INTRODUCTION
1 In Sadiqi v Commonwealth of Australia (No 2) (2009) 181 FCR 1 (Sadiqi (No 2)), I answered certain preliminary questions which had been put in argument on behalf of the parties in this proceeding.
2 Although on delivery of the reasons I invited the parties to attempt to reach agreement as to the appropriate course to be taken to pursue completion of the trial, agreement has not been possible. Accordingly, I have received additional submissions from the parties in relation to their respective positions.
3 To put those arguments in context it is necessary to restate the factual basis upon which the questions were posed, to examine the questions and answers and finally, to make provision for the next step forward in this matter.
4 The agreed factual background in the matter was as follows:
AGREED FACTS AND DOCUMENTS
14 In addition to the following facts being agreed, the parties have agreed as to the relevance and authenticity of a modest number of documents which are also referred to in the agreed facts.
The Plaintiff and his Brother
15 The plaintiff is a citizen of Afghanistan. He is of the Hazara race and a follower of the Shi'ite sect of the Islamic religion.
16 In 2000, the plaintiff left Afghanistan without a valid Afghani passport or other travel document and travelled to Indonesia, with the intention of travelling from Indonesia to Australia and thereafter permanently residing in Australia.
17 In or about August 1999, the plaintiff's elder brother, Hussain Ali Sadiqi, left Afghanistan.
18 Hussain Ali Sadiqi arrived in Australia by boat on or about 22 October 1999 and was placed in immigration detention. On or about 11 April 2000, he was granted a protection visa and released from detention. He took up residence in Perth, Western Australia.
Rescue and Ashmore Reef
19 In or about October 2001, the plaintiff also obtained passage to Australia on an Indonesian coastal vessel travelling, in the company of approximately 161 other asylum seekers, from Indonesia to the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands. The plaintiff was not the holder of a visa under the Migration Act. At that time, the plaintiff was 16 years of age.
20 The Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands is an external territory of Australia to which the Migration Act extends pursuant to s 7(1) and (2) of that Act.
21 On the enactment of the Migration Amendment (Excision from Migration Zone) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2001 (Cth) (the Excision Act) the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands became an 'excised offshore place' for the purposes of the Migration Act. That Act inserted a definition of 'excision time' that provided that the 'excision time' for the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands was 2.00 pm ACT time on 8 September 2001.
22 On 8 November 2001, the vessel on which the plaintiff was travelling, which was codenamed SIEV 10 by Australian authorities, was intercepted by vessels of the first defendant, caught fire and sank while in international waters between Indonesia and Australia. The plaintiff was rescued and taken aboard the ACV Arnhem Bay. Two other passengers on SIEV 10 drowned.
23 On 8 November 2001, the Arnhem Bay, with the plaintiff on board, arrived at the outer lagoon at Ashmore Reef in the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands. The plaintiff did not disembark at Ashmore Reef.
24 In the period from 8 November 2001 to 11 November 2001 inclusive, the outer lagoon at Ashmore Reef was not a port appointed under s 15 of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth) or a port appointed by the Minister under s 5(5) of the Migration Act.
25 On 10 November 2001, officers of the first defendant on board the Arnhem Bay informed all of the non-citizens on board the Arnhem Bay that they were to be transferred to HMAS Tobruk for the purpose of being transported to Christmas Island. After being informed of the proposed transfer, the plaintiff indicated to the Executive Officer of HMAS Tobruk that he did not wish to go to Christmas Island and that he wanted to be taken to the Australian mainland.
26 On 10 November 2001, after the plaintiff refused to disembark from the Arnhem Bay, officers of the first defendant placed him in plastic flexicuffs and transferred him to HMAS Tobruk.
Christmas Island
27 The Territory of Christmas Island is an external territory to which the Migration Act extends pursuant to s 7(1) and (2) of the Migration Act.
28 On the enactment of the Excision Act, the Territory of Christmas Island became an 'excised offshore place' for the purposes of the Migration Act. That Act inserted a definition of 'excision time' that provided that the 'excision time' for the Territory of Christmas Island was 2.00 pm ACT time on 8 September 2001.
29 On 11 November 2001, HMAS Tobruk, with the plaintiff on board, sailed from Ashmore Reef to Christmas Island. In the course of the voyage from Ashmore Reef to Christmas Island, HMAS Tobruk sailed through international waters.
30 On 14 November 2001, the HMAS Tobruk arrived at Christmas Island with the plaintiff on board. The plaintiff disembarked at Christmas Island on that date.
31 On 14 December 2001 the second defendant decided that unaccompanied minors detained on Christmas Island as unlawful non-citizens should be transferred to the Republic of Nauru (Nauru) and Manus Island (in Papua New Guinea) as logistically required.
32 The plaintiff was detained on Christmas Island between 14 November 2001 and 28 December 2001. He was held by officers or agents of the first defendant in an immigration detention centre on Christmas Island established under the Migration Act.
Nauru
33 On 10 September 2001, a Statement of Principles was signed on behalf of each of the first defendant and Nauru.
34 On 2 October 2001, the second defendant made a declaration in writing declaring Nauru as a declared country under s 198A(3) of the Migration Act, and stating the second defendant's satisfaction 'that Nauru meets the criteria set out in section 198A(3) of the Migration Act 1958'.
35 On 11 December 2001, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was agreed between the first defendant and Nauru, which replaced the Statement of Principles.
36 A non-citizen of Nauru who is in Nauru without a visa is liable to arrest under s 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1999 (Nauru) (the Nauru Immigration Act) and to punishment for an offence under s 13(1) of that Act, including imprisonment. Such a person is also liable to removal from Nauru by order of the Principal Immigration Officer made in exercise of the power conferred by s 11(1) of the Nauru Immigration Act, and to detention under s 11(4) of the Nauru Immigration Act pending that removal. With the approval of the Minister, the person might be removed 'to a place in the country to which he belongs', or to any other place to which he consents to be removed and the government of which consents to receive him: s 11(6)(b) of the Nauru Immigration Act.
37 On 19 December 2001 the Minister for Justice and Customs made a direction pursuant to s 6(1) of the Australian Protective Service Act 1987 (Cth) (the APS Act) that the functions of the Australian Protective Service (the APS) were to provide protective and custodial services, including, inter alia, the conduct of security surveys of premises, a custodial service and all services reasonably related to the provision of a custodial service, both in Australia and in a foreign country. The direction was published in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. S. 525 dated 21 December 2001.
38 On 28 and 29 December 2001, the plaintiff was taken by officers of the first defendant from Christmas Island to Nauru, travelling by aircraft, via Perth, and arriving in Nauru on 29 December 2001. In the course of the journeys from Christmas Island to Perth and from Perth to Nauru, the plaintiff was flown through international airspace. The plaintiff was not invited to make submissions in opposition to being taken to Nauru.
39 Upon his arrival in Nauru, the plaintiff was taken to 'State House', a site designated by the Government of Nauru for the accommodation of asylum seekers.
40 On 7 January 2002 the plaintiff was granted a special purpose visa by the Principal Immigration Officer of Nauru pursuant to the Nauru Immigration Act and the Immigration Regulations 2000 (Nauru). This special purpose visa authorised the plaintiff's entry and stay in Nauru on 'humanitarian grounds', such stay not to exceed beyond 6 months from the date of arrival. The plaintiff did not apply for the visa and did not authorise any other person to apply on his behalf.
41 The special purpose visa was subject to the following conditions:
1. Residence in Nauru shall be restricted to sites designated by the Government of Nauru for the accommodation of asylum seekers;
2. Movement within Nauru shall be restricted to within the above-mentioned sites except with the consent of the Office of the President of Nauru;
3. Movement within Nauru outside of the designated sites shall be under escort of security personnel, as authorised by the Office of the President of Nauru;
4. Completion of humanitarian endeavours shall, for the purpose of this Visa, be as determined by the Office of the President of Nauru, through directions of the undersigned and shall constitute termination of such visa.
42 The plaintiff resided at State House until he was transferred to 'Topside', another site designated by the Government of Nauru for the accommodation of asylum seekers. The State House and Topside sites were provided by the Government of Nauru pursuant to the MOU referred to above and were maintained and operated by a non-government organization, the 'International Organisation for Migration' under contract with the first defendant.
43 On 15 July 2002, the plaintiff was granted a further special purpose visa on the same terms and conditions as the first special purpose visa referred to above, save that the plaintiff's further stay in Nauru was not to exceed beyond 3 months from the date of issuance. The plaintiff did not apply for the visa and did not authorise any other person to apply on his behalf.
44 Officers of the APS participated in the provision of security services at the State House and Topside sites in Nauru at which the plaintiff resided.
45 Both State House and Topside were surrounded by wire fencing which was patrolled from time to time by officers of the APS.
46 When the plaintiff left State House or Topside to attend school, go to the beach or to go shopping, he was often accompanied by an officer of the APS.
47 The plaintiff was interviewed by an officer of the first defendant on 11 March 2002 in relation to his claims for protection.
48 On 19 June 2002 the interviewing officer referred to above determined that the plaintiff was not a refugee under Art 1A of the Convention.
49 On 10 July 2002 the plaintiff sought review of the determination referred to above and was interviewed by a second officer of the first defendant (the Review Officer).
50 By letter dated 12 July 2002, the plaintiff advised the Review Officer referred to above that his brother, Hussain Ali Sadiqi, was currently living in Australia as a refugee and provided his address.
51 On 8 September 2002 the Review Officer referred to above again determined that the plaintiff was not a refugee under Art 1A of the Convention.
Perth
52 On 1 November 2002 officers of the first defendant brought the plaintiff, with his consent, from Nauru to Australia for the purpose of giving evidence at a coronial inquest into the deaths of the two passengers aboard the SIEV 10. The plaintiff arrived in Perth on 2 November 2002.
53 After his arrival in Perth on 2 November 2002, the plaintiff was detained by officers or agents of the first defendant, initially at the Perth Immigration Detention Centre, and from 2 November 2002 until 13 June 2003 at the Marracoonda Motel, Belmont, Western Australia.
54 From 13 June 2003 until 26 September 2003 the plaintiff was detained by officers or agents of the first defendant at the Inter City Motel. From 26 September 2003 until 25 February 2004 the plaintiff was detained by officers or agents of the first defendant at the Perth Immigration Detention Centre.
55 During the plaintiff's periods of detention at the Marracoonda Motel and the Inter City Motel, those Motels were approved places of immigration detention pursuant to subpar (b)(v) of the definition of immigration detention in s 5 of the Migration Act.
56 On 29 September 2003 the plaintiff applied to the Refugee Review Tribunal (the Tribunal) for an assessment of his refugee status pursuant to s 198C of the Migration Act.
57 On 18 December 2003 the Tribunal found that the plaintiff was a refugee within the meaning of Art 1A of the Convention.
58 On 23 February 2004 the plaintiff made an application for a temporary protection visa pursuant to s 198C(8)(b) of the Migration Act.
59 On 25 February 2004 the second defendant's successor as Minister granted the plaintiff a three year temporary protection visa and he was released from immigration detention on that date.
60 In addition to the foregoing facts being agreed by the parties, the parties have accepted the authenticity of six documents. The first of those documents is the Statement of Principles signed on 10 September 2001 by the President of Nauru and the Minister for Defence for the first defendant. The Statement of Principles is relatively brief. It provides that each of the countries, wishing to build on and strengthen existing friendly relations between the two countries, have reached the following Statement of Principles. This Statement of Principles, together with any supporting administrative arrangements was said to be to 'provide the basis for joint cooperation in humanitarian endeavours relating to asylum seekers, "the persons"'. There were then ten principles in these terms:
1. Australia will bear all costs related to activities conducted under this Statement of Principles, and will reasonably compensate Nauru for its assistance and for any losses incurred in this endeavour.
2. All activities will be conducted in accordance with the Constitutions and relevant domestic laws of the two countries.
3. Nauru will accept persons for determination of their status, as jointly determined under administrative arrangements, from time to time, including those persons currently on HMAS Manoora, with the exception of those to be taken to New Zealand.
4. Both countries will fully consult each other on administrative arrangements made in relation to this Statement of Principles.
5. Australia will meet all reasonable administrative costs incurred by Nauru in implementing this Statement of Principles.
6. Australia will ensure that all persons taken by Nauru will have left within as short a time as is reasonably necessary to complete the humanitarian endeavours referred to in this Statement of Principles.
7. The 'Anaoe Village' and the 'Topside Sports Oval' as required for overflow, will be the two sites on Nauru, where the persons will be received and accommodated in order to have their status determined.
8. All costs of establishing, operating and renting these sites in order to receive and accommodate the persons will be borne by Australia.
9. Both sites will be returned to their original condition or better, on conclusion of activities related to this Statement of Principles.
10. Communications concerning the day to day operation of activities undertaken in accordance with this Statement of Principles, will be between the Office of the President and the Australian Administrative Centre in Nauru.
61 The second document agreed was the Instrument of Declaration signed by the second defendant on 2 October 2001. It is brief. It is headed 'The Instrument of Declaration' and reads:
I hereby declare the Republic of Nauru as a declared country under section 198A(3) of the Migration Act 1958. I am satisfied that Nauru meets the criteria set out in section 198A(3) of the Migration Act 1958.
This declaration will be in effect until 1 October 2002.
62 A third document agreed between the parties was the MOU between the Republic of Nauru and the first defendant for cooperation in the administration of asylum seekers and related issues. Again, this document is not extensive (four and a half pages). It is not presently necessary to record all of its content. It is an expansion upon and development of the Statement of Principles. It also reflects in the opening passage that it is directed to strengthening the friendly relations between the two countries, recognising with humanitarian sympathy the dilemma of 'asylum seekers' (referred to as 'certain persons'), wishing to cooperate bilaterally on an amicable, effective and mutually beneficial basis in the administration of these persons, and in supporting regional efforts to combat people smuggling. That MOU was signed on 11 December 2001 as indicated in the Statement of Agreed Facts. It is accompanied by a schedule dealing with development strategy and financial assistance provided by Australia to Nauru in the form of health, scholarships, study programs and other general forms of assistance. It also includes that there will be provision of training to local law enforcement officers as recommended in the Australian Protective Services Report to a value of AUD$150,000.
63 The fourth document identified was the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette for Friday, 21 December 2001 containing the directive from the Minister for Justice and Customs signed on 19 December 2001 stipulating the nature of the protective and custodial functions of the APS not including bodyguard services. Also provided are two special purpose visa grants made by the Principal Immigration Officer of the Republic of Nauru in respect of various asylum seekers identified in attached lists. The terms of the visas are those indicated above in the Statement of Agreed Facts.
AGREED PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS
5 The preliminary questions and answers were as follows:
Ashmore Reef
1. For the purposes of the Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act 1946 (Cth) (the IGOC Act), when the plaintiff entered the coastal sea adjacent to the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands on 8 November 2001:
1.1 did the plaintiff 'enter Australia' within the meaning of s 4AAA(1)(b) of the IGOC Act?
Answer: no
1.2 did the second defendant become the plaintiff's guardian by reason of s 6 of the IGOC Act?
Answer: no
2. For the purposes of the Migration Act, when the plaintiff arrived at the outer lagoon at Ashmore Reef on 8 November 2001:
2.1 did the plaintiff 'enter Australia' within the meaning of s 5 of the Migration Act?
Answer: no
2.2 was the plaintiff 'in Australia' for the purposes of s 189(2) of the Migration Act?
Answer: yes
2.3 did the plaintiff become an 'offshore entry person' as defined in s 5 of the Migration Act?
Answer: no
3. If the answer to question 1.1. is 'yes', did the plaintiff leave Australia for the purposes of s 6A of the IGOC Act when the plaintiff was taken from Ashmore Reef on 11 November 2001, arriving in Christmas Island on 14 November 2001?
Answer: no
4. If the answer to question 3 is 'yes', was the consent in writing of the second defendant to the plaintiff leaving Australia required pursuant to s 6A(1) of the IGOC Act?
Answer: yes
Christmas Island
5. When the plaintiff arrived at Christmas Island on 14 November 2001:
5.1 did the plaintiff 'enter Australia' within the meaning of s 4AAA(1)(b) of the IGOC Act?
Answer: yes
5.2. did the plaintiff 'enter Australia' within the meaning of s 5 of the Migration Act?
Answer: yes
5.3. did the plaintiff become an 'offshore entry person' as defined in s 5 of the Migration Act?
Answer: yes
Christmas Island to Nauru, via Perth
6. When the plaintiff was taken from Christmas Island to Perth, en route to Nauru, on 28 December 2001:
6.1. did the plaintiff leave Australia for the purposes of s 6A of the IGOC Act?
Answer: no
6.2. did the plaintiff cease to be an 'offshore entry person' as defined in s 5 of the Migration Act, if the plaintiff was such a person when he left Christmas Island?
Answer: no
Nauru
7. Is the plaintiff precluded from challenging the validity of the second defendant's declaration of Nauru under s 198A(3) of the Migration Act by reason of his application pursuant to s 198C of that Act which led to him being granted a temporary protection visa on 25 February 2004?
Answer: yes
8. If the answer to question 7 is 'no', does any of the criteria in s 198A(3) of the Migration Act constitute a jurisdictional fact, the existence of which is relevant to the validity of the second defendant's declaration of Nauru under s 198A(3) of the Migration Act?
Answer: no
9. If the answer to question 7 is 'yes' or the answer to question 8 is 'no', is the declaration made by the second defendant on 2 October 2001, that the Republic of Nauru is a declared country under s 198A(3) of the Migration Act, invalid?
Answer: no
10. If the answer to question 7 is 'yes' or the answer to question 9 is 'no', did s 198A of the Migration Act authorise officers or agents of the first defendant to take the plaintiff from Christmas Island to Nauru, via Perth, on 28 and 29 December 2001?
Answer: yes
11. If the answer to question 10 is 'yes':
11.1. was the consent in writing of the second defendant to the plaintiff leaving Australia required pursuant to s 6A(1) of the IGOC Act?
Answer: no
11.2. did any (and if so which) of the following actions involve a breach of the second defendant's guardianship duties imposed by ss 6 and/or 6A of the IGOC Act:
(a) the second defendant's decision that unaccompanied minors detained on Christmas Island as unlawful non-citizens, including the plaintiff, be transferred from Christmas island to Nauru, as logistically required; or
(b) the taking of the plaintiff from Christmas Island to Nauru on 28 and 29 December 2001?
Answer: no
12. Was the deployment of Australian Protective Services Officers in Nauru authorised under the provisions of the Australian Protective Service Act 1987?
Answer: yes
Perth
13. Was the plaintiff's detention in Australia from 1 November 2002 until 25 February 2004 authorised and/or required by ss 189(1) and 196 of the Migration Act?
Answer: inappropriate to answer
IGOC Act
14. Does s 6 of the IGOC Act impose any duties on the second defendant, in his capacity as guardian of a non-citizen child who arrives in Australia, the breach of which duties is enforceable by any cause of action sounding in damages?
Answer: no (as the question is specifically formulated)
New Proposed Question - Migration Act - Detention
Reasonable Suspicion
By amended notice of motion the defendants also requested the Court to answer the following questions as preliminary questions:
NM-1 If the answer to Question 2.2 is 'yes', did the facts that:
(a) the Plaintiff had travelled towards Australia from Indonesia on board the SIEV 10, an Indonesian coastal vessel, in the company of approximately 161 other asylum seekers; and
(b) the Plaintiff did not hold a visa that entitled him to enter or remain in Australia;
provide a reasonable basis on which an officer of the First Defendant could suspect that the Plaintiff was seeking to enter the migration zone and that, if the Plaintiff entered the migration zone, the Plaintiff would be an unlawful non-citizen.
Answer: inappropriate to answer
NM-2 If the answer to question NM-1 is 'yes', was the plaintiff's detention, from the time of the departure of HMAS Tobruk from Ashmore Reef on 11 November 2001 until the arrival of HMAS Tobruk at Christmas Island on 14 November 2001, required by s 189(2) and 196 of the Migration Act?
Answer: inappropriate to answer
New Proposed Question - Migration Act - Detention
The amended motion of the defendants seeks to have answered the following additional question:
NM-3 Was the Plaintiff's detention on Christmas Island between 14 November 2001 and 28 December 2001 authorised and/or required by ss 189(2), 189(3) and/or 196 of the Migration Act?
Answer: inappropriate to answer
The defendants sought to raise additional questions under question NM-4. Question NM-4 is in the following terms:
NM-4 In relation to the period from 29 December 2001 to 1 November 2002, when the Plaintiff was present in Nauru and his presence was authorised by, and subject to the conditions attached to the special purpose visas issued by the Principal Immigration Officer of Nauru pursuant to the Immigration Act 1999 (Nauru):
NM-4.1 Is the Plaintiff's claim that he was falsely imprisoned in Nauru non-justiciable in this Court because it would infringe the act of state doctrine if the Court were to adjudicate on that claim?
Answer: yes
NM-4.2 If the answer to Question NM-4.1 is no, did the conditions attached to each special purpose visa issued to the Plaintiff by the Principal Immigration Officer of Nauru pursuant to the Immigration Act 1999 (Nauru) subject the Plaintiff to "detention" for the purposes of the tort of false imprisonment?
Answer: does not arise
NM-4.3 If the answer to Question NM-4.2 is 'yes', was any restraint imposed on the Plaintiff in order to enforce the conditions on each special purpose visa issued to the Plaintiff, lawful according to the law of Nauru?
Answer: does not arise
6 The defendants contend that the appropriate orders consequent upon the answering of the questions are that the plaintiff's claim for relief:
· against the second defendant for the issue of writ of certiorari quashing the decision made by the second defendant on 2 October 2001 to make a declaration in respect of the Republic of Nauru (Nauru) under s 198A(3) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth)(Migration Act) by reason of the allegations pleaded in para 12 of the plaintiff's further re-amended statement of claim of 2 December 2008 (the amended statement of claim);
· against the second defendant for damages for breach of guardianship duty;
· against the first and second defendants for damages for breach of duty of care by reason of certain matters pleaded in the amended statement of claim;
· against the first and second defendants for damages for false imprisonment on removal from Christmas Island and in Nauru;
· against the second defendant for damages for misfeasance in public office;
all be dismissed.
7 The defendants also seek costs in relation to dismissal of those claims and 75 per cent of the costs of the determination of the preliminary questions.