McKinley v Repatriation Commission

[2015] FCA 145

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

McKinley v Repatriation Commission [2015] FCA 145

Citation:	McKinley v Repatriation Commission [2015] FCA 145
Appeal from:	Re Jennifer McKinley and Repatriation Commission [2014] AATA 670
Parties:	JENNIFER MCKINLEY v REPATRIATION COMMISSION
File number:	VID 597 of 2014
Judge:	PAGONE J
Date of judgment:	2 March 2015
Catchwords:	ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Appeal from Administrative Appeals Tribunal – claim for increased rate of pension payable under Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth), s 24 – where applicant claimed to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependence as war-caused injuries – whether Tribunal failed to afford applicant procedural fairness – whether Tribunal took into account an irrelevant consideration – whether decision affected by actual or apprehended bias – whether findings irrational, illogical or manifestly unreasonable – whether Tribunal failed to make independent inquiries – whether Tribunal failed to provide adequate reasons for its factual findings – whether Tribunal failed to apply the correct standard of proof in relation to factual findings.
Legislation:	Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (Cth) Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) ss 39, 43(2B), 44(1)
Cases cited:	Bushell v Repatriation Commission (1992) 175 CLR 408 Commissioner of Taxation v Glennan (1999) 90 FCR 538 Danagher v Child Support Registrar [2014] FCA 1408 Johnson v Johnson (2000) 201 CLR 488 Kowalski v Repatriation Commission [2011] FCAFC 43 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration v Yusuf (2001) 206 CLR 323 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZIAI (2009) 259 ALR 429 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Re Ex Parte Applicant S20/2002 [2003] 198 ALR 59 Muralidharan v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1996) 62 FCR 402 O’Sullivan v Repatriation Commission (2003) 128 FCR 590 Repatriation Commission v Bawden (2012) 206 FCR 296 Repatriation Commission v Deledio (1998) 83 FCR 82 SZBEL v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2006) 228 CLR 152
Date of hearing:	17 February 2015
Place:	Melbourne
Division:	GENERAL DIVISION
Category:	Catchwords
Number of paragraphs:	25
Counsel for the Applicant:	Mr D De Marchi of DeMarchi & Associates
Counsel for the Respondent:	Ms C Dowsett
Solicitor for the Respondent:	Australian Government Solicitor

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION	VID 597 of 2014

ON APPEAL FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL

BETWEEN:	JENNIFER MCKINLEY Applicant
AND:	REPATRIATION COMMISSION Respondent

JUDGE:	PAGONE J
DATE OF ORDER:	2 MARCH 2015
WHERE MADE:	MELBOURNE

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.The appeal be dismissed with costs.

Note:    Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION	VID 597 of 2014

ON APPEAL FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL

BETWEEN:	JENNIFER MCKINLEY Applicant
AND:	REPATRIATION COMMISSION Respondent

JUDGE:	PAGONE J
DATE:	2 MARCH 2015
PLACE:	MELBOURNE

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

1. Ms McKinley has appealed from a decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal which rejected her claim to have her post-traumatic stress disorder and her alcohol abuse accepted as having been “war-caused”…