Case Law Updates

Federal Court. In the context of s 501BA(2) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth), was it legally unreasonable for the Minister not to honour...

Federal Court: Was the AAT obliged to call a psychologists for cross-examination? Was the AAT's reason illogical on the basis that, on the one hand, it expressed 'concerns about the reliability of the final conclusions in relation to recidivism presented in the reports of both [psychologists]' and, on the other hand, 'proceeded to accept both those assessments and use them effectively as bookends to a range which is expressed by the AAT as “‘low’ to ‘low to moderate’ risk” that the applicant will re-offend'?

Federal Court (Full Court): The Appellant claimed fear of harm on the basis of: his ethnicity & religion; and non-refoulement obligations. Was the former type of harm subsumed by the latter on the basis that the latter "could not have been any less" than the former? With respect, has the FCAFC echoed the writer's views expressed in several articles that the materiality test is not binary but rather that the question is whether, had the error not been made, it could have tipped the scales in favour of an applicant? Further, in the absence of minor children in Australia related to an applicant, can that factor weigh against that applicant?

If an RMA's website advertised that "your case will be represented and advocated only by [an RMA] throughout the entire application process", but a client was not dealt with by an RMA, was that advertisement, combined with other factors, misleading even if the non-RMA dealing with that client was located overseas?

Federal Court. Does the balance of convenience favour the granting of an interlocutory injunction in circumstances where "it is arguable as to whether or not jurisdiction exists, and in turn whether or not there has been a departure from ministerially prescribed duties"? What is the prima facie position in relation to the costs of an interlocutory application for an injunction?

Federal Court. The Minister found: "I also consider that he would have the same access to welfare, health, education and public support as other nationals". Was the Minister’s finding limited to a general finding that the Applicant would have the same level of access to welfare and public support as other PRC citizens, which did not encompass a finding as to the existence or extent of such services in the PRC?

Federal Court: The rules that govern an application for injunction at first instance are not the same as those that operate on appeal. This court decision summarises the general principles that govern an application for injunction pending the outcome of an appeal.

AAT: "[The agent] failed to properly supervise her [employee] and failed to put in place systems to protect clients from repeated wrongdoing by the Company’s employee".

Federal Court: IAA affirmed visa refusal. Its reasons included: "The report was not before the delegate... I note that the applicant has engaged a representative to assist with the IAA process; however I am not satisfied that the mere engagement of a representative can be considered exceptional". FCA said that "EMJ17 is authority to support the submission that it can be a jurisdictional error to conclude that the absence of 'exceptional circumstances' within the meaning of s 473DD(a) means that the discretion under s 473DC cannot be exercised in favour of getting new information". Does the IAA's decision here "[display] the erroneous view that the discretion in s 473DC(1) was confined by a requirement that 'exceptional circumstances' within the meaning of s 473DD(a) must exist"?

Federal Court. Did the terrible pressures of time under which the Tribunal was obliged to make its review decision (the 84-day rule in s 500(6L(c)) provide a justification for the Tribunal having failed to take into account the best interests of minor children to be affected by its decision? Is the offence of failing to comply with a request made by the police to supply personal details, per se, contemplated by para 8.1.1(1)(b)(ii) of Direction 90?