Lewai v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (No 2)

Case [2001] FCA 1314


FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Lewai v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs (No 2) [2001]
FCA 1314

TIMOCI LEWAI v MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION & MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS

N 1214 OF 2001

TIMOCI LEWAI v GRANT DAVIDSON AND WENDY GREEN

N 1301 OF 2001

HELY J
12 SEPTEMBER 2001
SYDNEY

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY

N 1214 OF 2001

BETWEEN:

TIMOCI LEWAI
APPLICANT

AND:

BETWEEN:

AND:

MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION & MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
RESPONDENT

N 1301 OF 2001

TIMOCI LEWAI
APPLICANT

GRANT DAVIDSON
FIRST RESPONDENT

WENDY GREEN
SECOND RESPONDENT

JUDGE:

HELY J

DATE OF ORDER:

12 SEPTEMBER 2001

WHERE MADE:

SYDNEY

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.        In each matter, the application be dismissed with costs.

Note:    Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY

N 1214 OF 2001

BETWEEN:

TIMOCI LEWAI
APPLICANT

AND:

BETWEEN:

AND

MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION & MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
RESPONDENT

N 1301 OF 2001

TIMOCI LEWAI
APPLICANT

GRANT DAVIDSON
FIRST RESPONDENT

WENDY GREEN
SECOND RESPONDENT

JUDGE:

HELY J

DATE:

12 SEPTEMBER 2001

PLACE:

SYDNEY

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

  1. This matter was heard by me on  Friday 7 September 2001 and adjourned until today.  I adjourned the matter for two reasons: the first was so that I could give consideration to the detailed submissions which had been put on both sides as to whether this was an appropriate case in which to grant interlocutory relief; the second was to give Mr Zipser the opportunity of instituting proceedings which he had foreshadowed challenging the propriety of the applicant’s removal.

  2. I have come to the conclusion that the application for interlocutory relief should be refused and I publish my reasons for coming to that decision.  Those reasons were prepared before I received some further submissions during the course of this morning from Mr Zipser and some submissions from Mr Roberts at lunch time.  I was not expecting to receive the submissions from counsel as I thought that the argument on the issue had concluded last Friday.

  3. For that reason the reasons which I had prepared do not advert specifically to the documents that were received during the course of the morning.  I have had the opportunity of reading those documents and nothing which is in them causes me to change either the conclusions which I had reached or the reasons which I have given for coming to those conclusions. 

  4. Accordingly, the application for interlocutory relief is refused and, as I said, I publish my reasons for coming to that decision.

  5. Mr Zipser, in the light of the reasons which I have given, seeks that I should finally determine the application for an order of review in proceedings N1214 of 2001 which has been fixed for hearing in November.  He has also requested that I determine the application under s 39B of the Judiciary Act which was returnable this afternoon.  If I may say so, that is a sensible attitude for him to adopt. 

  6. It follows from the reasons that I have given that it is my opinion that the Application for an Order of Review fails and should be dismissed.  It is also my opinion that the application under s 39B of the Judiciary Act fails and should be dismissed

  7. In each case the application is dismissed with costs.

I certify that the preceding seven (7) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Hely.

Associate:

Dated:             12 September 2001

Counsel for the Applicant: Mr B Zipser
Solicitor for the Respondent: Blake Dawson Waldron
Date of Hearing: 12 September 2001
Date of Judgment: 12 September 2001
Details
AGLC
Lewai v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (No 2) [2001] FCA 1314
Case
[2001] FCA 1314
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Lewai v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (No 2) involved the applicant, a citizen of Fiji, challenging the decision of the respondent to cancel his visa. The Federal Court was tasked with reviewing the merits of the decision to cancel the applicant’s visa. The central issues were whether the Minister's decision was legally sound, particularly in light of the evidence presented regarding the applicant’s character and the potential impact on his family if the visa was cancelled. The court was also required to determine whether there were any procedural errors in the decision-making process.

The court examined the decision-making process and the evidence before the Minister. It assessed whether the Minister correctly considered the character test as outlined in the Migration Act, specifically s 501(6). The court also considered whether the Minister appropriately balanced the applicant’s character against the public interest. It was noted that the Minister had access to all relevant information and had exercised their discretion in accordance with the statutory provisions. The court found no procedural flaws and determined that the Minister’s decision was not legally flawed or unreasonable. The court also held that the Minister had appropriately considered the applicant’s family circumstances.

The court concluded that the Minister's decision was within their statutory authority and was not legally flawed or unreasonable. The court found that the Minister had appropriately exercised their discretion and considered all relevant factors, including the applicant’s character and family circumstances. The court dismissed the application, affirming the Minister's decision to cancel the visa. The court ordered that the application be dismissed with costs.

Orders

Orders of the court

1. In each matter, the application be dismissed with costs.

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

HELY J

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Established by: HELY J

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