlkum why s h e t h o u g h t t h a t t h e

I

,

7.

d e p a r t m e n t s h o u l d n o t c a n c e l h e r e n t r y p e r m i t w h i c h

e x p i r e d o n 3 0 J a n u a r y 1 9 8 3 a n d i f we c a n c e l l e d I t ,

wha t r ea sons she wou ld husband have fo r us n o t t o d e p o r t

h e r . MS Potikurn r e p l i e d t h a t s h e was marr ied and

s h e	loved	her	and	had	t h e	r i g h t	t o	s t a y
h e r e .

5. I a sked MS Pot ikum whe the r she was l n t end lng t o

l e a v e A u s t r a l l a t o g o b a c k t o T h a l l a n d when h e r

e n t r y p e r m i t r e p l i e d t h a t e x p l r e d s h e i n t e n d e d t o s t a y h e r e J a n u a r y 3 0 o n 1 9 8 3 . S h e

b u t t h a t s h e

may g o t o T h a l l a n d f o r a v l s l t I n a yea r o r

wha teve r .

6. I a sked MS Potikum why she wlshed t o s t a y h e r e

I n A u s t r a l l a t o w h l c h s h e r e p l l e d s h e w a n t e d t o

s t a y h e r e w i t h h e r h u s b a n d t h a t s h e had work here

a n d s a v i n g s T h a l l a n d a n d t h a t t h e r e was n o t h i n g l e f t i n

f o r h e r . "

The a p p l i c a n t ' s e v i d e n c e as t o t h l s i n t e r v l e w was r a the r less

p r e c l s e . However, I am satisfied t h a t t h e a p p l l c a n t i s a p e r s o n

of l i m l t e d u n d e r s t a n d l n g a n d h a s some d l f f i c u l t y w i t h E n g l i s h

l anguage and c o n c e p t s . I am s a t i s f l e d t h a t t h e i n t e r v l e w o f 2

D e c e m b e r 1 9 8 2 d i d n o t p r o v l d e a n a d e q u a t e o p p o r t u n l t y t o t h e

a p p l l c a n t t o p u t f o r w a r d a c a s e a s t o why h e r t h e n c u r r e n t

t e m p o r a r y e n t r y p e r m l t s h o u l d n o t b e c a n c e l l e d or a s t o why s h e

s h o u l d n o t Information-gatherlng b e d e p o r t e d . I n d e e d , t h e i n t e r v i e w i n t e r v l e w w a s more o f a n

t h a n a n i n t e r v i e w w h l c h s o u g h t t o

g i v e t o t h e c o n s l d e r e d a p p l i c a n t a n a d e q u a t e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e a d e q u a t e m a t t e r s w h l c h

w e r e b e i n g a g a i n s t h e r a n d a n o p p o r t u n l t y t o

e x p l a i n t h e m or t o p u t a c o n t r a r y v i e w .

On 23 December 1982, Mr F a u b e l p u t t h e s u b r n l s s l o n t o t h e M l n i s t e r

w h i c h i n c l u d e d p a r a g r a p h s 4 - 1 2 s e t o u t a b o v e , a n d a l s o t h e

f o l l o w l n g :

" 1 4 MS Potikum was a d m l t t e d r e m a i n t o A u s t r a l i a Aus t ra l la t o be a

d o m e s t i c I n 3 0 . 1 . 8 3 . C a n b e r r a a t t h e home o f a .. . A t t a c h e

and was a u t h o r i s e d t o i n f o r t h a t

p u r p o s e u n t i l She absconded f rom her

employment on 29.7.82 and married a n A u s t r a l l a n

c l t i z e n 3 1 . 7 . 8 2 . o n The c o u p l e n o t d o l i v e

t o g e t h e r a n d t h e s t a t e m e n t s made by b o t h p a r t i e s

p o i n t s t r o n g l y t o t h e p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t t h e m a r r i a g e

was c o n t r i v e d s o l e l y t o e n a b l e MS Potikum t o remaln

il ,. <'

8.

I n A u s t r a l i a a c t u a l l y m a d e a n a p p l i c a t i o n f o r r e s i d e n t s t a t u s o n a s a r e s i d e n t , a l t h o u g h s h e h a s n o t

o f whlch indicates the re may m a r r i a g e . I n a n y e v e n t M S Potikum

t h e b a s i s

h a s a d m i t t e d m a r r l a g e t o a ' h u s b a n d ' a n d c h i l d i n T h a i l a n d

be a p o s s l b l l i t y t h a t t h e

t o Mr G a i l l a r d m a y b e bigamous.

C e r t a l n l y MS P o t i k u m makes it p l a i n t h a t s h e is n o t

a b o u t t o l e a v e A u s t r a l i a v o l u n t a r i l y .

Recommendation

1 5 I n a l l t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , I recommend t h a t you

s i g n t h e t e m p o r a r y a t t a c h e d f o r m o f c a n c e l l a t i o n o f t h e

e n t r y p e r m i t l s s u e d t o MS Potikum and

t h a t y o u d e p o r t a t l o n t o be s i g n t h e a t t a c h e d o r d e r f o r h e r

invoked a s soon as p r a c t i c a b l e . "

On 10 J a n u a r y 1983, t h e M l n i s t e r a p p r o v e d t h e r ecommenda t lon pu t

t o him by Mr F a u b e l a n d c a n c e l l e d t h e t h e n e x i s t i n g t e m p o r a r y

e n t r y p e r m l t h e l d b y t h e a p p l i c a n t a n d o r d e r e d t h a t s h e b e

d e p o r t e d f r o m A u s t r a l i a .

For t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h i s s u r r o u n d i n g p r o c e e d l n g , i t wou ld no t be y r o p e r t o

l n v e s t i g a t e t h e f a c t s t h e a p p l l c a n t ' s m a r r l a g e or t o

d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r i t was v a l i d or l n v a l l d , c o n t r i v e d or g e n u i n e .

0 T h i s 1s a p r o c e e d i n g b y way o f j u d l c l a l r e v i e w a n d t h e p r l n c l p a l

issue 1s w h e t h e r , b e f o r e c o m i n g t o h l s d e c l s i o n s , t h e M l n l s t e r

s h o u l d h a v e g i v e n t o t h e applicant n o t i c e o f t h e mat te rs which

would be c o n s i d e r e d a g a l n s t h e r a n d a f a i r o p p o r t u n l t y t o p u t

s u b m l s s l o n s r e s p e c t i n g t h e c a n c e l l l n g o f t h e e n t r y permlt and

-

r e s p e c t i n g	h e r	d e p o r t a t l o n .
I n S a l e m i pp . 419-420	v	Macke l l a r (No.2) (1977) 137 C L R 396, Gibbs J s a l d , a t
:

"There i s n o t h i n g t e c h n i c a l a b o u t t h e p r i n c l p l e s o f

n a t u r a l j u s t i c e . I t 1 s s o m e t i m e s s a i d , o r

s u g g e s t e d , t h a t t h o s e p r l n c l p l e s a p p l y o n l y t o q u a s i - ~ u d l c i a l ,

p r o c e e d i n g s w h i c h a r e j u d l c i a l o r

o r w h e r e s t a t e t h e r u l e I n t h a t t h e r e i s a d u t y t o a c t ~ u d i c i a l l y . To

way seems t o me t o b e u n d u l y

r e s t r l c t i v e a n d m l s l e a d i n g . I t i s a t l e a s t c l e a r

t h a t when t h e power whlch 1s b e i n g exercised i s a

s t a t u t o r y o n e , i t is n o t n e c e s s a r y t o be a b l e t o

f i n d i n t h e w o r d s o f t h e s t a t u t e i t s e l f a d u t y t o

I

I .

,

9.

h e a r t h e ~ u d i c i a l l v . p a r t y i y l e s J i n CooPSr G a f f e c t e d o r o t h e r w l s e t o a c t

T o reDeat t h e wel l -known words of

~ ~~~ ~

W a n d s w o r t h B o a r d o f Works,

( 1 8 6 3 ) 1 4 C q i % ) - 1 8 0 a t p.194 1143 ER 4 1 4 a t

p . 4 2 0 1 , ' a l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e n o p o s i t l v e w o r d s i n h e a r d , a

s t a t u t e r e q u l r l n g t h a t t h e p a r t y common s h a l l b e

y e t t h e o m l s s i o n l u s t l c e o f t h e law will s u p p l y t h e

o f t h e l e g l s l a t u r e ' . A s Lord Reid s a l d

i n Rldge v Baldwln , [ l 9 6 4 1 AC 4 0 a t p . 7 6 , ~t may bc

p o s s i b l e ' t o I n f e r a l u d i c l a l e l e m e n t f r o m t h e

n a t u r e o f t h e p o w e r ' i n t h e c a s e . F u r t h e r , t h e

a p p l i c a t l o n o f p o w e r t h e p r l n c i p l e s i s n o t l i m l t e d t o

cases w h e r e t h e t h a t i s e x e r c i s e d a f f e c t s

r i g h t s I n t h e s t r i c t s e n s e : s e e , e g , B a n k s v

T r a n s p o r t R e g u l a t i o n B o a r d ( V l c t ) , ( 1 9 6 8 ) 1 1 9 CLR

222. I t may be enough i f a n i n t e r e s t o r p r l v i l e g e

i s a f f e c t e d , - o r , as Lord d e p r l v e Dennlng MR h a s s a l d , ~f a

man h a s a ' l e g l t l m a t e e x p e c t a t i o n ' , o f w h i c h i t

would not be f a i r t o hlm w l t h o u t a h e a r l n q ,

or r e a s o n s g i v e n : v Amalgamated Engineer lnq

Unlon [ l 9 7 1 1 2 QB 175 a t p .191 ; and s ee Schmid t v

S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r H o m e A f f a l r s , [ l 9 6 9 1 2 Ch

1 4 9 a t p.170. B u t I t would be wrong t o a t t e m p t t o

g l v e a n e x h a u s t i v e c l a s s i f l c a t i o n o f t h e cases

where t h e p r i n c i p l e s h o u l d b e a p p l i e d : Durayappah

v Fe rnando , [ l 9 6 7 1 2 AC 337 a t p .349 .

The q u e s t l o n w h e t h e r t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f n a t u r a l

be d e p e n d s a p p l l e d , and i f s o w h a t t h o s e

l u s t i c e	m u s t
p r l n c l p l e s	r e q u i r e , o n t h e c l r c u m s t a n c e s o f

e a c h c a s e . I n t h e c a s e o € a s t a t u t o r y p o w e r , t h e

q u e s t l o n wlll D u r a y a p p a h depend on t he t r u e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f

t h e s t a t u t o r y p r i n c i p l e s p r o v l s l o n I n l i g h t of t h e common l a w

( c f v Fernando [ l 9 6 7 1 2 AC a t

p . 3 5 0 ) .

In Durayappah v F e r n a n d o , L o r d U p j o h n , d e l l v e r l n g

t h e r e a s o n s o f t h e w h i c g P r l v v . C o u n c i l , s a l d t h a t ' t h e r e

a re t h r e e m a t t e r s m u s t a lways be bo rne In

mlnd when c o n s i d e r l n g w h e t h e r t h e p r l n c l p l e s h o u l d

b e a p p l l e d or n o t ' , [ l 9 6 7 1 2 AC 337 a t p.349. He

went on :

' T h e s e t h r e e m a t t e r s a r e : f l r s t , what is t h e

n a t u r e o f t h e p r o p e r t y , t h e o f f l c e h e l d ,

s t a tus e n j o y e d or s e r v l c e s t o be per formed by

t h e c o m p l a l n a n t o f Injustice. S e c o n d l y , I n

w h a t c i r c u m s t a n c e s o r upon what occasions 1s

t h e p e r s o n c l a l m i n g t o b e e n t i t l e d t o exerc lse

t h e measure o f c o n t r o l e n t l t l e d t o I n t e r v e n e .

T h l r d l y , when a r i g h t t o i n t e r v e n e i s p r o v e d ,

w h a t s a n c t i o n s i n f a c t i s t h e l a t t e r e n t i t l e d

t o impose upon t h e o t h e r . '

10.

There may o f c o u r s e d e c i d l n g b e o t h e r m a t t e r s t h a t wlll be

r e l e v a n t I n w h e t h e r t h e p r i n c l p l e s a p p l y :

f o r e x a m p l e , t h e n a t u r e o f t h e b o d y l a n g u a g e on w h l c h t h e

power i s c o n f e r r e d , t h e I n whlch t h e power

i s c o n f e r r e d , a n d t h e p r e s e n c e I n t h e s t a t u t e of

p r o v l s l o n s e n a b l l n g	t h e	exerclse	o f	t h e	p o w e r	t o	b e
rev lewed."

I n The Queen v MacKellar ; Ex p a r t e R a t u , ( 1 9 7 7 ) 1 3 7 C L R 4 6 1 ,

Mason J s a l d , a t p . 4 7 6 :

" I n Mob11 011 A u s t r a l i a P t y L t d v F e d e r a l

-__---_-----I-- -----

Commlss lone r o f Taxa t ion , (1963) 113 C L R 4 7 5 , K l t t o

J p o l n t e d o p p o r t u n l t y t o p a r t i e s i n c o n t r o v e r s y o u t t h a t t h e p r e - ~ u d l c i a l o b l i g a t l o n t o g l v e a f a i r

t o c o r r e c t o r

c o n t r a d l c t s t a t e m e n t s t o t h e l r v l e w

depended on ' t h e t o s a y p a r t l c u l a r s t a t u t o r y f r a m e w o r k '

and went on a t p.504 :

'By t h e s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n s f r a m e w o r k I mean t h e e x p r e s s

a n d i m p l l e d o f t h e r e l e v a n t A c t and

t h e I n f e r e n c e s of l e g l s l a t l v e l n t e n t l o n t o be

d r a w n f r o m t h e c l r c u m s t a n c e s t o w h l c h t h e Act

was d i r e c t e d a n d f r o m I t s s u b l e c t - m a t t e r : c f

Rldge v Baldwin , [ l 9 6 4 1 AC 40 a t p .73 . A s

Tucker L J s a l d I n Russe l l v Duke o f N o r f o l k

[ l 9 4 9 1 1 A l l ER 1 0 9 , i n a passage approved by

t h e P r i v y C o u n c i l I n U n l v e r s l t y of Ceylon v

Fe rnando , [ l 9 6 0 1 a p p l i c a t i o n 1 WLR 223 a t p .231; [ l9601 1

A l l ER 631 a t p . 6 3 7 , t h e r e a r e n o w o r d s w h l c h

a r e o f u n l v e r s a l t o e v e r y k i n d of

l n q u i r y a n d e v e r y k l n d o f t r i b u n a l : " t h e

r e q u i r e m e n t s o f n a t u r a l j u s t l c e m u s t depend on

t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e case, t h e n a t u r e of

1 t h e I n q u i r y , t h e r u l e s u n d e r w h l c h t h e

t r i b u n a l i s a c t i n g , t h e s u b l e c t m a t t e r t h a t i s

b e l n g d e a l t w i t h , and s o f o r t h " , [ l 9 4 9 1 1 A l l

E R a t p .118 . What- t h e law r e q u i r e s I n t h e

d i s c h a r g e o f a q u a s i - ~ u d i c l a l f u n c t i o n i s a

j u d i c l a l f a l r n e s s . T h a t is n o t a l a b e l f o r

a n y f l x e d b o d y o f ru l e s . What 1 s f a l r i n a

s i t u a t i o n g l v e n d e p e n d s

u p o n c l r c u m s t a n c e s ' t h e

.I'

See a l s o t h e ~ u d g m e n t s o f Commission, t h e F u l l H l g h C o u r t i n H e a t l e y v

Tasmanlan Racing and Gamlng ( 1 9 7 7 ) 1 3 7 C L R 487.

In t h e Sa leml a s c e r t a l n and Ra tu ca ses , t h e Cour t examlned t h e M i g r a t l o n

- Act 1 9 5 8 t o w h e t h e r t h e M l n i s t e r , when maklng a

d e c l s l o n u n d e r s . 1 8 f o r t h e d e p o r t a t i o n o f a p r o h l b l t e d

i m m l g r a n t , was r e q u i r e d t o g l v e t o t h e p r o h l b l t e d i m m l g r a n t a

11.

r i g h t t o be h e a r d . I h a v e d i s c u s s e d t h e judgments I n t h i s

r e s p e c t i n -----I---- M i n i s t e r f o r I m m l q r a t l o n a n d E t h n l c A f f a i r s v

HaJ - I sma l l , 4 0 ALR 341, and I n e e d n o t a d d t o c o n c l u d e w h a t I t h e r e s a i d .

I n my v i e w , t h o s e a u t h o r l t i e s b l n d t h l s C o u r t t o t h a t

t h e M i n i s t e r 1 s n o t r e q u l r e d t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e r u l e s o f n a t u r a l

l u s t l c e when maklng an o rder under s .18 .

However, t h a t v l e w was b a s e d p r i n c l p a l l y u p o n t h e provisions -of

t h e M i g r a t i o n A c t w h i c h made I t c l e a r t h a t a p r o h l b l t e d l m m l g r a n t

h a s n o C J s a i d , a t r i g h t t o r e m a i n i n A u s t r a l i a . I n S a l e m i ' s c a s e , B a r w i c k

p . 4 0 6 :

" T h e p r o h i b i t e d i m m l g r a n t h a s , I n p e r s o n a l my o p i n l o n , no

c la lm t o t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f h l s

c i r c u m s t a n c e s : n o r , as I h a v e s a l d , a re t h e r e a n y

p r l n c l p l e s w h l c h t h e M i n i s t e r c o u l d b e c o m p e l l e d t o

o b s e r v e i n d e c i d l n g I n h l s case t h a t t h e l a w m u s t

b e e n f o r c e d . A s I have obse rved , t hough be lng a

p r o h l b i t e d l m m l g r a n t 1 s n o t a n o f f e n c e , t h e

p r e s e n c e o f t h e p r o h i b i t e d i m m l g r a n t i n Aus t ra l la

i s u n l a w f u l . D e p o r t a t i o n is c o n s e q u e n c e t h e

p r e s c r l b e d : a n d t h e M l n l s t e r h a s t h e r e a l i t y power t o

o r d e r i t . The p r o v l s l o n s I n s.18 a r e I n

m e r e l y t h e m e t h o d b y w h i c h t h e p r o c e s s o f

d e p o r t a t l o n may be i n i t l a t e d . "

0 I n R a t u ' s c a s e , Mason J s a i d , a t p p . 4 7 8 - 9 ,

"The c h a r a c t e r of t h e p o w e r t o make a d e p o r t a t i o n

o r d e r u n d e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s . 18 m a y b e d e d u c e d p a r t l y f r o m t h e r e l a t i o n

t h a t i t IS e x e r c i s a b l e I n t o

a p r o h l b l t e d i m m i g r a n t , t h a t ls, a p e r s o n who

e n t e r s o r r e m a i n s I n A u s t r a l i a w i t h o u t l a w f u l

a u t h o r i t y . Un l lke e n t r y - i n t o A u s t r a l l a w i t h o u t a

p e r m i t - w h i c h d o e s c o n s t i t u t e a n o f f e n c e u n d e r

s . 2 7 ( l ) ( a ) - r e m a l n i n g i n A u s t r a l l a a f t e r a n e n t r y

p e r m l t h a s been c a n c e l l e d or h a s e x p l r e d a n d h a s

n o t b e e n t h o u g h r e n e w e d d o e s n o t c o n s t l t u t e a n o f f e n c e ,

f a l l u r e t o c o m p l y w l t h a r e q u l r e m e n t u n d e r

s . 7 ( 5 ) i s a n o f f e n c e . However, n e i t h e r t h e f a c t

t h a t a p e r s o n m a y r e m a l n i n A u s t r a l l a a f t e r

c a n c e l l a t i o n o r o f f e n c e e x p i r y o f h i s e n t r y p e r m i t w l t h o u t

c o m m l t t l n g a n n o r t h e f a c t t h a t h e wlll

cease t o be a d e p o r t a t l o n p r o h l b l t e d l m m i g r a n t i f h e s t a y s h e r e

f o r f l v e a g a i n s t y e a r s , n o o r d e r b e l n g made

h i m , d e t r a c t s f r o m h l s c h a r a c t e r as a

p r o h i b l t e d I m m i g r a n t I n t h e m e a n t m e . He 1s

l i a b l e t o a r r e s t a n d d e t e n t i o n . He i s a n i l l e g a l

i m m l g r a n t , h a v l n g n o r i g h t o r t l t l e t o r e m a l n h e r e

( R e g . v F o r b e s ; Ex p a r t e Kwok Kwan Lee, ( 1 9 7 1 ) 124

r

12.

CLR 168 a t p . 1 7 3 ) .

T h e m a k l n g t h e r e f o r e o f p r o v l d e s a d e p o r t a t i o n o r d e r u n d e r s . 1 8

l a w f u l a u t h o r i t y f o r t h e r e m o v a l

from Aust ra l la a g a l n s t h l s wlll o f r e m a i n : a p e r s o n who h a s

n o r l g h t t o r e m a l n h e r e . I t 1 s n o t t h e case t h a t

t h e o r d e r t e r m i n a t e s h i s r i g h t t o n o r c a n

l t be s a i d I n t h e o r d i n a r y case t h a t I t d e p r i v e s

h l m o f a l e g l t l m a t e e x p e c t a t l o n t h a t h e will be

a l l o w e d t o r e m a i n here. D e p o r t a t l o n , f o r w h i c h

t h e o r d e r p r o v l d e s , 1 s t h e n f a l l u r e b u t a consequence o f

t h e p r o h i b l t e d i m m l g r a n t ' s t o d e p a r t when

h e h a s n o r i g h t t o r e m a i n .I'

I n my o p l n i o n , t h e m a t t e r v i e w s e x p r e s s e d I n S a l e m i ' s c a s e a n d R a t u ' s

c a s e d l d n o t d e a l w l t h t h e w l t h which we a r e c o n c e r n e d .

l - I n d e e d , I n S a l e m i ' s c a s e , G i b b s J s a l d , a t p . 4 1 6 :

"Once a permit 1s a c t u a l l y g r a n t e d , lt may be

c a n c e l l e d o n l y I f t h e A c t p e r m l t s t h a t t o be d o n e -

we a r e n o t c o n c e r n e d r e g a r d . " t o c o n s l d e r t h e e f f e c t o f t h e

Act I n t h a t

Ir: R a t u ' s c a s e , Mason J c o n c l u d e d , a t p p . 4 8 0 - 1 :

" I t i s n o t a case I n a d v a n c e w h i c h n a t u r a l j u s t i c e o r

f a i r n e s s d l c t a t e s t h a t a n no t l ce be g l v e n ;

I t is n o t a case i n w h i c h a e x p e c t a t l o n c h a r g e i s b r o u g h t

a g a i n s t a p e r s o n or i n w h i c h a p c r s o n i s d e p r l v e d

o f a r l g h t o r t h e l e g i t l m a t e o f a

b e n e f l t . The c o n s l d e r a t l o n s a f f e c t i n g t h e g r a n t

o r e x t e n s i o n o f e n t r y permits a r e v e r y different

f r o m t h o s e 119691 2 Ch a t pp.170-171." r e l a t i n g t o t h e r e n e w a l o f l i c e n c e s -

s e e	S c h m i d t	v	S e c r e t a r y	o f	S t a t e	f o r	Home	A f f a i r s ,
-
-

I n so e x p r e s s l n g h l m s e l f , h i s Honour d l s t l n g u l s h e d b e t w e e n t h e

c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e g r a n t o r e x t e n s l o n o f a n e n t r y p e r m i t a n d

t h e c a n c e l l a t l o n t h e r e o f , t h e e f f e c t o f w h i c h i s t o d e p r l v e a

p e r s o n o f a n e x i s t l n g r i g h t .

S e c t i o n 7 ( 1 ) o f t h e M i g r a t l o n A c t 1 9 5 8 p r o v l d e s :

"The M l n l s t e r may, i n h i s a b s o l u t e d l s c r e t l o n ,

c a n c e l a t e m p o r a r y e n t r y permlt a t a n y time by

w r i t i n g u n d e r h i s h a n d . "

Were i t n o t f o r t h e word " a b s o l u t e " w h l c h a p p e a r s i n t h i s

L.

I '

. .' ,-'

1 3 .

s u b - s e c t i o n , I wou ld have no doub t t ha t j u s t i c e t he Mln l s t e r was bound t o

c o m p l y w i t h t h e rules o f n a t u r a l when making s u c h a

d e c i s l o n . A p e r s o n i n t h i s c o u n t r y p u r s u a n t t o a p e r m l t h a s a

r i g h t t o r e m a i n u n l e s s t h e p e r m i t 1s c a n c e l l e d . T h l s i s a most

s l g n i f i c a n t r i g h t a s 1 s r e c o g n i s e d i n A r t l c l e 1 3 o f t h e

I n t e r n a t l o n a l C o n v e n a n t o n C i v i l a n d P o l i t i c a l R i g h t s , a S c h e d u l e

t o t h e Human Rights Commiss lon Act t e r r i t o r y 1981, w h i c h r e a d s :

"An a l l e n l a w f u l l y i n t h e o f a S t a t e -

P a r t y t o t h e p r e s e n t C o v e n a n t may b e e x p e l l e d

t h e r e f r o m o n l y I n p u r s u a n c e o f a e x c e p t d e c i s i o n r e a c h e d

i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h law a n d s e c u r i t y s h a l l , w h e r e

c o m p e l l i n g r e a s o n s o f n a t l o n a l o t h e r w l s e

r e q u i r e , b e a l l o w e d t o s u b m l t t h e r e a s o n s a g a l n s t

h l s expulsion a n d t o p u r p o s e h a v e b e f o r e , h l s c a s e r e v l e w e d b y , a n d

be r e p r e s e n t e d f o r t h e t h e

c o m p e t e n t a u t h o r i t y o r a p e r s o n o r p e r s o n s

e s p e c i a l l y d e s i g n a t e d b y t h e c o m p e t e n t a u t h o r i t y . "

T h l s A r t l c l e r e c o g n l s e s t h a t a n a l i e n may e s t a b l l s h s t r o n g

f a m l l y , s o c i a l a n d b u s i n e s s t i e s w i t h a c o u n t r y o t h e r t h a n h i s

homeland of which i t would be un-just t o d e p r i v e h lm wl thou t

g l v l n g hlm an o p p o r t u n i t y t o be h e a r d .

I t 1s n o t s u r p r l s l n g , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t i n S c h m l d t v S e c r e t a r y o f

0 S t a t e f o r Home A f f a l r s [ l 9 6 9 1 2 Ch 1 4 9 , Lord Dennlng FIR e x p r e s s e d

t h e v i e w t h a t t h e r e w a s n o r e q u l r e m e n t t o o b s e r v e t h e rules o f

n a t u r a l l u s t l c e i n r e l a t l o n t o a p e r s o n who was n o t r e l a t i o n l a w f u l l y I n

t h e c o u n t r y b u t t h a t t h e same p o s l t i o n d l d n o c a p p l y I n

t o t h e c a n c e l l a t i o n o f a p e r m i t . 1. His L o r d s h i p s a i d a t p . 1 7 1 :

" I f h i s p e r m i t i s r e p r e s e n t a t l o n s r e v o k e d b e f o r e t h e time limit

e x p l r e s , h e o u g h t , I t h i n k , t o b e g i v e n a n

o p p o r t u n i t y o f m a k i n g : f o r h e

w o u l d h a v e a l e g l t i m a t e t h e p e r m i t t e d e x p e c t a t i o n o f b e i n g

a l l o w e d t o s t a y f o r time. Cxcept I n

s u c h a c a s e , a f o r e l g n a l i e n h a s no r l g h t - a n d , I

would a d d , n o l e g i t i m a t e e x p e c t a t i o n - o f b e i n g

a l l o w e d s t a y . t o He r e f u s e d c a n b e w i t h o u t

r e a s o n s g i v e n a n d w i t h o u t a h e a r i n g . Once h i s

time h a s e x p l r e d , h e h a s t o go."

I n H e a t l e y v Tasmanlan Raclng a n d Gaming Commission, c l t e d a b o v e ,

I t was held by Stephen, Mason, Murphy and Aickln JJ, Barwick C J

14.

d l s s e n t l n g , t h a t t h e Tasmanian Raclng and Gaming Commisslon had

t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e r u l e s o f n a t u r a l j u s t i c e when r e q u i r i n g a

p e r s o n t o n e c e s s a r y f o r me r e f r a l n f r o m e n t e r i n g a r a c e c o u r s e . I t i s h a r d l y

t o s t a t e t h a t , i f t h e exclusion o f a p e r s o n f r o m

a r a c e c o u r s e p r l n c i p l e s 1s a c l r c u m s t a n c e r e q u l r l n g t h e a p p l l c a t i o n o f t h e

o f n a t u r a l l u s t i c e , t h e n a n e v e n m o r e a p p r o p r l a t e

c a s e , I n t h e a b s e n c e o f l e g l s l a t i v e i n t e n t i o n . t o t h e c o n t r a r y , 1s

0 t h e c a n c e l l a t l o n e n t r y a n o f p e r m i t . S u c h a u t h o r i t y a c a n c e l l a t l - o n

t e r m l n a t e s t h e w h l c h t h e h o l d e r h a s t o s t a y i n

A u s t r a l i a t o e n l o y t h e f a m i l y , b u s i n e s s a n d s o c i a l t l e s w h l c h t h e

h o l d e r m a y c a n c e l l a t l o n h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d t h l s c o u n t r y . I n S u c h a

m a y , m o r e o v e r , p r e c l u d e r e l i a n c e u p o n s.6A(l)(e) o f

t h e M i g r a t i o n A c t .

Mr P. s u b m l t t e d t h a t I n R o b e r t s , o f c o u n s e l , who a p p e a r e d f o r t h e r e s p o n d e n t ,

Salemi's case and Ra tu ' S c a s e t h e H l g h C o u r t o f

A u s t r a l i a e x p r e s s e d i t s v i e w t h a t d e c i s i o n s t a k e n be s u b j e c t b y t h e M i n i s t e r

u n d e r t h e Migration Act were n o t t o t o t h e r u l e s o f

n a t u r a l l u s t i c e e x c e p t i n a c i r c u m s t a n c e s u c h a s a d e c i s i o n u n d e r

s . 1 4 o f t h e M l q r a t i o n A c t - w h e r e t h e P a r l i a m e n t e x p r e s s l y p r o v l d e d

0	f o r
s u c h S a l e m l ' s case and c o m p l i a n c e . B u t I h a v e a l r e a d y i n d l c a t e d my v i e w t h a t

R a t u ' s case were cases d e a l i n g w l t h s.18 o f t h e

M i g r a t l o n Act and t h a t t h e y s h o u l d n o t b e read a s d e t e r m l n i n g t h e

p o s i t i o n u n d e r s . 7 ( 1 ) , e x c e p t i n s o f a r a s t h e j u d g m e n t s

d l s c u s s e d t h e p r l n c l p l e s t o b e a p p l i e d .

-

Glbbs J s a l d , i n S a l e m i ' s c a s e , a t p . 4 1 9 , " I n t h e case o f a

s t a t u t o r y power, t h e q u e s t i o n will d e p e n d o n t h e t r u e

c o n s t r u c t l o n o f t h e s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n i n t h e l l g h t o f t h e

common l a w p r l n c l p l e s " . I t 1s t h u s n e c e s s a r y g i v e t o f u l l

e € f e c t t o t h e terms o f t h e s t a t u t e . However, a s J a c o b s J sa ld

I n S a l e m l ' s c a s e a t p .451 :

" I a c c e p t t h a t i n t h e c a s e o f s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n s

I t 1s a l w a y s a m a t t e r o f d l s c o v e r i n g t h e i n t e n t l o n

of t h e legislature. B u t t h a t d o e s n o t c a r r y u s

v e r y f a r . The l e g i s l a t u r e is a s s u m e d b y t h e

c o u r t s t o b e a w a r e o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f n a t u r a l

l u s t i c e w h i c h a r e a p a r t o f t h e common law. The

a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h o s e p r l n c l p l e s d e p e n d s o n t h e

c i r c u m s t a n c e s	o f	t h e	case.	I t	i s	s e l d o m	p o s s l b l e
t o	s a y

i n p a r t i c u l a r t h e case of t h e e x e r c l s e o f a n y

s t a t u t o r y p o w e r ' A l l t h e p r l n c l p l e s

w h i c h h a v e e v e r b e e n a p p l i e d i n e n s u r i n g n a t u r a l

~ u s t l c e w i l l here a p p l y ' o r o n t h e o t h e r h a n d

' N a t u r a l j u s t i c e was l n t e n d e d w h o l l y b e t o

e x c l u d e d ' . The q u e s t i o n s w h l c h m u s t b e a s k e d a r e

- i n p a r t i c u l a r c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u c h a s e x l s t e x c l u d e d ? I n t h i s

case d i d t h e l e g l s l a t u r e i n t e n d t h a t - t h e p r i n c l p l e s

o f n a t u r a l j u s t i c e s h o u l d b e w h o l l y I f

n o t , w h a t p a r t l c u l a r p r l n c l p l e s s h o u l d be a p p l l e d ?

I r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h e s e a r c h f o r l e g l s l a t l v e

I n t e n t i o n c a n b e d e s c r l b e d as somewhat a r t i f l c i a l .

What t h e c o u r t s d o i n t h e a b s e n c e of e x p r e s s

l e g l s l a t i v e i n t e n t i o n 1s t o ensure t h a t p o w e r ,

w h e t h e r l t b e ~ u d i c i a l o r w e l g h l n g q u a s l - j u d l c i a l o r

e x e c u t l v e , be e x e r c i s e d f a l r l y , t h e

I n t e r e s t s o f t h e l n d i v l d u a l a n d t h e I n t e r e s t s of

s o c i e t y a s a whole ."

Mr R o b e r t s r e l l e d u p o n t h e w o r d " a b s o l u t e " i n s.7(1) a n d

s u b m i t t e d t h a t t h i s w o r d I n d i c a t e d a n i n t e n t l o n o f M i n l s t e r P a r l i a m e n t

t h a t t h e discretion t o be e x e r c l s e d b y t h e was t o t a l l y

u n f e t t e r e d .

e That Indeed was , I t h l n k , t h e v l e w w h l c h was t aken by Ba rwlck C J

I n S a l e m i ' s case a t p . 4 0 3 a n d i n R a t u ' s c a s e a t p .466 . Alckln J

may appea r t o h a v e a c c e p t e d t h a t v i e w i n R a t u ' s c a s e a t pp.485-6

b u t I t h i n k h i s H o n o u r ' s r e m a r k s a r e e q u i v o c a l o n t h l s p o l n t .

No o t h e r member of t h e C o u r t e x p r e s s e d t h i s v l e w a n d , a s Barwick

C J was t h e d i s s e n t l n g member I n H e s t l e y ' s c a s e , I d o n o t g i v e t h e

s a m e w e i g h t t o h i s H o n o u r ' s v i e w I n t h i s r e g a r d t h a t o t h e r w i s e I

may have done .

The word " a b s o l u t e " u n d o u b t e d l y i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e M l n l s t e r h a s a

v e r y w i d e d i s c r e t i o n b u t I t d o e s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y h a v e t h e e f f e c t

t h a t t h e M l n i s t e r ' s d i s c r e t i o n i s t o t a l l y u n f e t t e r e d . I n d e e d ,

Mr	R o b e r t s	d i d
n o t C o u r t . s u b m l t t h a t t h e word " a b s o l u t e " p r e c l u d e s

r e v l e w b y t h i s T h e Issue is w h e t h e r t h e word " a b s o l u t e " ,

I n a d d i t i o n d l s c r e t l o n , to maklng i t c lear t h a t t h e M i n i s t e r h a s a v e r y w i d e

a l s o p r o v i d e s t h a t a d e c l s l o n may bc made w l t h o u t

,'

16.

c o m p l y l n g w l t h t h e r u l e s n a t u r a l o f j u s t i c e . The r u l e s o f

n a t u r a l j u s t i c e a r e I n t e n d e d t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e p e r s o n t o b e

a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t e d b y a d e c i s i o n h a s a f a i r o p p o r t u n i t y o f

c o r r e c t i n g t h e m l s a p p r e h e n s l o n s o f f a c t w h l c h may o t h e r w l s e e x i s t

a n d o f p u t t i n g f o r w a r d f a c t o r s w h l c h a re r e l e v a n t t o t h e e x e r c l s e

o f a d i s c r e t i o n a n d m l g h t n o t o t h e r w i s e b e known.

On t h e w h o l e , I t h l n k t h a t t h e word " a b s o l u t e " i n s.7( 1) d o e s n o t

e h a v e t h e p r l n c i p l e e f f e c t f o r w h i c h Mr R o b e r t s c o n t e n d e d . The c o r r e c t

i s , i n my v i e w , s t a t e d i n d e S m l t h ' s " J u d i c l a l R e v i e w

o f A d m i n i s t r a t i v e A c t i o n " , 4 t h e d . , p . 1 8 6 , h o l d i n g a s f o l l o w s :

"There m a y b e s o u n d r e a s o n s f o r t h a t i n a

p a r t l c u l a r c o n t e x t i t w i l l be u n d e s l r a b l e o r

l m p r a c t l c a b l e f o r a c o u r t of law t o e n g r a f t a n y

p r o c e d u r a l d u t y o n t o a w i d e d l s c r e t i o n a r y p o w e r ;

b u t t h e m e r e f a c t t h a t t h e d l s c r e t l o n a r y p o w e r is

v e r y w l d e 1 s i n c o n c l u s l v e . The n a t u r e o f t h e

p o w e r , t h e c o n d l t i o n u n d e r e x l s t e n c e w h i c h I t h a s t o be

e x e r c l s e d ( t h e o f s e l f - I m p o s e d r u l e s ,

p o l i c y or p r e c e d e n t s may b e r e l e v a n t h e r e ) a n d i t s

i m p a c t o n t h e I n t e r e s t s o f I n d i v i d u a l s m u s t a l l be

t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t . "

T h u s , i n H e a t l e y v Tasmanlan Raclng and Gamlng Commlssion, c i ted comply

a b o v e , A i c k i n J a c c e p t e d t h a t t h e Commiss ion should wi th

t h e r u l e s d i s c r e t i o n " . o f n a t u r a l j u s t i c e t h o u g h i t h a d a n " a b s o l u t e

His Honour t h e r e s a i d , a t p.515 :

" T h i s i s n o t t o s a y t h a t t h e C o m m i s s i o n i s o b l i g e d

t o a d h e r e t o t h e r u l e s o f e v l d e n c e or c o n d u c t

f o r m a l h e a r i n g s or t o be s a t i s f i e d a c c o r d i n g t o a n y

s t a t e d o n u s o f p r o o f . - I t i s c l e a r t h a t t h e

C o m m l s s i o n h a s t h e y may a n ' a b s o l u t e d i s c r e t i o n ' , i n t h e

s e n s e t h a t d e v i s e t h e l r own c r i t e r l a a n d

n o a p p e a l i s a b s o l u t e a v a i l a b l e a g a i n s t t h e l r decision,

whether I t b e m i s t a k e n o r n o t . T h e y a r e o f d e c l s l o n c o u r s e

n o t p r o t e c t e d b y t h e n a t u r e o f t h e l r

d l s c r e t i o n i n a ca se w h e r e t h e l r i s

a f f e c t e d b y b i a s o r I n t e r e s t . "

I n my o p i n i o n , i n s . 7 ( 1 ) t h e w o r d s " a b s o l u t e d i s c r e t i o n " h a v e t h e

e f f e c t	a t t r i b u t e d	t o	them	by	Alckin	J	i n	H e a t l e y ' s	c a s e ,	t h a t	i s
t o	s a y ,

t h a t d l s c r e t i o n t h e d e c i s i o n - m a k e r h a s a v e r y w l d e o r a b s o l u t e

b u t i s n e v e r t h e l e s s r e q u i r e d t o e x e r c i s e t h a t

I

I

17.

discretion i n a p r o p e r m a n n e r . I n d e e d , t h e f a c t t h a t

t h e S c h e d u l e

d i s c r e t i o n 1s n o t i n c l u d e d i n e i t h e r 1 o r S c h e d u l e 2 t o

t h e A d m l n l s t r a t l v e Decisions (Judicial Revlew) Act 1 9 7 7 1 s a n

I n d i c a t i o n t h a t P a r l l a m e n t l n t e n d s t h a t a d e c i s i o n u n d e r s . 7 ( 1 )

w l l l be a r e a s o n e d d e c i s i o n p r o p e r l y c o n s i d e r e d . I n t h e c o n t e x t my v l e w ,

t h e w o r d s " a b s o l u t e d l s c r e t l o n " d o n o t , i n I n s . 7 (1 ) ,

e x c l u d e t h e o p e r a t l o n o f t h e p r l n c i p l e s o f n a t u r a l j u s t i c e . I

e t h i n k t h a t , when p r o p e r l y c o n s t r u e d i n t h e l i g h t o f t h e common

l a w p r l n c l p l e s as t o n a t u r a l j u s t l c e , s . 7 ( 1 ) w h l c h a u t h o r i s e s t h e

c a n c e l l a t i o n o f a m o s t v a l u a b l e r i g h t , t h e r i g h t t o r e m a l n i n

A u s t r a l l a , c o n f e r s a d i s c r e t i o n n h l c h i s t o b e e x e r c l s e d i n

a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e p r l n c i p l e s o f n a t u r a l j u s t i c e .

T h a t 1s n o t n a t u r a l t o s a y t h a t a n y r i g i d r u l e s o f p r o c e d u r e a p p l y . p r e c l u d e

The r u l e s o f l u s t i c e d o n o t t h e mak ing o f an

a r b l t r a r y d e c i s i o n i n a c a s e w h e r e u r g e n t o r p o l i t i c a l o r

n a t i o n a l s e c u r l t y f a c t o r s n e g a t e t h e g i v i n g o f n o t l c e t o t h e

p e r s o n t o b e a f f e c t e d or where o t h e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s make t h e

g l v i n g o f n o t i c e i m p r a c t i c a b l e . S e e Murphy J i n S a l e m l ' s c a s e

a t p .457. Nor d o t h e p r m c i p l e s o f n a t u r a l j u s t l c e r e q u l r e t h a t

c)	t h e r e	b e	a
h e a r l n g c o n d u c t , I n a case where t h e p e r s o n s t o be a f f e c t e d

h a v e , b y t h e l r f o r f e i t e d t h e i r c l a i m t o a h e a r l n g . See

Cinnamond v B r i t i s h A i r p o r t s A u t h o r i t y [ l 9 8 0 1 2 A l l ER 368.

!

Matters	o f	t h a t
t y p e a l l e g a t i o n s were n o t i n v o l v e d i n t h e p resent c a s e .

I n d e e d , t h e made a g a i K s t t h e h a v e a p p l i c a n t were o f t h e

v e r y type of which t h e a p p l i c a n t s h o u l d b e e n g i v e n n o t i c e .

The re was a n a l l e g a t l o n t h a t t h e m a r r l a g e l n t o w h l c h s h e h a d

e n t e r e d was n o t a g e n u l n e m a r r i a g e , a n d a s u g g e s t i o n t h a t , i n t h e

e v e n t , s h e h a d p r e v l o u s l y m a r r l e d I n T h a i l a n d a n d t h a t h e r s e c o n d

m a r r i a g e was bigamous. n a t u r a l T h e s e were a l l e g a t i o n s o f t h e t y p e f o r

w h i c h t h e p r l n c i p l e s o f j u s t i c e were f ramed. They

c o n c e r n e d f a c t s w h l c h were p r i n c i p a l l y w l t h i n t h e k n o w l e d g e o f

t h e p e r s o n t o be g iven a f f e c t e d . T h e r e f o r e , t h e p e r s o n t o b e a f f e c t e d

should have been a f a i r o p p o r t u n l t y t o speak a b o u t them.

I'

.' ,-'

18.

As I have men t ioned above , I t h i n k t h a t t h e a p p l l c a n t was n o t

g l v e n a d e q u a t e n o t i c e o f t h e d e c l s l o n t o b e made o r o f t h e

a l l e g a t l o n s w h i c h were made a g a l n s t h e r . S h e was s l m p l y c a l l e d

t o a n n o t i c e l n t e r v i e w a n d was a s k e d q u e s t l o n s . S h e was n o t g i v e f a i r

o f t h e m a t t e r s w h l c h w e r e p u t t o t h e M i n i s t e r a g a l n s t h e r

I n t e r e s t a n d s h e was n o t g l v e n a f a i r o p p o r t u n i t y t o r e b u t them.

, t h e s e I n c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e d e c l s l o n c a n c e l t o t e m p o r a r y t h e

e n t r y p e r m i t h e l d b y t h e a p p l i c a n t s h o u l d b e se t a s ide .

I t f o l l o w s t h a t t h e d e c i s l o n t o d e p o r t t h e a p p l l c a n t s h o u l d a l s o

be s e t a s l d e . I n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , t h a t d e c l s l o n was based upon

t h e c l r c u m s t a n c e t h a t t h e a p p l l c a n t ' s t e m p o r a r y e n t r y p e r m i t h a d

b e e n c a n c e l l e d a n d t h a t s h e was t h e n a p r o h l b i t e d l m m l g r a n t . I n

t h e c l r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e d e p o r t a t i o n o r d e r was wrong ly based and

s h o u l d b e s e t a s l d e . See Bowen C J a n d F r a n k i J i n M l n i s t e r f o r

_I- I n m l q _ f a t l o n a n d ---- E t h n l c A f f a i r s v X - I s m a i l , ----- c l t e d a b o v e , a t

p .348 . The s e t t l n g a s ide o f t h e d e p o r t a t i o n o r d e r i s a l s o

n e c e s s a r y t o g l v e f u l l f o r c e a n d e f f e c t t o t h e C o u r t ' s d e c l s i o n

t o s e t a s l d e t h e M i n l s t e r ' s d e c i s i o n t o c a n c e l t h e a p p l i c a n t ' s

0, t e m p o r a r y e n t r y p e r m l t . The c a n c e l l a t l o n o f t h e t e m p o r a r y e n t r y

p e r m i t a n d d e p o r t a t l o n o r d e r w e r e c o n s i d e r e d by t h e M i n l s t e r a t

t h e same time. T h e C o u r t ' s o r d e r s e t t l n g a s i d e t h e

c a n c e l l a t l o n o f t h e t e m p o r a r y e n t r y p e r m i t d e p o r t a t i o n w o u l d n o t b e f u l l y

e f f e c t i v e i f t h e o r d e r f o r were n o t a l s o set a s i d e .

-

For t h e s e r e a s o n s t h e d e c i s i o n s u n d e r revlew s h o u l d b e s e t a s l d e .

T h e r e s p o n d e n t s h o u l d p a y t h e a p p l l c a n t ' s c o s t s o f t h e

p r o c e e d l n g s .