CTHFCAFC

SBAC v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs

[2002] FCAFC 443

Federal Court of Australia (Full Court)|2002-12-18|Before: Branson J, Hill J, Stone JJ

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At a glance

Source facts

Court

Federal Court of Australia (Full Court)

Decision date

2002-12-18

Before

Branson J, Hill J, Stone JJ

Source

Original judgment source is linked above.

Judgment (11 paragraphs)

[1]

Introduction 2 The appellant is an Iranian citizen who arrived in Australia with his wife and three children on 31 December 2000. The appellant applied for a protection visa on 13 February 2001. A delegate of the respondent refused this application on 13 March 2001. The Refugee Review Tribunal ('the Tribunal') affirmed the decision of the delegate on 23 November 2001. The appellant's application for an order under s 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) ('the Judiciary Act') to have the decision of the Tribunal set aside was dismissed by the primary judge on 10 May 2002. The appellant appeals from the decision of the primary judge.

[2]

Background 3 The appellant was a teacher in a government school in Iran. He claims that in 1985 he was arrested and detained because he was suspected of criticising the government and supporting the Mojahedin-e-Khalg organisation ('MKO'). He says that he was released after two weeks and allowed to return to his teaching position but was placed on a requirement to report to authorities. He gave an undertaking that he would not criticise the government again. 4 The appellant claims that in late 2000 two police officers arrived at the school where he taught and accused him of criticising the government in the classroom. He claims that they had a warrant for his arrest. The appellant says that he told them that he had to inform the school principal and instead fled the school for the home of a friend. He says that he and his wife and children stayed with friends and relatives while a smuggler arranged a false passport which they used to depart Iran on 15 November 2000.

[4]

Reasons of the Primary Judge 6 The appellant sought an order that the Tribunal's decision be set aside under section 39B of the Judiciary Act on the ground that the Tribunal did not exercise good faith nor provide natural justice to the appellant. The basis for this allegation was the appellant's claim that the Tribunal used out-of-date country information, rather than more recent information that might have been more favourable to the appellant. The appellant complained that the old information was not provided to him for comment. The appellant also complained that the Tribunal did not properly address the questions dictated by the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ('the Act') and that the Tribunal did not deliver its decision until after the privative clause came into effect. The appellant was represented by counsel before the primary judge. 7 The primary judge dismissed the application. His Honour did not accept that the Tribunal failed to review the appellant's claim in good faith or that it failed to accord him procedural fairness. His Honour did not accept that the country information used by the Tribunal was 'out of date' or that it failed to give the appellant an opportunity to address any independent country information that would potentially tell against the acceptance of the appellant's claims. His Honour noted that following the hearing before the Tribunal both the appellant and his migration agent respectively made further submissions to the Tribunal. 8 His Honour rejected the contention that the Tribunal had not identified and determined the issues which the Act required the Tribunal to consider and determine. Further his Honour stated that even if there had been a lack of procedural fairness this 'would not have entitled the Court in this matter to set aside the Tribunal's decision under section 39B of the Judiciary Act in the face of 474(1) of the Act'. The primary judge rejected the contention that the Tribunal deliberately delayed making its decision for the purpose of rendering its decision less susceptible to judicial review.

[5]

Notice of Appeal 9 The notice of appeal identifies two grounds of appeal. First, that the primary judge was wrong in his interpretation of the law with respect to the granting of refugee status. Secondly, that the primary judge should have found that the Tribunal committed jurisdictional error which was not validated by the privative clause. No particulars of the grounds are provided in the notice of appeal. 10 When the appeal was first came before this Court the appellant was unrepresented. He raised the issue that he had been denied the opportunity to appear before the primary judge, even by telephone, and to instruct properly the barrister who appeared on his behalf before the primary judge. He also complained that he was denied the opportunity which he expected to have to address the primary judge himself. Some oral evidence was taken and the appeal thereafter adjourned to allow further evidence to be placed before the Court. A reference under Order 80 of the Federal Court Rules was made to ensure that the appellant was represented when the appeal again came on for hearing. 11 Today the barrister instructed by the appellant abandoned reliance on any issue arising from the appellant's absence from the hearing before the primary judge. She did, however, tender the tapes of the hearing before the Tribunal. Counsel for the respondent raised no objection other than relevance to the receipt of the tapes into evidence before this Court. There is nothing to suggest that the tapes were tendered before the primary judge although a transcript of the Tribunal hearing was before his Honour. Although we were advised that the appellant's solicitor had listened to the tapes, no particular portion of the tapes was able to be identified as having a relevance to any ground of appeal. The appellant, who addressed this Court after his counsel, indicated that the tapes would assist the Court in understanding the negative manner which the Tribunal adopted towards him. In the circumstance that the appellant's barrister did not place the tapes before the primary judge I do not consider that they have been shown to have any relevance to this appeal. I would not receive them in evidence. 12 In my view, nothing in his Honour's reasons for judgment suggest that his Honour failed properly to interpret the relevant provisions of the Act or, to the extent that the Act incorporates the provisions of Convention relating to the Status of Refugees 1951 as amended by the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees 1967 (together 'the Convention'), the Convention. To the extent that it was contended that his Honour should have found that the Tribunal erred in not considering the possibility that certain events, which the appellant claimed had occurred, had in fact occurred, I consider that his Honour's approach to this issue was, for the reasons which he gave, the correct approach. 13 Nothing, in my view, has been put before this Court which demonstrates any error on the part of the primary judge or indeed any ground upon which the decision of the Tribunal could have been reviewed under section 39B of the Judiciary Act. In my view the appeal should be dismissed with costs. I certify that the preceding twelve (12) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Branson.

SBAC v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs - [2002] FCAFC 443 - FCAFC 2002 case summary — Zoe