Federal Court. Can it be said that s 500(6H) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) "does not prevent an applicant who has not given two business days’ notice of proposed oral evidence prior to the commencement of the hearing, from relying upon that evidence as long as at least two business days’ notice is given prior to the resumption of the hearing following an adjournment"?
Sections 500(6H) and (6J) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) contained the so-called "2 business day's rule", as follows:
(6H) If:
(a) an application is made to the Tribunal for a review of a decision under section 501 or a decision under subsection 501CA(4) not to revoke a decision to cancel a visa; and
(b) the decision relates to a person in the migration zone;
the Tribunal must not have regard to any information presented orally in support of the person's case unless the information was set out in a written statement given to the Minister at least 2 business days before the Tribunal holds a hearing (other than a directions hearing) in relation to the decision under review.
(6J) If:
(a) an application is made to the Tribunal for a review of a decision under section 501 or a decision under subsection 501CA(4) not to revoke a decision to cancel a visa; and
(b) the decision relates to a person in the migration zone;
the Tribunal must not have regard to any document submitted in support of the person's case unless a copy of the document was given to the Minister at least 2 business days before the Tribunal holds a hearing (other than a directions hearing) in relation to the decision under review. However, this does not apply to documents given to the person or Tribunal under subsection 501G(2) or subsection (6F) of this section.
The Federal Court answered that question as follows: