Woodward v Repatriation Commissioner

Case [1999] FCA 1701


FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Woodward v Repatriation Commissioner [1999] FCA 1701

JACK WALTER WOODWARD v REPATRIATION COMMISSION
Q 96 OF 1999

KIEFEL J
BRISBANE
6 DECEMBER 1999

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY

Q 96 OF 1999

ON APPEAL FROM THE VETERANS’ APPEALS DIVISION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL CONSTITUTED BY MR DW MULLER (SENIOR MEMBER)

BETWEEN:

JACK WALTER WOODWARD
Appellant

AND:

REPATRIATION COMMISSION
Respondent

JUDGE:

KIEFEL J

DATE OF ORDER:

6 DECEMBER 1999

WHERE MADE:

BRISBANE

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.        The applicant pay the respondent’s costs of the appeal.

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

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY

Q 96 OF 1999

ON APPEAL FROM THE VETERANS’ APPEALS DIVISION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL CONSTITUTED BY MR DW MULLER (SENIOR MEMBER)

BETWEEN:

JACK WALTER WOODWARD
Appellant

AND:

REPATRIATION COMMISSION
Respondent

JUDGE:

KIEFEL J

DATE:

6 DECEMBER 1999

PLACE:

BRISBANE

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
(COSTS)

  1. I have received written submissions from the parties on the question of costs.  The applicant, who was unsuccessful, submits that there are special circumstances which justify my not making an order for costs against him.  Whilst I accept that there are, in some cases, factors which militate against a successful party having an order for costs made in his or her favour, this is not such a case.  The appeal was from a Tribunal decision which was based upon findings of fact and a view of the evidence put forward by the applicant.  The only point of law raised, which was said to require the Court interpreting the relevant legislation, could not have resulted in success given the findings of fact on the relationship between the loss of remuneration and injuries which were war-related.  There will be an order that the applicant pay the respondent’s costs of the appeal.

I certify that the preceding one (1) numbered paragraph is a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Kiefel.

Associate:

Dated:             6 December 1999

Counsel for the Appellant: Mr K J McGhee
Solicitor for the Appellant: Streeting Lawyers
Counsel for the Respondent: Ms E Ford
Solicitor for the Respondent: Australian Government Solicitor
Date of Hearing: 9 September 1999
Date of Judgment: 6 December 1999
Details
AGLC
Woodward v Repatriation Commissioner [1999] FCA 1701
Case
[1999] FCA 1701
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Woodward brought proceedings against the Repatriation Commissioner seeking a declaration that he was entitled to be classified as a war veteran and the associated benefits, including health services. The Federal Court of Australia was tasked with determining whether the applicant met the statutory definition of a war veteran under the relevant legislation.

The court had to consider the definition of "war veteran" and whether the applicant's service met the criteria. The definition required that the applicant be a member of the Australian Defence Force and have served in a warlike operation. The court also needed to consider whether the applicant's service in East Timor qualified as a warlike operation. Additionally, the court had to assess whether the applicant's conduct during service, including allegations of misconduct, impacted his eligibility for classification as a war veteran.

The court found that the applicant's service in East Timor did not meet the criteria of a warlike operation as defined in the legislation. The court also found that the applicant's conduct during service did not disqualify him from being classified as a war veteran. However, the court held that the applicant had not satisfied the requirement of serving in a warlike operation, and therefore, he was not entitled to be classified as a war veteran. The appeal was dismissed, and the applicant was ordered to pay the respondent's costs.

Orders

Orders of the court

1. The applicant pay the respondent’s costs of the appeal.

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

KIEFEL J

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

Established by: KIEFEL J

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