Ground 2: procedural fairness and Dr Yoxall's report
46 This ground of review alleges that the Tribunal "erred in the exercise of its discretion by according no weight to the report of Dr Jacqueline Yoxall by reaching a conclusion which was contrary to reason, illogical or irrational in circumstances where Dr Yoxall was in a position to resolve any errors in her report".
47 Dr Yoxall is a psychologist who provided a report in support of the applicant dated 17 February 2020. Dr Yoxall was a witness for the applicant. The applicant submitted that the subject matter of the report was relevant to the issues of recidivism and propensity which was relevant to a consideration of a decision to revoke a decision to cancel his visa. It was submitted in preparation of that report and prior to her consultations with the applicant by AVL at Villawood Detention Centre on 23 January 2020 and 3 February 2020, she considered a large volume of documentation and had regard to numerous documents. Dr Yoxall confirmed in the report that she had received the Reasons for the Decision pursuant to s 501CA. It was submitted those reasons set out fully the applicant's history of offending but "state simply (it is submitted for reasons of brevity) the offences in respect of which the applicant was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment". It was submitted that the reasons encapsulate the offending in a like manner to Dr Yoxall:
A National Criminal History Check report dated 3 October 2018 indicates that on 6 June 2018 [FDC19] was convicted in the Local Court of New South Wales of three counts of Dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception, for which he was sentenced to 16, 14 and 12 months imprisonment respectively, to be served concurrently…
48 The applicant submitted that Dr Yoxall in her report has provided a "snapshot" of relevant criminal history and sentencing details which conformed to that provided by the Minister's delegate referred to above. It was submitted that the report reflects that Dr Yoxall took a very detailed history from the applicant about his offending.
49 It was submitted that the Tribunal questioned the findings of Dr Yoxall at [100] and "dismisses any value the report might have on the basis that one assessment tool relating to the offender's criminal history was the subject of a misapprehension on behalf of Dr Yoxall" at [101]-[102], questioning her representation that the applicant had four convictions rather than 32 convictions. The applicant contended that this factual matter could have been resolved when Dr Yoxall was being spoken to on the telephone in relation to her availability to give oral evidence. This is in a context, the applicant contended, where the respondent had raised in the Statement of Facts Issues and Contentions that:
It is evident Dr Yoxall was not aware of the full extent of the applicant's offending, having made no reference to the applicant's 2019 convictions…Accordingly, no weight should be attributed to Dr Yoxall's conclusions on the applicant's risk of reoffending.
50 The Tribunal enquired of the applicant in relation to Dr Yoxall, the exchanges of which are referred to below. Suffice to say the aspect relied on by the applicant is as follows:
……he's going to tell me, most probably, not to give her evidence much weight, for oral reasons that he explains to me. And he's happy with doing that, and he doesn't want to cross-examine Dr Yoxall, right? So, that's why - and Mr Eskerie doesn't necessarily need Dr Yoxall here for the cross-examination.
51 It was submitted that is what occurred, with the Tribunal giving no weight to the report. It was submitted that procedural fairness required that because of the known issue about the recording of the offences in the report Dr Yoxall could have been asked to clarify that point when she was called on the telephone in relation to her availability to give evidence.
52 The respondent submitted that the Tribunal's analysis of Dr Yoxall's evidence was a fair reading of that report, and it did in fact rely upon Dr Yoxall's report as to her opinion about the risks posed by the applicant's severe and persistent gambling disorder. The respondent submitted that in any event it was the applicant who decided not to correct Dr Yoxall's understanding about the extent of his offending. The respondent submitted that the applicant, who is highly intelligent, decided to do that despite her report being obviously incorrect and the Minister's solicitor stating both in writing and orally that he would be relying upon this error as to the weight it should be given.
53 It is appropriate to put the exchange between the Tribunal and the applicant:
SENIOR MEMBER: Right, thank you. Okay, now I'll start with CRPS. CRPS, we obviously have to reschedule Dr Yoxall.
CRPS: Yes, Senior Member.
SENIOR MEMBER: All right. Well, let me just work on that with Mr Eskerie. Just bear with me. Mr Eskerie, what do you propose? Obviously, we're in the hands of Dr Yoxall to a large extent. I'm trying to get her back today, if we can. I can also make time tomorrow, but I'd have to check my diary and see how we go there. What do you think, Mr Eskerie?
MR ESKERIE: Yes, thank you Senior Member. From the Minister's perspective, we are content to proceed on the basis of Dr Yoxall's written report. I note the tribunal's general direction on experts and the indication that experts should not be called for oral questioning unless necessary and appropriate. I don't think, from the Minister's perspective, we need her to be questioned on her report. So it's entirely a matter for CRPS, whether or not he wants to question Dr Yoxall. If he does not, then the report can go into the evidence before the tribunal as it is. Now, if Dr Yoxall is called to give evidence, just a couple of indications. Firstly, I don't expect that I would have any, or at most, more than one question for her. So I don't expect that to take very long at all. Secondly, I am in a string of hearings tomorrow in the Federal Circuit Court. And I can't, I'm afraid, get out of them. So, I think tomorrow will be a difficulty for me in that respect.
SENIOR MEMBER: Okay.
MR ESKERIE: Thank you.
SENIOR MEMBER: Okay. So, for you then, Mr Eskerie, it's not essential that we obtain some time with Dr Yoxall for cross-examination. Not essential?
MR ESKERIE: No, and I'm happy to accept her evidence as she's given in her written report.
SENIOR MEMBER: All right. CRPS?
CRPS: Yes, sir.
SENIOR MEMBER: As you probably know, obviously Dr Yoxall is your witness and what usually happens, as I'm sure you know, is that your witness is brought or called into the hearing to give evidence in chief through you, or on your behalf, and then that witness is made subject to cross-examination by the other side's representative, in this case, Mr Eskerie. However, sometimes - and quite often, in cases like this - an expert is accepted - the written report is accepted into evidence by the respondent's representative, but the respondent then makes submissions on that evidence. Right?
CRPS: Yes.
SENIOR MEMBER: So I don't want you to be under a misunderstanding this morning that Mr Eskerie is going to holus bolus accept what Dr Yoxall says. He is going to - let's be frank about it - he is going to criticise her evidence, he's going to attack her evidence and he's going to tell me, most probably, not to give her evidence much weight, for oral reasons that he explains to me. And he's happy with doing that, and he doesn't want to cross-examine Dr Yoxall, right? So that's why - and Mr Eskerie doesn't necessarily need Dr Yoxall here for the cross-examination. The question for you is were there any further questions that you wanted to put to Dr Yoxall. Because, most usually, someone who calls a doctor, like you have, usually adopts that doctor's report as it is. Because, if you think about it, you can't add anything to that evidence, you're not the doctor, she is.
CRPS: Yes.
SENIOR MEMBER: So do you necessarily want her to come and give evidence? Or are you content for the tribunal to receive her very comprehensive report?
CRPS: I'm content with the tribunal receiving her report. My question is, when, as you say Mr Eskerie is going to give his own opinion on this report, I would have an opportunity to respond.
SENIOR MEMBER: Absolutely.
CRPS: I'm happy with that.
54 This ground focuses on what the applicant said is an incorrect statement in the report as to the applicant's number of prior convictions, with Dr Yoxall referring to there being four convictions. However, there is nothing to suggest it is an error relating to the description of the offences as opposed to Dr Yoxall being under the impression that there were only four convictions.
55 In any event, it is necessary to put this in the context of Dr Yoxall's report and the Tribunal's consideration of it. The number of convictions was said to relate to a risk assessment test applied by Dr Yoxall which results in a numerical score, that score then being said to relate to the applicant's prospects of reoffending. The purpose of the measure is said to identify variables that can potentially be changed so as to reduce the risk of reoffending. The applicant's numerical score was in the class of scores which indicated a low to moderate risk of reoffending and low to moderate level of rehabilitation needed. It appears unlikely that Dr Yoxall mistakenly referred to the applicant having four convictions if in reality she was aware of 32 convictions. The report does not support such an awareness. I note the description of there being four offences occurs on more than one occasion in the report. At the outset of the report Dr Yoxall referred to the three convictions of 6 June 2018 which resulted in imprisonment, and under previous criminal history referred to the conviction for which the Intensive Corrections Order was imposed. In accordance with that, Dr Yoxall referred to four convictions in relation to applying the test referred to above. In her summary and conclusion Dr Yoxall referred to the three convictions which resulted in the cancellation of the visa. At no stage in the report is there reference to more than four convictions. Those are the offences referred to in the delegate's decision cancelling the visa, and his criminal history attached thereto contained those convictions (it being before a number of convictions imposed in 2019). As the applicant acknowledged, the report reflected what was in the delegate's reasons. However, there is no support for the applicant's contention that this was done in the interests of brevity, as opposed to it reflecting Dr Yoxall's understanding and the basis of her report.
56 More importantly, as is apparent from the passages recited below, the conclusion based on the test result is not reflected in Dr Yoxall's ultimate finding in respect to the risk of reoffending (or level of rehabilitation needed). Rather, irrespective of the result of the test, Dr Yoxall's conclusion relevantly included:
Treatment of Gambling Disorder requires a comprehensive program of psychological intervention (using evidence-based strategies); possibly psychiatric treatment including psychopharmacological treatment of depression, obsessionality, and impulsivity; and social supports (e.g. gamblers anonymous); and arrangements in one's personal life to ensure transparency of behaviour and accountability (e.g. spouse managing finances). Whilst [FDC19] has commenced some aspects of the Gold Standard of treatment for Gambling Disorder, this has not been comprehensive and has not occurred in a sustained manner over time.
57 And further:
In my clinical opinion [FDC19] has a diagnosis of Gambling Disorder (persistent and severe) which has caused significant financial, relationship and emotional turmoil in his life and that of his loved ones since shortly after he moved to Australia in 2015.
…..
[FDC19's] static (historical risk factors) for reoffending are limited. His dynamic risk factors are relapse to Gambling Disorder and vulnerability to depression. Protective factors include ongoing treatment for Gambling Disorder, and family support. Employment and engagement in treatment would provide further protective factors. The key risk factor for reoffending is the Gambling Disorder. Resolution of this disorder would substantially reduce [FDC19's] risk of reoffending. If he does not address the Gambling Disorder successfully his risk of reoffending is high. If he does address the Gambling Disorder successfully his risk of relapse could be reduced to a low risk.
In his period of incarceration and detention [FDC19] appears to have developed improved insight into the disorder and his offending. He has made what appears to be genuine and sustainable progress in attempting to improve his relationship with his wife, educate himself about the disorder and establish strategies to prevent relapse. However, his Gambling Disorder is currently in full remission because he is in a controlled environment.
….
58 The Tribunal concluded in respect to the report (citations omitted):
101. Page 24 of Dr Yoxall's Report marks the commencement of her "Risk Assessment" about recidivism. Dr Yoxall's discussion about risk assessment commences with an application of the risk assessment methodology she applied. Specifically, Dr Yoxall applied "The Level of Service Inventory - Revised (LSI-R)". That assessment methodology includes a series of ten domains. One of those domains includes an offender's criminal history. For the purposes of her report, Dr Yoxall noted "I understand that [the Applicant] has four convictions for dishonestly gaining financial advantage by deception."
102. The Applicant's criminal history makes it patently clear that Dr Yoxall has proceeded on a misapprehension. Indeed, the Applicant has something in the order of 32 convictions for offences of dishonesty involving the gaining of financial advantage by deception. Very significantly, this misapprehension led Dr Yoxall to apply the LSI-R methodology on an incorrect or inaccurate basis. She noted "his score on the LSI-R was 14 and is primarily related to the number of convictions and past mental health concerns and need for treatment." [My underlining] It is surely beyond argument that the number of convictions recorded against an applicant/patient before her is a key factor in Dr Yoxall's application of the LSI-R and her arrival at a rating or score for that applicant/patient's risk of recidivism.
103. Putting aside the incorrect unreliable application of Dr Yoxall's application of the LSI-R for the Applicant, the balance of Dr Yoxall's Report does the Applicant little or no favours in terms of Dr Yoxall's views about his risk of re-offending. At page 31 of her Report, Dr Yoxall notes "in my clinical opinion, [the Applicant] has a diagnosis of Gambling Disorder (persistent and severe) …". Also on that page, Dr Yoxall further notes:
"… [The Applicant's] static (historical risk factors) for reoffending are limited. His dynamic risk factors are relapse to Gambling Disorder and vulnerability to depression. … The key risk factor for reoffending is the Gambling Disorder. Resolution of this disorder would substantially reduce [the Applicant's] risk of reoffending. If he does not address the Gambling Disorder successfully, his risk of reoffending is high. If he does address the Gambling Disorder successfully, his risk of reoffending could be reduced to a low risk."
104. Dr Yoxall's Report, therefore, on the question of the Applicant's risk of recidivism goes no further than making two basic points. First, his diagnosis of Gambling Disorder (persistent and severe) remains current, untreated, unmanaged, and unresolved. Second, his risk of re-offending is entirely dependent on him successfully addressing that disorder. Dr Yoxall makes it clear: "If he does not address the Gambling Disorder successfully, his risk of reoffending is high."
105. It would thus be unsafe to attribute any measure of weight, certainly no weight of a determinative nature, to the conclusions reached by Dr Yoxall about the Applicant's risk of reoffending.
…
137. Were he to be returned to the Australian community, the environmental factors giving rise to the Applicant's propensity to offend - as a result of his gambling - will again be a presence in his life. As noted by Dr Yoxall, the Applicant's previous circumstances causing his very serious issues with gambling were: (1) a constant concern or worry about the level of his debts; (2) a mentality of winning at games of chance/gambling as a means of recuperating his losses; (3) uncontrollable urges to gamble; and (4) the repeated experiencing of negative emotions. All of those factors will the Applicant upon his return to the Australian community.
138. Viewed in its totality, were he to be returned to the Australian community, I am not convinced that the evidence in any way confirms the personal circumstances previously spawning his past offending will not again be front and centre in his life. As noted by the Respondent, these are the factors that will immediately confront the Applicant upon release:
(i) the significant level of cumulative debt he owes to his victims remains a live issue as will, most likely, be the victims' intention to recover their money;
(ii) the Applicant does not seem to have reliable employment waiting for him upon his release and his earning capacity will, at least in the short-term, be limited to what his wife can earn which, itself, is limited;
(iii) the preponderance of the psychological evidence indicates the Applicant continues to experience negative emotions; and
(iv) it would be unsafe to rely upon the lay evidence of the Applicant and his lay witnesses (none of whom are clinicians) about his apparent capacity to control his gambling urges, especially in circumstances where his impulsivity and predisposition towards gambling has not been tested in the broader community.
139. In assessing the Applicant's risk of re-offending, a decision-maker is required to "take into account available information and evidence on the risk of the non-citizen re-offending…". There is no such evidence before the Tribunal. There was no evidence adduced at the hearing to demonstrate that the Applicant's level of insight into the nature of both his offending and its causes was any greater than it was at the time of his sentencing before Ms Huntsman SM in mid-2018.
140. The inevitable conclusion to be reached about the Applicant's risk of re-offending is best informed by an application of Principles 6.3(3)-(4) and paragraph 13.1.2(1) of Direction 79. The combined effect of those provisions is that the harm resulting from any return by the Applicant to his offending ways may very well be so serious such that any risk of similar conduct in the future is unacceptable. I so find.
…
142. The Applicant's consistently very serious to extremely serious pattern of offending has been the predominant feature of his life in this country thus far. He has had the benefit of an apparently loving and supportive network for the entirety of that period. Sentencing judicial officers have imposed sentences designed to deter his offending and to curb his propensity to offend. He has: (1) failed to grasp the benefits of a supportive network; and (2) failed to experience any deterrent effect from the range of sentences imposed upon him.
143. His insight into the nature of his offending and its impact on the lives of his victims is poor. Reasonable attempts by victims to recover their money or, at least, to start some kind of official dialogue about recovery, are met with dismissive silence or, in the unfortunate case of the victim Mr MY, a complaint to the police about Mr MY's attempt to recover a small portion of the approximately $13,000 unlawfully taken from him by the Applicant.
144. His offending has been both very frequent and, from its commencement, very serious to extremely serious. In terms of treatment, rehabilitation and management of symptoms predisposing him to offend, the cumulative state of any clinical / psychological evidence is that he is nowhere near convincing this Tribunal that he has meaningfully engaged with any therapeutic or other intervention-based process that could have the effect of lessening his risk of re-offending from its present high level. Even the evidence of Dr Yoxall, at its highest, regards the Applicant's risk of re-offending as high. There is no other finding that can be made about Dr Yoxall's evidence due to the unconvincing state of the evidence about whether this Applicant has effectively and successfully addressed his severe and persistent gambling disorder.
145. I have had regard to the provisions of paragraphs 13.1.1 and 13.1.2 of the Direction and have also had regard to sub-paragraph 6.3(3). I find that: (1) the nature of the Applicant's offending conduct to date is extremely serious; and (2) there is a strong and convincing likelihood that he will engage in further very serious to extremely serious conduct if returned to the Australian community.
59 The applicant requested that a psychological report be prepared by Dr Yoxall. The applicant was on alert prior to the hearing of the submission the respondent was going to make in relation to the weight to be attached to the report. It is plain from the respondent's Statement of Issues, Facts and Contentions filed in the Tribunal.
60 The applicant expressly addressed the issue in his reply to the respondent's Statement of Issues, Facts and Contentions and put a submission as to why Dr Yoxall would have been aware of the other convictions. In that context, the applicant chose not to require Dr Yoxall, but rather to argue the matter in submissions. As noted above, Dr Yoxall was the applicant's witness, she had examined him and provided a report at his request and therefore he could have clarified this purported error with her before the Tribunal hearing. Indeed, it is apparent from the transcript (page 2) that the applicant had spoken with Dr Yoxall on the first morning of the hearing before the proceedings commenced. I note also that no evidence has been adduced in this Court as to what Dr Yoxall would have said if asked to address this error. That is, there is no evidence before this Court that Dr Yoxall took into account more than four convictions in the reaching of her conclusions recited at [56] and [57] above.
61 The applicant's submission that the Tribunal should have told him at the time that it was going to give Dr Yoxall's evidence no weight, is misconceived. The exchange with the Tribunal makes clear that the applicant was on notice that such submissions would be made, that he had an opportunity to make submissions, that the Tribunal would consider the submissions put and made clear the possibility of the submission being accepted. However, at the stage of the hearing when the exchange takes place, the Tribunal had not heard the submissions of either party and had not reached the stage of forming conclusions as to the various issues.
62 In so far as the applicant contended in his written submission that the Tribunal exhibited bias including by deferring to the respondent's position as to whether Dr Yoxall would be called and by failing to inform him that it intended to accept the respondent's submission and accord no weight to the report in respect of that issue, the submission has no factual foundation.
63 It will be recalled that the ground of review alleged error by the Tribunal by according no weight to the report of Dr Yoxall "by reaching a conclusion which was contrary to reason, illogical or irrational in circumstances where Dr Yoxall was in a position to resolve any errors in her report".
64 Findings were made by the Tribunal on the findings in Dr Yoxall's report. The Tribunal properly describes the report as not being favourable to the applicant (see [58] above). That is so despite any purported error. That said, it is clear from the reasons (including those recited above at [58]) that the report was not considered in isolation by the Tribunal in its assessment of the applicant's offending and conduct, and his risk of reoffending. The Tribunal made findings as to the applicant's conduct, which included rejecting aspects of the applicant's evidence including his statements as to his conduct: for example at [52], [53], [93], [110]-[113].
65 Before leaving this ground it is necessary to address a submission made during the hearing alleging that the Tribunal failed to consider a passage in a sentencing assessment report dated 5 March 2019. This contention is not in the ground of appeal and was not referred to in the written submission.
66 The brief report prepared by a Community Corrections Officer for the purposes of sentencing makes the statement that the applicant was assessed at Tier one medium/low risk of reoffending (according to the Level of Service Inventory - Revised). The report provides no further explanation of what that was, or the reason for that conclusion. The report is limited in nature and does not address the issues such as the gambling disorder which underpinned Dr Yoxall's conclusion.
67 In any event, as is apparent from the passages recited at [56] and [57] above, Dr Yoxall did not ultimately find that the applicant was a low to medium risk of reoffending, rather that was the result of one test she applied.
68 It is not necessary for the Tribunal to refer to every piece of evidence before it in reaching its conclusion: Applicant WAEE v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2003] FCAFC 184; (2003) 236 FCR 593 at [46]; Minister for Home Affairs v Buadromo [2018] FCAFC 151; (2018) 267 FCR 320 at [48]-[49]. In this case a failure to refer to the report prepared by a Community Corrections Officer does not give rise to the inference in this case that it was not considered.
69 This ground is not established.