ADMINISTRATIVE LAW NOTES
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW NOTES ANSWER STRUCTURE ......................................................................................................................... 6 WEEK 1 INTRODUCTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE LAW ........................................................................ 7 & INTRODUCTION TO JUDICIAL REVIEW ........................................................................................... 7 Separation of Powers ........................................................................................................................ 10 TYPES OF REVIEW ..................................................................................................................... 1014 Legislative Framework ...................................................................................................................... 11 Constitutional Framework ................................................................................................................. 12 Constitution Cases ........................................................................................................................ 12 SCOPE .............................................................................................................................................. 12 REMEDIES........................................................................................................................................ 13 Grounds............................................................................................................................................. 13 WEEK 2 JUDICIAL REVIEW CONTINUED .......................................................................................... 15 (SCOPE & PROCESS) ......................................................................................................................... 15 JURISDICTION ................................................................................................................................. 15 Justiciability ....................................................................................................................................... 17 Privative (Ouster) Clauses ............................................................................................................ 19 Elements ........................................................................................................................................... 20 Element 1: A Decision ................................................................................................................... 20 Element 2: Administrative Character ............................................................................................ 21 Element 3: Under an Enactment ................................................................................................... 21 A.
Contracts ............................................................................................................................... 21
B.
Prerogatives .......................................................................................................................... 22
C.
The Tang Test ....................................................................................................................... 22
D.
Queensland position ............................................................................................................. 23
Reviewability ..................................................................................................................................... 23 WEEK 3 STANDING ............................................................................................................................. 25 Standing at Common Law (Prerogative Writs).................................................................................. 26 1. Prohibition/Certiorari ................................................................................................................. 26 2. Mandamus................................................................................................................................. 27 3. Equitable remedies: .................................................................................................................. 27 Standing under Judicial Review Legislation .................................................................................. 28 WEEK 4 GROUNDS ............................................................................................................................. 31 (PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS & NATURAL JUSTICE) .......................................................................... 31 QUESTION 1 - Implication Principle ................................................................................................. 32 WEEK 5 GROUNDS (NATURAL JUSTICE CONTINUED) .................................................................. 35 a. The hearing rule ............................................................................................................................ 35 (i) Adequate prior notice ................................................................................................................ 35 1
(ii) Disclosure of adverse material ................................................................................................. 36 (iii) Right to hearing & Adequate opportunity to address issues ................................................... 36 (iv) Right to legal representation ................................................................................................... 36 (v) The rules of evidence. .............................................................................................................. 38 (vi) A right to Cross-examine......................................................................................................... 38 b. The bias rule ................................................................................................................................. 38 (i) Actual (SUBJECTIVE) Direct Bias (pecuniary or proprietary): ................................................. 39 (ii) Apparent (OBJECTIVE) Bias (non-pecuniary): ........................................................................ 40 (iii) Waiver ..................................................................................................................................... 41 (iv) Necessity ................................................................................................................................. 41 WEEK 6 NARROW ULTRA VIRES ...................................................................................................... 43 1. Substantive Ultra Vires.................................................................................................................. 43 2. Procedural Ultra Vires ................................................................................................................... 43 Grounds......................................................................................................................................... 43 Narrow ultra vires .............................................................................................................................. 44 Requirements ................................................................................................................................ 45 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS ........................................................................................................ 45 1. ‘Necessary or convenient/expedient’’ ....................................................................................... 45 2. Regulation v prohibition............................................................................................................. 46 3. Delegation ................................................................................................................................. 47 4. Exercise of power overrides fundamental CL rights ................................................................. 48 WEEK 8 BROAD ULTRA VIRES .......................................................................................................... 49 1. Relevant and Irrelevant considerations......................................................................................... 49 ADJR s 5(2)(a) and s 6(2)(a) – Irrelevant Consideration .................................................................. 49 ADJR s 5(2)(b) and s 6(2)(b) – Relevant Consideration ................................................................... 50 2. UNREASONABLENESS (WEDNESBURY TEST) ....................................................................... 50 CATEGORIES: .................................................................................................................................. 51 3. EVIDENCE TEST .......................................................................................................................... 52 First limb: ........................................................................................................................................... 52 Second limb: ..................................................................................................................................... 52 4. UNCERTAINTY............................................................................................................................. 53 5. FAILURE TO EXERCISE A DISCRETIONARY POWER ......................................................... 53 5.1 Delay ........................................................................................................................................... 53 5.2 Inflexible Application of Policy (Self-Fettering) ........................................................................... 53 5.3 Improperly Acting at the Direction of another Person ................................................................. 54 WEEK 9 REMEDIES ............................................................................................................................. 55 CERTIORARI, PROHIBITION & MANDAMUS ................................................................................. 55 Certiorari............................................................................................................................................ 56 Stages ............................................................................................................................................... 56 Requirements .................................................................................................................................... 56 2
Jurisdictional Error (3) ................................................................................................................... 56 Ultra Vires Parameters ...................................................................................................................... 56 Error on the Face of the Record (4) .................................................................................................. 57 INJUNCTION AND DECLARATION ................................................................................................. 59 STATUTORY REMEDIES: ORDERS OF REVIEW .......................................................................... 59 WEEK 10 MERITS REVIEW ................................................................................................................. 61 Merits Review Systems ..................................................................................................................... 61 Importance of Internal Review .......................................................................................................... 61 ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL (CTH) ................................................................................. 62 STANDING ........................................................................................................................................ 62 1. Interests affected ....................................................................................................................... 62 2. Interests Groups ........................................................................................................................ 62 3. Application on behalf of persons ............................................................................................... 62 JURISDICTION ................................................................................................................................. 63 decision ............................................................................................................................................. 63 a.
Is preliminary or recommendatory action - a decision? ............................................................ 63
b.
Is a refusal to act - a decision? ................................................................................................. 64
APPLICATION FOR REVIEW........................................................................................................... 64 PRELIMINARY PROCEDURE .......................................................................................................... 65 1. Stay Orders ............................................................................................................................... 65 2. Conferences and ADR .............................................................................................................. 65 3. AAT decision without a formal hearing ..................................................................................... 65 4. Power to review decisions on the papers ................................................................................. 65 PROCEDURE OF HEARING ............................................................................................................ 65 Procedural Fairness ...................................................................................................................... 65 Reasons ........................................................................................................................................ 66 Evidence........................................................................................................................................ 67 Onus .............................................................................................................................................. 68 Self-Represented Clients .............................................................................................................. 68 Public Hearing ............................................................................................................................... 68 POWERS OF REVIEW ..................................................................................................................... 68 Rulings on invalidity .......................................................................................................................... 70 ROLE OF POLICY ............................................................................................................................ 70 APPEALS FROM THE AAT .............................................................................................................. 71 OTHER ISSUES ............................................................................................................................... 72 Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal ...................................................................................... 73 Jurisdiction ........................................................................................................................................ 73 General Provisions ............................................................................................................................ 73 Legal Representation ........................................................................................................................ 73 Procedural Powers ............................................................................................................................ 73 3
Hearings ............................................................................................................................................ 73 Costs and Enforcement..................................................................................................................... 73 Appeals and Reasons ....................................................................................................................... 73 Establishment and Administration ..................................................................................................... 74 WEEK 11 ACCESS TO INFORMATION .............................................................................................. 75 Summary of FOI (use for exam)........................................................................................................ 75 Summary of Review Process (use for exam) .................................................................................... 75 ACCESS TO REASONS ................................................................................................................... 75 Common Law: No duty to give reasons ............................................................................................ 75 Statutory Reform ............................................................................................................................... 76 STANDING .................................................................................................................................... 77 DOCUMENTS UNDER COMMON LAW .......................................................................................... 77 DOCUMENTS UNDER FOI LEGISLATION ..................................................................................... 77 OBJECTIVES OF FOI ....................................................................................................................... 77 INTERNAL RULES AND POLICIES ................................................................................................. 78 A GENERAL RIGHT OF ACCESS ................................................................................................... 78 Exceptions ......................................................................................................................................... 78 Part IV - Exempt Documents............................................................................................................. 79 Public Interest ................................................................................................................................... 79 Pre-Reform Cases ............................................................................................................................ 80 Procedure .......................................................................................................................................... 82 Refusals ............................................................................................................................................ 82 RIGHT TO CORRECT PERSONAL INFO ........................................................................................ 82 Week 12 OMBUDSMAN ....................................................................................................................... 83 Basic Functions ................................................................................................................................. 83 Elements ........................................................................................................................................... 83 QCAT & The Ombudsman ................................................................................................................ 83 Jurisdiction ........................................................................................................................................ 83 Functions of Ombudsman ................................................................................................................. 83 Definitions.......................................................................................................................................... 83 Exclusions: Ombudsman Act 2001 (Qld) .......................................................................................... 84 Investigation ...................................................................................................................................... 84 Procedure .......................................................................................................................................... 84 Powers .............................................................................................................................................. 85 Nature of Power ................................................................................................................................ 85 Investigative powers.......................................................................................................................... 85 Powers upon Completion of Investigation ......................................................................................... 85 Finding vs Opinion ............................................................................................................................ 86 EFFECTIVENESS ............................................................................................................................. 86 Overseeing the Ombudsman: ........................................................................................................... 86 4
Avenues of Review: .......................................................................................................................... 86
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ANSWER STRUCTURE Is Judicial Review available? 1. JURISDICTION a. Merits Review b. Judicial Review i. Statute (ADJR CTH or JR Act QLD) ii. Common Law (JR Act QLD s 19 ‘SCT may hear statutory review under this act’). 2. JUSTICIABILITY a. Can the court deal with the matter? i. Who made the decision? ii. What is the decision about? iii. Where was the decision? iv. Any privative/ouster clauses? 3. STANDING a. Private i. ii. b. Public i. ii.
A proprietary interest must be affected. S.7/s.20 – you must be ‘aggrieved’. Usually AG domain, though rarely pursued. ‘To protect public space’. Not a basis for standing (ACFI v Cth Case 1980).
4. APPLY TO THE FACTS a. Cases have said to look at: i. Age ii. Connections iii. Expertise iv. Grants etc. v. Also – profit or fundraising? 5. GROUNDS a. ss 20 - 24 b. s.4 meaning of ‘a decision’, ‘administrative character’ and ‘under an enactment’. c. Under an enactment = Tang’s case. d. 3 criteria: i. Failure to decide can be a decision. ii. Conduct can be reviewable. iii. s.6 repeat = decision 6. TIMING a. Timing ADJR CTH s.26 – 28 days after the decision or extended at discretion of court. (Courts are reluctant to extend for statutory review as fall back is common law equity definition of ‘reasonable time’.) b. If outside of timeframe, refer to common law. c. But note, JRA QLD pt 5 replaced prerogative writs with prerogative orders – 3 months. 7. ORDERS SOUGHT (all relate to ‘grounds’ in s.20) a. Injunction b. Declaratory Relief c. Quashing Order d. Declaration that the decision be ‘remade’ 6
WEEK 1 INTRODUCTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE LAW & INTRODUCTION TO JUDICIAL REVIEW
Admin law is public law – focuses on the executive branch of government (administration). Main purpose is to influence how decision makers exercise their powers. External checks of those who exercise power = admin law. No distinction between ‘public law court’ and ‘private law courts’. Federal court is the main admin court.
What is Judicial Review? Superior courts identify legal errors of inferior courts/administrators/legislators & remit back to decision maker to be re-decided according to law. NOT CONCERNED WITH MERITS OF THE CASE (MERITS REVIEW) AS THIS IS THE FUNCTION OF THE EXECUTIVE. Judicial review arises to correct excesses of power in relation to a statutory power, it is fairly rare for judicial power to be available where the source of the power is prerogative (or common law in one way or another). However, there are exceptions to that – one exception is Peako Walsend. Another example, of the question of the source of the power being an important question is in the Tampa case. Ruddock v Vadarlis. This does illustrate that sometimes it makes a difference whether the source of power is prerogative or whether it is statutory and whether there may be both a statutory source of power and prerogative source of power and there may be diff results depending on which one is relied on. 3 KINDS: 1. At common law. 2. Under statute. 3. Original constitutional jurisdiction of HCT Hamblin v. Duffy (1981) 34 ALR 333 and Hamblin v Duffy (No. 2) (1981) 37 ALR 297 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 136 ALR 481 Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu (1999) 197 CLR 611 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; ex parte S20/2002 (2003) 198 ALR 59 Procedural Requirements What kinds of decisions are judicially reviewable? (a) Decisions in the Exercise of Statutory Power (b) Non-statutory prerogative powers Judicial Review and the Common Law 1. Excess of Power or Jurisdiction; and 2. Procedural Fairness Ruddock v Vadarlis (2001) 110 FCR 491 – COMMON LAW POWERS – ULTRA VIRES A wooden fishing vessel carrying 433 people from Indonesia began sinking 140km from Christmas Island. The Australian authorities contacted the captain of the MV Tampa, a Norwegian ship which was in the vicinity, asking him to rescue those on the fishing boat. He agreed. While the Tampa had been bound for Indonesia, the captain decided to head instead for Christmas Island, partly because of objections from the rescues, and partly because the Tampa was licensed to carry no more than 50
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Contracts ............................................................................................................................... 21
B.
Prerogatives .......................................................................................................................... 22
C.
The Tang Test ....................................................................................................................... 22
D.
Queensland position ............................................................................................................. 23
Reviewability ..................................................................................................................................... 23 WEEK 3 STANDING ............................................................................................................................. 25 Standing at Common Law (Prerogative Writs).................................................................................. 26 1. Prohibition/Certiorari ................................................................................................................. 26 2. Mandamus................................................................................................................................. 27 3. Equitable remedies: .................................................................................................................. 27 Standing under Judicial Review Legislation .................................................................................. 28 WEEK 4 GROUNDS ............................................................................................................................. 31 (PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS & NATURAL JUSTICE) .......................................................................... 31 QUESTION 1 - Implication Principle ................................................................................................. 32 WEEK 5 GROUNDS (NATURAL JUSTICE CONTINUED) .................................................................. 35 a. The hearing rule ............................................................................................................................ 35 (i) Adequate prior notice ................................................................................................................ 35 1
(ii) Disclosure of adverse material ................................................................................................. 36 (iii) Right to hearing & Adequate opportunity to address issues ................................................... 36 (iv) Right to legal representation ................................................................................................... 36 (v) The rules of evidence. .............................................................................................................. 38 (vi) A right to Cross-examine......................................................................................................... 38 b. The bias rule ................................................................................................................................. 38 (i) Actual (SUBJECTIVE) Direct Bias (pecuniary or proprietary): ................................................. 39 (ii) Apparent (OBJECTIVE) Bias (non-pecuniary): ........................................................................ 40 (iii) Waiver ..................................................................................................................................... 41 (iv) Necessity ................................................................................................................................. 41 WEEK 6 NARROW ULTRA VIRES ...................................................................................................... 43 1. Substantive Ultra Vires.................................................................................................................. 43 2. Procedural Ultra Vires ................................................................................................................... 43 Grounds......................................................................................................................................... 43 Narrow ultra vires .............................................................................................................................. 44 Requirements ................................................................................................................................ 45 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS ........................................................................................................ 45 1. ‘Necessary or convenient/expedient’’ ....................................................................................... 45 2. Regulation v prohibition............................................................................................................. 46 3. Delegation ................................................................................................................................. 47 4. Exercise of power overrides fundamental CL rights ................................................................. 48 WEEK 8 BROAD ULTRA VIRES .......................................................................................................... 49 1. Relevant and Irrelevant considerations......................................................................................... 49 ADJR s 5(2)(a) and s 6(2)(a) – Irrelevant Consideration .................................................................. 49 ADJR s 5(2)(b) and s 6(2)(b) – Relevant Consideration ................................................................... 50 2. UNREASONABLENESS (WEDNESBURY TEST) ....................................................................... 50 CATEGORIES: .................................................................................................................................. 51 3. EVIDENCE TEST .......................................................................................................................... 52 First limb: ........................................................................................................................................... 52 Second limb: ..................................................................................................................................... 52 4. UNCERTAINTY............................................................................................................................. 53 5. FAILURE TO EXERCISE A DISCRETIONARY POWER ......................................................... 53 5.1 Delay ........................................................................................................................................... 53 5.2 Inflexible Application of Policy (Self-Fettering) ........................................................................... 53 5.3 Improperly Acting at the Direction of another Person ................................................................. 54 WEEK 9 REMEDIES ............................................................................................................................. 55 CERTIORARI, PROHIBITION & MANDAMUS ................................................................................. 55 Certiorari............................................................................................................................................ 56 Stages ............................................................................................................................................... 56 Requirements .................................................................................................................................... 56 2
Jurisdictional Error (3) ................................................................................................................... 56 Ultra Vires Parameters ...................................................................................................................... 56 Error on the Face of the Record (4) .................................................................................................. 57 INJUNCTION AND DECLARATION ................................................................................................. 59 STATUTORY REMEDIES: ORDERS OF REVIEW .......................................................................... 59 WEEK 10 MERITS REVIEW ................................................................................................................. 61 Merits Review Systems ..................................................................................................................... 61 Importance of Internal Review .......................................................................................................... 61 ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL (CTH) ................................................................................. 62 STANDING ........................................................................................................................................ 62 1. Interests affected ....................................................................................................................... 62 2. Interests Groups ........................................................................................................................ 62 3. Application on behalf of persons ............................................................................................... 62 JURISDICTION ................................................................................................................................. 63 decision ............................................................................................................................................. 63 a.
Is preliminary or recommendatory action - a decision? ............................................................ 63
b.
Is a refusal to act - a decision? ................................................................................................. 64
APPLICATION FOR REVIEW........................................................................................................... 64 PRELIMINARY PROCEDURE .......................................................................................................... 65 1. Stay Orders ............................................................................................................................... 65 2. Conferences and ADR .............................................................................................................. 65 3. AAT decision without a formal hearing ..................................................................................... 65 4. Power to review decisions on the papers ................................................................................. 65 PROCEDURE OF HEARING ............................................................................................................ 65 Procedural Fairness ...................................................................................................................... 65 Reasons ........................................................................................................................................ 66 Evidence........................................................................................................................................ 67 Onus .............................................................................................................................................. 68 Self-Represented Clients .............................................................................................................. 68 Public Hearing ............................................................................................................................... 68 POWERS OF REVIEW ..................................................................................................................... 68 Rulings on invalidity .......................................................................................................................... 70 ROLE OF POLICY ............................................................................................................................ 70 APPEALS FROM THE AAT .............................................................................................................. 71 OTHER ISSUES ............................................................................................................................... 72 Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal ...................................................................................... 73 Jurisdiction ........................................................................................................................................ 73 General Provisions ............................................................................................................................ 73 Legal Representation ........................................................................................................................ 73 Procedural Powers ............................................................................................................................ 73 3
Hearings ............................................................................................................................................ 73 Costs and Enforcement..................................................................................................................... 73 Appeals and Reasons ....................................................................................................................... 73 Establishment and Administration ..................................................................................................... 74 WEEK 11 ACCESS TO INFORMATION .............................................................................................. 75 Summary of FOI (use for exam)........................................................................................................ 75 Summary of Review Process (use for exam) .................................................................................... 75 ACCESS TO REASONS ................................................................................................................... 75 Common Law: No duty to give reasons ............................................................................................ 75 Statutory Reform ............................................................................................................................... 76 STANDING .................................................................................................................................... 77 DOCUMENTS UNDER COMMON LAW .......................................................................................... 77 DOCUMENTS UNDER FOI LEGISLATION ..................................................................................... 77 OBJECTIVES OF FOI ....................................................................................................................... 77 INTERNAL RULES AND POLICIES ................................................................................................. 78 A GENERAL RIGHT OF ACCESS ................................................................................................... 78 Exceptions ......................................................................................................................................... 78 Part IV - Exempt Documents............................................................................................................. 79 Public Interest ................................................................................................................................... 79 Pre-Reform Cases ............................................................................................................................ 80 Procedure .......................................................................................................................................... 82 Refusals ............................................................................................................................................ 82 RIGHT TO CORRECT PERSONAL INFO ........................................................................................ 82 Week 12 OMBUDSMAN ....................................................................................................................... 83 Basic Functions ................................................................................................................................. 83 Elements ........................................................................................................................................... 83 QCAT & The Ombudsman ................................................................................................................ 83 Jurisdiction ........................................................................................................................................ 83 Functions of Ombudsman ................................................................................................................. 83 Definitions.......................................................................................................................................... 83 Exclusions: Ombudsman Act 2001 (Qld) .......................................................................................... 84 Investigation ...................................................................................................................................... 84 Procedure .......................................................................................................................................... 84 Powers .............................................................................................................................................. 85 Nature of Power ................................................................................................................................ 85 Investigative powers.......................................................................................................................... 85 Powers upon Completion of Investigation ......................................................................................... 85 Finding vs Opinion ............................................................................................................................ 86 EFFECTIVENESS ............................................................................................................................. 86 Overseeing the Ombudsman: ........................................................................................................... 86 4
Avenues of Review: .......................................................................................................................... 86
5
ANSWER STRUCTURE Is Judicial Review available? 1. JURISDICTION a. Merits Review b. Judicial Review i. Statute (ADJR CTH or JR Act QLD) ii. Common Law (JR Act QLD s 19 ‘SCT may hear statutory review under this act’). 2. JUSTICIABILITY a. Can the court deal with the matter? i. Who made the decision? ii. What is the decision about? iii. Where was the decision? iv. Any privative/ouster clauses? 3. STANDING a. Private i. ii. b. Public i. ii.
A proprietary interest must be affected. S.7/s.20 – you must be ‘aggrieved’. Usually AG domain, though rarely pursued. ‘To protect public space’. Not a basis for standing (ACFI v Cth Case 1980).
4. APPLY TO THE FACTS a. Cases have said to look at: i. Age ii. Connections iii. Expertise iv. Grants etc. v. Also – profit or fundraising? 5. GROUNDS a. ss 20 - 24 b. s.4 meaning of ‘a decision’, ‘administrative character’ and ‘under an enactment’. c. Under an enactment = Tang’s case. d. 3 criteria: i. Failure to decide can be a decision. ii. Conduct can be reviewable. iii. s.6 repeat = decision 6. TIMING a. Timing ADJR CTH s.26 – 28 days after the decision or extended at discretion of court. (Courts are reluctant to extend for statutory review as fall back is common law equity definition of ‘reasonable time’.) b. If outside of timeframe, refer to common law. c. But note, JRA QLD pt 5 replaced prerogative writs with prerogative orders – 3 months. 7. ORDERS SOUGHT (all relate to ‘grounds’ in s.20) a. Injunction b. Declaratory Relief c. Quashing Order d. Declaration that the decision be ‘remade’ 6
WEEK 1 INTRODUCTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE LAW & INTRODUCTION TO JUDICIAL REVIEW
Admin law is public law – focuses on the executive branch of government (administration). Main purpose is to influence how decision makers exercise their powers. External checks of those who exercise power = admin law. No distinction between ‘public law court’ and ‘private law courts’. Federal court is the main admin court.
What is Judicial Review? Superior courts identify legal errors of inferior courts/administrators/legislators & remit back to decision maker to be re-decided according to law. NOT CONCERNED WITH MERITS OF THE CASE (MERITS REVIEW) AS THIS IS THE FUNCTION OF THE EXECUTIVE. Judicial review arises to correct excesses of power in relation to a statutory power, it is fairly rare for judicial power to be available where the source of the power is prerogative (or common law in one way or another). However, there are exceptions to that – one exception is Peako Walsend. Another example, of the question of the source of the power being an important question is in the Tampa case. Ruddock v Vadarlis. This does illustrate that sometimes it makes a difference whether the source of power is prerogative or whether it is statutory and whether there may be both a statutory source of power and prerogative source of power and there may be diff results depending on which one is relied on. 3 KINDS: 1. At common law. 2. Under statute. 3. Original constitutional jurisdiction of HCT Hamblin v. Duffy (1981) 34 ALR 333 and Hamblin v Duffy (No. 2) (1981) 37 ALR 297 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 136 ALR 481 Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu (1999) 197 CLR 611 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; ex parte S20/2002 (2003) 198 ALR 59 Procedural Requirements What kinds of decisions are judicially reviewable? (a) Decisions in the Exercise of Statutory Power (b) Non-statutory prerogative powers Judicial Review and the Common Law 1. Excess of Power or Jurisdiction; and 2. Procedural Fairness Ruddock v Vadarlis (2001) 110 FCR 491 – COMMON LAW POWERS – ULTRA VIRES A wooden fishing vessel carrying 433 people from Indonesia began sinking 140km from Christmas Island. The Australian authorities contacted the captain of the MV Tampa, a Norwegian ship which was in the vicinity, asking him to rescue those on the fishing boat. He agreed. While the Tampa had been bound for Indonesia, the captain decided to head instead for Christmas Island, partly because of objections from the rescues, and partly because the Tampa was licensed to carry no more than 50
7
