Minister for Justice and Customs v Tervonen

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT 1 Presently before the Court is a Notice of Motion in which the Minister for Home Affairs is the Applicant. The relief sought is an order expediting an appeal from a decision of Rares J given on 6 November 2007. 2 The procedural background history to the application is somewhat complicated, but for present purposes can be set forth fairly briefly. On 18 August 2006, the then Minister for Justice and Customs issued a notice pursuant to s 16(1) of the Extradition Act 1988 (Cth). Subsequent to that notice being issued, a Full Court of this Court handed down its decision in Williams v Minister for Justice and Customs [2007] FCAFC 33, 157 FCR 286. That decision had fundamental implications as to the way in which decisions under s 16 were to be made. 3 In response to that decision, a further Notice was issued under s 16(1) on 30 April 2007. Both of those s 16 notices were held to be invalid by Rares J in his Honour's decision on 6 November 2007. 4 The Application for expedition before this Court raises two fundamental matters of importance, namely: 1. whether or not Rares J went beyond the requirements imposed by s 16 and the Williams decision and in a manner which imposes unwarranted obligations upon the Minister; and 2. the obligation imposed upon the Commonwealth by the Extradition Act 1988 (Cth) to deal with requests from foreign countries expeditiously. 5 The requirement for an orderly and expeditious resolution of proceedings has been the subject of comment by Kirby J in Cabal v United Mexican States [2001] HCA 42 at [9], 180 ALR 593. If the decision of Rares J is to be given effect and, but for the resolution of a further s 16 notice which has been issued by the Minister, the Respondent may be entitled to be released from custody. 6 It is considered that the hearing of the appeal should be expedited.