SZFDE v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
[2007] HCA 35237 ALR 64
SZFDE
&
ORS v
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship & ANOR
Judges:
Gleeson CJ
Gummow J
Kirby J
Hayne J
Callinan J
Heydon J
Crennan J
Subject References:
Immigration
Refugees
The Refugee Review Tribunal ('the Tribunal') affirmed a decision refusing the appellants' application for protection visas
The appellants did not attend the Tribunal hearing as a result of fraudulent advice given by a purported registered migration agent
Whether there was fraud 'by' or 'on' the Tribunal
Refugee Review Tribunal
Inquisitorial process
Distinction between Tribunal process and inter partes litigation
Whether fraud practised by an agent upon the applicants for a protection visa subverted the operation of Div 4 of Pt 7 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth)
Whether this fraud led to the jurisdiction of the Tribunal remaining constructively unexercised
Administrative law
Constitutional writs
Mandamus and certiorari
Availability of constitutional writs in cases of fraud
bad faith
does not appear
fraud
on the decision maker
third party fraud
Legislative References:
Migration Act 1958 (CTH) - Pt 7 Div 4; 281; 422B; 425; 426A
Judgment date: 2 August 2007
Orders
56. The appeal to this Court should be allowed with costs. The orders of the Federal Court entered on 24 October 2006 should be set aside and in place thereof the appeal to that Court should be dismissed with costs.
Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v SZFDE [2006] FCAFC 142 ; (2006) 154 FCR 365 .
[2005] FMCA 1979 .
[2006] FCAFC 142 ; (2006) 154 FCR 365 at 400.
[1896] AC 199 at 221.
6th ed (1929) at 1 (footnote omitted).
Macleod v The Queen [2003] HCA 24 ; (2003) 214 CLR 230 at 241-242 [32]- [38].
Krakowski v Eurolynx Properties Ltd [1994] HCA 22 ; (1995) 183 CLR 563 at 579-580.
Polyaire Pty Ltd v K-Aire Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 32 ; (2005) 221 CLR 287 at 295-296 [17]- [18].
Sons of Gwalia Ltd v Margaretic [2007] HCA 1 ; (2007) 81 ALJR 525 at 543 [73]- [74]; [2007] HCA 1 ; 232 ALR 232 at 254-255.
Commonwealth v Cornwell (2007) 81 ALJR 933 at 941-942 [40]-[45], 948-949 [74]-[75]; [2007] HCA 16 ; 234 ALR 148 at 158-159, 167-168.
Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 81 ALJR 1107 at 1150-1152.
Modern Equity , 8th ed (1962) at 643-644.
See the discussion by Dixon J in Mills v Mills [1938] HCA 4 ; (1938) 60 CLR 150 at 185.
[2003] HCA 2 ; (2003) 211 CLR 476 at 513-514 [103]- [104].
(2007) 81 ALJR 905 at 910 [28], 913-914 [46]; [2007] HCA 14 ; 234 ALR 114 at 119, 123-124.
Minister for Immigration v Eshetu [1999] HCA 21 ; (1999) 197 CLR 611 at 649 [124].
Wade and Forsyth, Administrative Law , 9th ed (2004) at 416.
[1981] HCA 74 ; (1981) 151 CLR 170 at 232-233. See also Western Australian Planning Commission v Temwood Holdings Pty Limited [2004] HCA 63 ; (2004) 221 CLR 30 at 67 [93], 95 [181].
[2006] FCAFC 142 ; (2006) 154 FCR 365 at 400.
[1956] 1 QB 702 at 712-713.
(1767) 1 Smith's LC, 13th ed, 406; 2 Wils KB 341 [ 95 ER 847 ].
(1776) 2 Smith's LC 13th ed 644 at 646, 651; 20 How St Tr 355 at 538-539, 543-544.
(1791) 1 Smith's LC 13th ed 780 at 799.
[1946] HCA 29 ; (1946) 75 CLR 487 at 493.
[1930] AC 298 at 301-302.
Monroe Schneider Associates (Inc) v No 1 Raberem Pty Ltd (No 2 ) (1992) 37 FCR 234 at 238-243.
See the remarks of Windeyer J in McDonald v McDonald [1965] HCA 45 ; (1965) 113 CLR 529 at 544, citing those of Williams J in Cabassi v Vila [1940] HCA 41 ; (1940) 64 CLR 130 at 147-148.
Owens Bank Ltd v Bracco [1992] 2 AC 443 at 483. See also D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid [2005] HCA 12 ; (2005) 223 CLR 1 at 20 [43].
[1995] HCA 58 ; (1995) 184 CLR 163 .
[1995] HCA 58 ; (1995) 184 CLR 163 at 175-176.
[1995] HCA 58 ; (1995) 184 CLR 163 at 176, fn 58.
The Colonial Bank of Australasia v Willan (1874) LR 5 PC 417 at 442; Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v SGLB [2004] HCA 32 ; (2004) 78 ALJR 992 at 1002-1003 [55]- [56]; [2004] HCA 32 ; 207 ALR 12 at 25-26.
[1983] 1 WLR 204 at 207.
[1984] HCA 34 ; (1984) 155 CLR 21 at 58-59.
[1990] 1 AC 876 at 895.
(1848) 12 QB 527 [ 116 ER 965 ].
[1947] KB 726 .
[1961] NI 167 .
[1961] NI 167 .
[1961] NI 167 at 172.
[1951] 2 All ER 1030 at 1034.
[1992] HCA 10 ; (1992) 175 CLR 564 .
R v The Justices at Biloela, Ex parte Marlow (No 2 ) [1983] 1 Qd R 552 .
Wati v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1996) 71 FCR 103 at 112.
Jama v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2000) 61 ALD 387 .
(1996) 71 FCR 103 at 111.
[1938] HCA 34 ; (1938) 60 CLR 336 .
(1996) 71 FCR 103 at 112.
See ss 483A, 475A, of the Act and Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 39B. With effect 1 December 2005, ss 483A and 475A were repealed by the Migration Litigation Reform Act 2005 (Cth) Sched 1, Pt 1, items 28, and 17 respectively. Subject to some qualifications, the Federal Magistrates Court now has, in relation to migration decisions, the same original jurisdiction as does this Court under s 75(v) of the Constitution. Explicit provision to that effect is now made by s 476 of the Act.
[2003] HCA 11 ; (2003) 215 CLR 518 at 540-541 [71]. See also at 526 [18] per Gleeson CJ, 531 [37] per McHugh J.
Mahon v Air New Zealand Ltd [1984] AC 808 at 814; Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang [1996] HCA 6 ; (1996) 185 CLR 259 at 282.
Added to Pt 7 Div 4 by the Migration Legislation Amendment (Procedural Fairness) Act 2002 (Cth).
Re Refugee Review Tribunal ; Ex parte Aala [2000] HCA 57 ; (2000) 204 CLR 82 .
See Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v SCAR [2003] FCAFC 126 ; (2003) 128 FCR 553 at 561; cf Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs ; Ex parte Palme [2003] HCA 56 ; (2003) 216 CLR 212 at 225 [44]- [46], 227-228 [55]-[57].
[2002] HCA 11 ; (2002) 209 CLR 597 .
[1995] HCA 58 ; (1995) 184 CLR 163 at 175-176.
See the discussion of principle by Lindgren J in Wati v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1996) 71 FCR 103 at 113-4.
[2006] FCAFC 142 ; (2006) 154 FCR 365 at 383.
[2006] FCAFC 142 ; (2006) 154 FCR 365 at 399-400.
[2006] FCAFC 142 ; (2006) 154 FCR 365 at 402.
[2006] FCAFC 142 ; (2006) 154 FCR 365 at 424.
[2006] FCAFC 142 ; (2006) 154 FCR 365 at 399.
[2006] FCAFC 142 ; (2006) 154 FCR 365 at 402.
Grain Pool of Western Australia v Commonwealth [2000] HCA 14 ; (2000) 202 CLR 479 at 492 [16].
[2002] HCA 11 ; (2002) 209 CLR 597 at 614-615 [51]. See, further, Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth [2003] HCA 2 ; (2003) 211 CLR 476 at 506 [76].
[2006] FCAFC 142 ; (2006) 154 FCR 365 at 399.
Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth [2003] HCA 2 ; (2003) 211 CLR 476 at 507 [80].