Millmerran Shire Council v Smith

Case [2004] QCA 58


FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

SZHAL v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2006] FCA 701

MIGRATION – application for extension of time to file and serve notice of appeal dismissed

SZHAL v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2006] FMCA 22 not disturbed

SZHAL v MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS AND REFUGEE REVIEW TRIBUNAL
NSD 552 OF 2006

GYLES J
25 MAY 2006
SYDNEY

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY

NSD 552 OF 2006

BETWEEN:

SZHAL
APPLICANT

AND:

MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
FIRST RESPONDENT

REFUGEE REVIEW TRIBUNAL
SECOND RESPONDENT

JUDGE:

GYLES J

DATE OF ORDER:

25 MAY 2006

WHERE MADE:

SYDNEY

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.The application for extension of time be dismissed. 

2.The applicant pay the costs of the first respondent.

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

NSD 552 OF 2006

BETWEEN:

SZHAL
APPLICANT

AND:

MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
FIRST RESPONDENT

REFUGEE REVIEW TRIBUNAL
SECOND RESPONDENT

JUDGE:

GYLES J

DATE:

25 MAY 2006

PLACE:

SYDNEY

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

  1. This is an application for an extension of time to file and serve a notice of appeal against a decision of the Federal Magistrates Court dismissing an application for review of a decision of the Refugee Review Tribunal confirming the refusal of a protection visa (SZHAL v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2006] FMCA 22).

  2. In order to obtain such an extension there is the necessity to show at least some available argument in favour of an appeal.  I think I can say that this matter is probably as bereft of such an argument as any I have ever seen.  That is saying something.

  3. The applicant arrived in Australia in 2002 and did not seek a protection visa until 2005 in circumstances where he had been apprehended by the authorities, having overstayed his visa.

  4. He has made it clear in what he has said to me today that his grievance lies in what occurred to him at the time of his being taken into detention and in particular the loss of his belongings, including, so he says, a substantial sum of cash.

  5. I have read the decision of the Tribunal.  I have read the decision of the learned Federal Magistrate.  There is no breath of a chance of any appeal succeeding.  There is no arguable basis upon which a protection visa could have been allowed.

  6. The application for extension of time is dismissed.  I order that the applicant pay the costs of the first respondent.

  7. I should make clear that whatever grievances the applicant has in relation to matters other than the grant of a protection visa are not before this Court.

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

Associate:

Dated:            6 June 2006

The Applicant appeared in person

Solicitor for the First Respondent:

Susan Goodman of Blake Dawson Waldron

Date of Hearing:

25 May 2006

Date of Judgment:

25 May 2006

Details
AGLC
Millmerran Shire Council v Smith [2004] QCA 58
Case
[2004] QCA 58
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the Federal Court of Australia, the case of Millmerran Shire Council v Smith involved an application for an extension of time to file and serve a notice of appeal. The applicant, SZHAL, sought to appeal a decision of the Federal Magistrates Court, which had dismissed an application for review of a decision of the Refugee Review Tribunal. The Tribunal had confirmed the refusal of a protection visa, and SZHAL's primary grievance was the loss of his belongings during his detention and the overstay of his visa. The court was tasked with determining whether there was any available argument in favour of an appeal.

The legal issue before the court was whether there was a sufficient basis for granting an extension of time to file and serve a notice of appeal against the Federal Magistrates Court's decision. The court had to assess if there was any arguable basis upon which the appeal could succeed. The applicant argued that there was no chance of the appeal succeeding due to the lack of an arguable basis for granting a protection visa. The court examined the decisions of the Tribunal and the Federal Magistrate to determine the merits of the application.

Justice Gyles dismissed the application for an extension of time, stating that the matter was as bereft of any argument in favour of an appeal as any he had ever seen. The court found that there was no arguable basis upon which a protection visa could have been allowed. Consequently, the court concluded that the application for extension of time should be dismissed. Additionally, the court ordered that the applicant pay the costs of the first respondent. It is important to note that any grievances the applicant had in relation to matters other than the grant of a protection visa were not before the court.

The final orders of the court were that the application for extension of time to file and serve a notice of appeal be dismissed, and the applicant was ordered to pay the costs of the first respondent. The court made it clear that the applicant's grievances concerning events other than the grant of a protection visa were not within the scope of the court's jurisdiction.

Orders

Orders of the court

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Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

GYLES J

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Established by: GYLES J

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