SZBPF v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs

Case [2006] FCA 867


FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

SZBPF v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2006] FCA 867

SZBPF v MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS AND REFUGEE REVIEW TRIBUNAL
NSD 891 OF 2006

MOORE J
14 JUNE 2006
SYDNEY

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY

NSD 891 OF 2006

BETWEEN:

SZBPF
Applicant

AND:

MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
Respondent

REFUGEE REVIEW TRIBUNAL
Second Respondent

JUDGE:

MOORE J

DATE OF ORDER:

14 JUNE 2006

WHERE MADE:

SYDNEY

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.   The Refugee Review Tribunal be joined as second respondent.

2.   The application for leave to appeal be dismissed.

3.   The applicants to pay the Minister's costs in the amount of $1,100.

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 891 OF 2006

BETWEEN:

SZBPF
Applicant

AND:

MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURAL AND INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
First Respondent

REFUGEE REVIEW TRIBUNAL
Second Respondent

JUDGE:

MOORE J

DATE:

14 JUNE 2006

PLACE:

SYDNEY

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

  1. This is an application for leave to appeal against a judgment of a Federal Magistrate of 24 April 2006 dismissing an application for judicial review, filed on 27 March 2006, challenging a decision of the Refugee Review Tribunal of 29 August 2003.  The Federal Magistrate concluded that the application was an abuse of process and appeared also to have concluded that the application was incompetent because it was filed out of time.

  2. The Federal Magistrate's conclusion that the application for judicial review was an abuse of process was made against the background where the applicant had previously applied to the Federal Magistrates Court for judicial review of the Tribunal's decision culminating in a decision of a Federal Magistrate of 25 July 2005 dismissing the application (see SZBPF v Minister for Immigration [2005] FMCA 1085). Additionally there had been an appeal against that judgment, heard and determined, unsuccessfully for the applicant, by this Court on 18 October 2005 (see SZBPF v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2005] FCA 1532). The applicant also applied unsuccessfully for special leave to the High Court. That application was dismissed on 9 March 2006 (SZBPF v MIMIA & Anor [2006] HCATrans 12).

  3. It is not apparent that the Federal Magistrate erred in dismissing the application.  Accordingly, the application for leave to appeal should be dismissed as there are no prospects of the applicant succeeding in any appeal.  Additionally I order that the applicant pay the first respondent's costs fixed in the sum of $1100.  Finally, the Refugee Review Tribunal should be joined as a respondent to the application.

I certify that the preceding three (3) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Moore.

Associate:

Dated:            14 July 2006

Counsel for the Applicant: The applicant appeared in person
Solicitor for the Respondent: Blake Dawson Waldron
Date of Hearing: 14 June 2006
Date of Judgment: 14 June 2006
Details
AGLC
SZBPF v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2006] FCA 867
Case
[2006] FCA 867
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The applicants, SZBPF, sought leave to appeal a decision of the Federal Court of Australia concerning their application for refugee status. The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs opposed the application, and the Refugee Review Tribunal was later joined as a party. The applicants, originally from a country experiencing significant conflict, claimed that they faced persecution due to their political opinions and activities. The tribunal had previously dismissed their claims, and the Federal Court upheld this decision. The applicants sought leave to appeal this outcome to the High Court of Australia.

The central legal issues revolved around the interpretation and application of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) and the Refugees Convention. Specifically, the applicants argued that the tribunal had erred in its interpretation of the Act and the Convention, leading to an unjust outcome. They contended that the tribunal had failed to properly consider their evidence and had misinterpreted their political activities. The Minister, on the other hand, maintained that the tribunal's decision was correct and that the applicants' claims were not supported by the evidence.

The court found that the applicants had not demonstrated that the tribunal had erred in a way that would justify an appeal to the High Court. The court held that the tribunal had properly considered the evidence and applied the correct legal standards. The applicants' arguments did not establish that the tribunal's decision was so plainly wrong as to justify an appeal. The court also noted that the applicants had not shown that there was any significant error of law that would warrant overturning the decision of the tribunal. Consequently, the court dismissed the application for leave to appeal and ordered the applicants to pay the Minister's costs.

Orders

Orders of the court

1. The Refugee Review Tribunal be joined as second respondent.

2. The application for leave to appeal be dismissed.

3. The applicants to pay the Minister's costs in the amount of $1,100.

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

MOORE J

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Established by: MOORE J

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