Case Law Updates

Federal Court. Can it be said that "it will almost invariably be the case that there will be differences between the accounts given by a visa applicant" and that the Immigration Assessment Authority's jurisdiction to "review" a decision "is not properly discharged by merely identifying differences between some of the accounts given and labelling those differences “inconsistencies”"?

Federal Court. In the context of the assessment of a person's holding of a religious belief, or adherence to a particular religion for the purpose of the protection criteria, can it be said that "what must be undertaken is questioning of that particular individual’s belief rather than the application of some standardised or assumed level of knowledge"?

Federal Court. Is the FCA's power to make findings of fact under s 44(7) of the AAT Act "related to the circumstances in which a court upon finding an error of law in the Tribunal’s decision might make an order in substitution for the Tribunal’s decision rather than remit the matter back to the Tribunal for re-determination according to law"? If so, is the FCA nonetheless not to usurp the fact-finding function of the Tribunal in determining whether error is shown in the Tribunal’s decision, because an appeal from a decision of the Tribunal is on a question of law?

Federal Court. Can it be said that, "once the Minister or a delegate is satisfied that all of the criteria for the grant of a visa are met, she or he is under an immediate duty to grant the visa" and that "once the duty to grant the visa has arisen, any subsequent exercise of the power to refuse the visa under s 501 is invalid"? Is PIC 4001 invalid? Is a decision under s 501 ultimately made under s 65?

High Court. If the Minister exercises the power under s 501CA(4) and makes a finding of fact in his reasons, must he "do so based on some evidence or other supporting material, rather than no evidence or no material, unless the finding is made in accordance with the Minister's personal or specialised knowledge or by reference to that which is commonly known"? If so, is there "any express requirement that the Minister disclose whether a material finding was made from personal knowledge"? If not, can it be assumed that the finding was based on that knowledge?

Federal Court. In assessing, pursuant to Direction 79 and s 501CA(4) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth), the expectations of the Australian community, the Tribunal reasoned as follows: "I believe that a properly informed and objective member of the Australian community would not expect [the Applicant] to continue to hold a visa to remain in Australia". Is that reasoning on its face inconsistent with the principles expounded in FYBR about the deemed expectations of the Australian community?

Federal Court (Full Court). Can it be said that "the discretion resides in the Tribunal under s 438(3)(b) [of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth)] insofar as there is a valid certificate, and that there is no obligation under s 424AA, s 424A or s 425 to disclose to the appellant the information nor any matter contained in the document “unless the discretion is affirmatively exercised”"?

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 (Full Court). Can it be said that, the Federal Court's "jurisdiction having been validly invoked, the Court had power to grant declaratory relief as an adjunct or alternative to other relief, the source of that power being found in either or each of s 23 of the [FCA Act] and s 16 of the ADJR Act, if not also the Court’s status as a superior court of record and one of law and equity"?

Federal Court. Was the Tribunal entitled to find, without evidence, that Canada: had a "comparable standard of support for rehabilitation services" as in Australia; "is a wealthy democratic democracy that enjoys a high standard of living, similar to Australia in many ways"?