Ground 2: the primary judge erred in finding that any error was not material
47 The appellant challenges the primary judge's conclusion at [31]. The appellant referred to MZAPC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2021] HCA 17; (2021) 390 ALR 590 (MZAPC), and submitted that had the Tribunal not made the errors alleged in this appeal and had it properly considered the evidence of the memory problems arising from the medical material before it, there was a realistic possibility that a different decision could have been made. The Tribunal could have reasoned that the medical difficulties referrable to memory may have explained the difficulties that arose in the appellant's claims. In oral submissions in reply, the appellant submitted for the first time that two sentences in [41] of the Tribunal's reasons were an example where the question of a memory disturbance may have been relevant to the assessment of his claim. It was said to be relevant if ground 1 is made out, to the question of materiality of the error.
48 The impugned passage at [31], in context, is as follows:
[30] The first respondent makes a final submission that the applicant's claims were replete with inconsistencies and implausibility's [sic] such that even if the Court is wrong in finding that grounds 1 and 2 have no merit that any errors (which are not admitted) could have made a difference to the outcome.
[31] Any error as to his memory was not sufficient to overcome the other inherent implausibility's and inconsistencies in the applicant's claims and was thus not material: (see; BJC21 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FedCFamC2G 205 at [21]). The Court accepts this submission.
49 As the primary judge did not find any error had been established, his conclusion on materiality was only reached on the basis that even if an error had been established, it would not have been material and therefore jurisdictional error would not have been established. It would have made no difference to the result. Therefore, this ground strictly only arises for consideration if ground 1 has been established before this Court. In that event, the appellant must establish error in the primary judge's conclusion on materiality, as it otherwise renders any primary error established non-jurisdictional. Despite the fact ground 1 has not been established, I nonetheless address this ground.
50 In order for an error to be jurisdictional, it must be material, in the sense that compliance could realistically have resulted in the making of a different decision: Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZMTA [2019] HCA 3; (2019) 264 CLR 421 at [45] (SZMTA); MZAPC at [2]-[4]; Nathanson v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] HCA 26; (2022) 403 ALR 398 (Nathanson) at [32]. Existence or non-existence of a realistic possibility that the decision could have been different is a question of fact, of which, in an application for judicial review on the ground of jurisdictional error, the appellant bears the onus of proof: MZAPC at [2]-[4]; SZMTA at [46]; Nathanson at [32]. The onus of proving, by admissible evidence on the balance of probabilities, facts necessary to satisfy the Court that the decision could realistically have been different had the breach not occurred lies with the appellant: MZAPC at [39], [60]; Nathanson at [32].
51 The first respondent points to the reasons of the Tribunal, considered as a whole, to submit that there were multiple inconsistencies and implausible elements in the appellant's recounting of his claims, as relayed over time, which led the Tribunal to conclude that he was not a credible witness. The first respondent identified some of these findings. For example, the appel1ant's apparent inability to produce specific documents that should have been available to him if his story with respect to his divorce and the property ownership was accurate (such as divorce documentation or property documents from the Lebanese Government): for example, Tribunal reasons at [51], [54]; the constant shifting nature of the of his story, not merely with respect to details, but with respect to substantial elements: see for example, at [52]-[61]; and the implausible nature of many of the claims: see for example at [55] and [61]-[62]. It was submitted that none of these findings required the Tribunal to rely upon its findings at [48] with respect to the appellant's memory.
52 The appellant sought to establish this ground by submitting there is a realistic possibility the decision could have been different, and therefore jurisdictional error is established. Given the limited nature of the material that is said not to have been considered, as explained above at [20], in the circumstances of this case, the appellant has not established that there is a realistic possibility the decision could have been different.
53 As referred to above at [20] and [22], the appellant himself did not suggest when giving evidence that there was an issue with his memory. The appellant does not rely on the transcript of the proceedings in the Tribunal in support of his case. It can be assumed that he answered the questions asked. That does not suggest he had any memory problem. As noted above at [20], the appellant conceded during the appeal he did not claim before the Tribunal that he had any memory problem, or that his memory impeded his involvement in the proceedings, and that the transcript did not assist his claims in this regard: and see primary judgment at [22], recited above. Accordingly, even if the appellant established a failure by the Tribunal to consider an aspect of the medical material, there is no evidence that the material would have changed the Tribunal's consideration of his claim.
54 Further, properly read, the Tribunal reasons make a number of findings as to credibility that could not in any way be attributed to purported problems with memory. The reasoning is detailed and clear: see for example, Tribunal reasons at [50]-[65]. The appellant did not provide documentation sought by the Tribunal and failed to provide supporting evidence when such evidence would be expected, for example, as to the claimed housing dispute and his divorce. He gave significantly inconsistent answers on that topic (before the date of the car accident). He gave inconsistent versions of events that formed the basis of his claims and explanations for his actions, which were not accepted for reason, inter alia, of being implausible. The basis of his claim advanced in the Tribunal (and before the Delegate) was not mentioned in his protection visa application.
55 The appellant submitted that "[t]he Tribunal could have reasoned that the medical difficulties referrable to memory may [have] offered an explanation for the difficulties that may have arisen from the appellant's claims" (emphasis in the original). As referred to above at [47], the appellant, for the first time in reply, relied on the two sentences in [41] of the Tribunal's reasons. Those sentences record that he said he did not remember information given to him in an Immigration interview some years ago, in relation to the fact that a complaint can be made against a migration agent (when he was asked about an apparent inconsistency in his evidence). This is the only example relied on by the appellant. The Tribunal said that questioning occurred in the context of putting to the appellant matters going to his credibility. In that context, it is notable the appellant did not suggest that his inability to remember being given the information was the result of any medical issue. In light of the Tribunal's factual basis for its findings as to the appellant's claims more generally, it does not establish that there is a realistic possibility the decision could have been different.
56 The appellant has not established any error in the primary judge's conclusions.
57 In any event, even if the appellant had established the errors alleged, for the reasons above, he has not discharged his onus of establishing that it would be material. As a consequence, even if there was an error, the appellant has not established any jurisdictional error.