Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Islam

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT 1 These proceedings involve an appeal by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (the Minister) from a decision by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (the Tribunal) to set aside the decision to refuse Mr Islam's application for a Temporary Business Entry Class UC Visa pursuant to s 501(2) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). 2 When this matter was called this morning there was no appearance for Mr Islam. The matter was called outside the court and there was still no appearance. Attempts were made by the Court to contact Mr Islam on the mobile phone number that he had provided with the notice of appearance that he had filed. On each occasion the phone was not answered. A message was left on the message bank service for that phone. 3 Mr Islam was served with the original application on 18 August 2010. An affidavit of service in support has been filed. Mr Islam's notice of appearance was filed on 25 August 2010. In the notice of appearance the word solicitor has been struck out and substituted with "self-litigant". The notice of appearance is signed, apparently, by Mr Islam. 4 This morning, at the suggestion of the Court, the Minister's solicitor rang the telephone number for Mr Islam's home address. Mr Islam answered the phone. There was a conversation between him and, I assume, a solicitor from Clayton Utz. Mr Islam said to that solicitor, at first, that he did not wish to come to Court without a lawyer. He then spoke with Ms Linacre, the solicitor handling this matter for the Minister, and affirmed that he needed to speak to his lawyer. Ms Linacre asked Mr Islam, 'have you instructed a lawyer?'. He said, 'no' but said that he would immediately call the barrister who appeared for him before the Tribunal. 5 Ms Linacre said in evidence that at first Mr Islam indicated that he would come to the Court immediately. He also informed Ms Linacre that he had only heard about the hearing five minutes earlier. After Ms Linacre informed Mr Islam that I had requested that if he were spoken to and does come to Court he should bring with him all the information that he had received, Mr Islam confirmed that he had received, by express post, the Minister's written submissions and list of authorities which were filed on 15 November 2010 and, I assume, sent to him by express post on or about that date. When asked whether he had received the court book that had been sent to him on a previous occasion by express post, Mr Islam said that he had not received it. 6 I have a copy of the letters that were sent to Mr Islam's home address by express post: · on 12 October 2010 enclosing a copy of the directions made by Jagot J at a directions hearing; · on 28 October 2010 purportedly enclosing a copy of the court book and also stating: 'If you have any queries, please contact our office'. A series of telephone numbers were given; and · on 15 November 2010 enclosing the Minister's submissions and list of authorities. 7 The notice of listing was also sent to Mr Islam's home address. It is dated 26 October and sets out the date and time for hearing. 8 Prior to being informed that Mr Islam would not attend and while it was thought that he was on his way to the Court, I permitted counsel for the Minister to open, to go through the issues in the proceedings and the relevant legislation, with the intention that that could be summarised and repeated for Mr Islam when he attended, having understood that it would take less than half an hour for him to arrive to the Court from his residence. 9 Subsequent conversations with Mr Islam made it clear that he does not intend to come to Court without a lawyer. He is, of course, entitled to have legal representation in this matter and I take into account the fact that it is a matter of great importance to him. However, I do have some difficulty with the proposition that he only heard about this hearing when he was first contacted by telephone today. Even if he had not received the notice of listing and the court book, he did receive the submissions. Mr Islam has engaged in previous legal proceedings, not least before the Tribunal and, as I understand it, there was an earlier set of proceedings that he was involved in that resulted in the matter being referred back to the Tribunal. He would not be a stranger to what happens during the course of litigation and, in particular, the concept of submissions being filed prior to a hearing. 10 In the circumstances, I do not place any weight upon Mr Islam's assertion that he only heard about this application today. Even if he had not understood that there was an imminent hearing, he should have understood that there was a hearing in the immediate future and taken steps to inform himself of the date of that hearing. In the circumstances, as this matter has been set down for half a day and some time has already been spent on dealing with the fact that Mr Islam has not attended, I propose to continue to hear counsel for the Minister. Of course, Mr Islam will be able to obtain a copy of the transcript of what took place today if he or his legal representatives wish to do so. 11 I will make directions that Mr Islam, who has received the submissions, be given some opportunity to file submissions in writing. The Minister will have the opportunity to make any further submissions in reply in writing. 12 If Mr Islam wishes to make an application for a further oral hearing and the opportunity to make oral submissions I will consider that. However the time will not be open-ended. I would hear any further oral submissions on 10 December 2010. I will, of course, take into account the availability of counsel for the Minister as this is a part-heard matter.