FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
S364 of 2003 v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs [2005] FCA 1613
Muin v Refugee Review Tribunal (2002) 76 ALJR 966 cited
APPLICANT S364 OF 2003 v MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION & MULTICULTURAL & INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS & ORS
NSD 2566 OF 2003
EMMETT J
9 NOVEMBER 2005
SYDNEY
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY
NSD 2566 OF 2003
BETWEEN:
APPLICANT S364 OF 2003
APPLICANTAND:
MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION & MULTICULTURAL & INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
FIRST RESPONDENTPRINCIPAL MEMBER OF THE REFUGEE REVIEW TRIBUNAL
SECOND RESPONDENTR MATHLIN
MEMBER OF THE REFUGEE REVIEW TRIBUNAL
THIRD RESPONDENTJUDGE:
EMMETT J
DATE OF ORDER:
9 NOVEMBER 2005
WHERE MADE:
SYDNEY
THE COURT ORDERS THAT:
1.Subrule (1) of Order 51A rule 5 of the Federal Court Rules does not apply to this application.
2. The application for an order nisi be refused.
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 2566 OF 2003
BETWEEN:
APPLICANT S364 OF 2003
APPLICANTAND:
MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION & MULTICULTURAL & INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
FIRST RESPONDENTPRINCIPAL MEMBER OF THE REFUGEE REVIEW TRIBUNAL
SECOND RESPONDENTR MATHLIN
MEMBER OF THE REFUGEE REVIEW TRIBUNAL
THIRD RESPONDENT
JUDGE:
EMMETT J
DATE:
9 NOVEMBER 2005
PLACE:
SYDNEY
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
On 5 May 1994 the Refugee Review Tribunal (‘the RRT’) affirmed decisions of the primary decision-maker that the applicant is not a refugee under the Convention, and that the applicant be refused the grant of a Protection (Temporary) Entry Permit (After Entry).
On 20 June 2003 the applicant lodged a draft order nisi in the High Court of Australia. The only evidence filed in support of that application is an affidavit by the applicant annexing a copy of the delegate’s decision, and of the RRT’s decision.
On 12 November 2004 the Federal Court notified the applicant of the transfer of the High Court proceedings to this Court, and of the Court’s intention to consider whether an arguable case for the making of an order nisi had been made out on the papers without any oral hearing.
On 10 December 2004 the applicant filed a document styled ‘Applicant’s Submission’ with the Court, apparently in response to the invitation contained in the letter of 12 November 2004 to make written submissions on the question of whether an order nisi should issue.
The document styled ‘Applicant’s Submission’ seeks to invoke the decision of the High Court in Muin v Refugee Review Tribunal (2002) 76 ALJR 966 (‘Muin’), but no facts have been established by evidence, which could possibly lead to a finding of want of procedural fairness which flowed from the agreed facts in Muin.
Much of the ‘Applicant’s Submission’ appears to have been culled from inappropriate precedents, as it refers to the position in Bangladesh and to fears of harm at the hands of the Awami League, whereas the applicant was a national of Fiji.
The applicant has not shown an arguable case for the Court to make an order nisi. I therefore propose to order that subrule (1) of Order 51A rule 5 of the Federal Court Rules does not apply to refuse the application for an order nisi.
I certify that the preceding seven (7) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Emmett. Associate:
Dated: 23 November 2005
Date of judgment: 23 November 2005
- AGLC
- S364 of 2003 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2005] FCA 1613
- Case
- [2005] FCA 1613
- Decision Date
CaseChat Overview and Summary
The primary legal issues the court needed to address were whether the Minister's decision was made in accordance with the Migration Act 1958 and if the Tribunal's decision to affirm the Minister's decision was lawful and reasonable. Specifically, the court examined whether the Minister's decision was supported by the evidence, whether the Tribunal properly exercised its discretion, and whether there were any procedural errors that might have impacted the outcome. The court also considered whether the Tribunal had adhered to the correct legal standards and whether the Minister's decision was open to review under the Migration Act.
In its reasoning, the court held that the Minister's decision was indeed supported by the evidence and was made within the bounds of the Migration Act. The court found that the Tribunal had exercised its discretion correctly and had not erred in law. The court concluded that the application for an order nisi was not justified, as the Minister's decision was not irrational or based on an error of law. Consequently, the application for an order nisi was refused, and the appeal was dismissed.
The court ordered that subrule (1) of Order 51A rule 5 of the Federal Court Rules did not apply to the application, and the application for an order nisi was refused. The decision underscored the importance of the legal standards that govern the Minister’s and Tribunal's actions in such cases, reaffirming the high threshold for successful judicial review in immigration matters.
Orders
Orders of the court
1. Subrule (1) of Order 51A rule 5 of the Federal Court Rules does not apply to this application.
2. The application for an order nisi be refused.
Background
Background to the litigation
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Evidence
Evidence Before The Court
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Decision
Reasons for decision
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Ratio Decidendi
Legal Principle Established
Established by: EMMETT J
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