austlii:cth/FedCFamC2G/2025/1178
General information, not legal advice.
FedCFamC2G
2025-07-30
Original judgment source is linked above.
Note: The form of the order is subject to the entry in the Court's records.
Note: The Court may vary or set aside a judgment or order to remedy minor typographical or grammatical errors (r 17.05(2)(g) Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (General Federal Law) Rules 2021 (Cth)), or to record a variation to the order pursuant to r 17.05 (Cth).
(a) The Application filed 18 July 2019; and
(b) The Affidavit of the Applicant sworn and filed 18 July 2019 (Applicant's Affidavit).
(a) The Response, filed 4 December 2024;
(b) The Minister's Submissions filed 10 July 2025;
(c) Affidavit of Service of Andrew James Price filed 22 July 2025; and
(d) List of Authorities filed 24 July 2025.
Particulars
There was no evidence or other material to justify the making of the decision as the decision was based on the existence of a particular fact and that fact did not exist.
Applying Cardenas v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2001] FCA 17 the power conferred by s 116(1)(a) was discretionary. On one reading of the Tribunal's decision, it is clear the Tribunal failed to recognised that there was a discretion to be exercised.
The Second Respondent did not give consideration to the exercise by it of the discretion vested in it. There was no discussion in its reasons of whether, in all the circumstances placed before it, the Second Respondent might exercise its own discretion not to cancel the visa.
That decision of the Second Respondent (Tribunal) is affected by jurisdictional error on the basis that the Tribunal misconstrued and misapplied section 116 Migration Act 1958 (the Act). (Ground 2).
Particulars
The Tribunal failed to consider section 116(2) of the Migration Act 1958 where it provides the "Minister is not to cancel a visa under subsection (1)...if there exist prescribed circumstances in which a visa is not to be cancelled"
The Tribunal failed to put the Applicant on notice of the issues dispositive to its decision.
The Tribunal failed to afford the applicant procedural fairness as adequate particulars of the information upon which the decision not to revoke the cancellation was based were not provided to the applicant for his comment applying Noeung v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigeous Affairs [2002] FCA 1304.
A copy of the PRISMS report was not provided to the Applicant.
The Tribunal misconstrued section 116(1)(b) in finding ground of cancellation exists under the said section.
The breach of condition 8202 (if any) does not entail cancellation of visa pursuant to section 116 of the Act.
The Tribunal erred in not applying the facts when considering grounds of cancellation in section 116(1) of the Act.
(Words in bold added otherwise as written).
In any event, PAM3 is not a binding document. PAM3 is intended by its own terms to be nothing more than procedural and policy guidance to officers applying the Migration Act and the Migration Regulations. See Xie v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2000] FCA 230; (2000) 61 ALD 641at [28]-[29] and Soegianto v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2001] FCA 1612 at [15]- [16]. PAM3 does not have the effect of a direction pursuant to s 499 of the Migration Act, which would bind a person or body having functions or powers under the Migration Act as to the performance of those functions or the exercise of those powers. Because the PAM3 guidelines are not binding on a decision-maker, they cannot be relevant considerations, in the sense of considerations that the decision-maker is bound by legislation to take into account. See Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 at 39-40 per Mason J, with whom Gibbs CJ and Dawson J agreed. A failure to apply the guidelines may have significance in establishing some error on the part of a decision-maker, but it is not of itself a jurisdictional error.
Particulars
- There was no evidence or other material to justify the making of the decision as the decision was based on the existence of a particular fact and that fact did not exist.
- Applying Cardenas v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2001] FCA 17 the power conferred by s 116(1)(a) was discretionary. On one reading of the Tribunal's decision, it is clear the Tribunal failed to recognised that there was a discretion to be exercised.
- The Second Respondent did not give consideration to the exercise by it of the discretion vested in it. There was no discussion in its reasons of whether, in all the circumstances placed before it, the Second Respondent might exercise its own discretion not to cancel the visa.
The applicant's visa was subject to a number of conditions as described by schedule 8 of the Migration Regulations 1994. In the present case, the issue is whether the applicant has breached condition 8202 of the regulations. If the applicant breached that condition the visa may then be cancelled pursuant to section 116. (emphasis added)
...
Having found the applicant has not complied with the condition of the visa, the tribunal must consider whether the visa should be cancelled. There are no matters specified in the act or regulations that must be considered in the exercise of this discretion. However, the tribunal is mindful that it should consider the circumstances of this case, including any matters raised by the applicant in the course of the hearing and any relevant matters identified in the department's Procedures Advice Manual known as PAM3, titled 'General Visa Cancellation Powers'.
(Emphasis added)
Particulars
- The Tribunal failed to consider section 116(2) of the Migration Act 1958 where it provides the "Minister is not to cancel a visa under subsection (1)...if there exist prescribed circumstances in which a visa is not to be cancelled"
- The Tribunal failed to put the Applicant on notice of the issues dispositive to its decision.
- The Tribunal failed to afford the applicant procedural fairness as adequate particulars of the information upon which the decision not to revoke the cancellation was based were not provided to the applicant for his comment applying Noeung v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigeous Affairs [2002] FCA 1304.
- A copy of the PRISMS report was not provided to the Applicant.
- The Tribunal misconstrued section 116(1)(b) in finding ground of cancellation exists under the said section.
- The breach of condition 8202 (if any) does not entail cancellation of visa pursuant to section 116 of the Act.
- The Tribunal erred in not applying the facts when considering grounds of cancellation in section 116(1) of the Act.
... it is also clear that s 425 of the Act imposes an objective requirement on the Tribunal. The statutory obligation upon the Tribunal to provide a 'real and meaningful' invitation exists whether or not the Tribunal is aware of the actual circumstances which would defeat that obligation. Circumstances where it has been held that the obligations imposed by s 425 of the Act have been breached include circumstances where an invitation was given but the applicant was unable to attend because of ill health: Applicant NAHF of 2002 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2003] FCA 140. They also include circumstances where the statements made by the Tribunal prior to the hearing have misled the applicant as to the issues likely to arise before the Tribunal: VBAB of 2002 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2002] FCA 804. They also include circumstances where the fact or event resulting in unfairness was not realised by the Tribunal. For example, circumstances such as where the applicant was invited to attend and did attend before the Tribunal, but was effectively precluded from taking part because he could not speak English and a translator was not provided or was inadequate: Tobasi v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2002] FCA 1050; W284 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2001] FCA 1788.
The Tribunal is not confined to whatever may have been the issues that the delegate considered. The issues that arise in relation to the decision are to be identified by the Tribunal. But if the Tribunal takes no step to identify some issue other than those that the delegate considered dispositive, and does not tell the applicant what that other issue is, the applicant is entitled to assume that the issues the delegate considered dispositive are "the issues arising in relation to the decision under review". That is why the point at which to begin the identification of issues arising in relation to the decision under review will usually be the reasons given for that decision. And unless some other additional issues are identified by the Tribunal (as they may be), it would ordinarily follow that, on review by the Tribunal, the issues arising in relation to the decision under review would be those which the original decision‑maker identified as determinative against the applicant.
I certify that the preceding eighty-eight (88) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment of Judge Fary.
[1] Orders made by Judge Fary on 24 July 2025, Order 2.
[20] Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth [2003] HCA 2; (2003) 211 CLR 476.
[21] Djokovic v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (2022) 289 FCR 21 Allson CJ, Besanko and O'Callaghan JJ at [17].
[22] Yusuf at [82] (per McHugh, Gummow and Hayne JJ).
[23] Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth [2003] HCA 2; (2003) 211 CLR 476.
[24] LPDT v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2024] HCA 12; (2024) 418 ALR 152 (LPDT) at [3].
[25] Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf (2001) 2006 CLR 323 (Yusuf) at [82].
[28] MZAPC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2021) 273 CLR 506 per Kiefel CJ, Gageler, Keane and Gleeson JJ at [38].
[29] Nathanson v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] HCA 26; (2022) 276 CLR 80 per Kiefel CJ, Keane and Gleeson JJ (at [33]).
[33] Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Miah (2001) 206 CLR 57 per Gleeson CJ and Hayne J (at 69).
[35] SAAP v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2005] HCA 24; (2005) 228 CLR 294.
[36] SZBYR v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [1981] HCA 26; (2007) 147 CLR 297 at [18].
[37] CB 26 (Document 1). See also CB 20 (Decision Record). The Delegate's decision records "Based on evidence available to me in the Provider Registration and International Student Management System (PRISMS), it appears that the visa holder has not been enrolled in a registered course of study since 27 June 2017."
[39] Noting the comments of Mortimer J (as her Honour was then) in MZAIB v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] FCA 1392; (2015) 238 FCR 158 at [113].
[40] See Division 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (General Federal Law) Rules 2021 (Cth). Compare Gehlert v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2024] FCAFC 12.
[41] Compare Oshlack v Richmond River Council [1998] HCA 11; (1998) 193 CLR 72.
[42] Compare Gehlert v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2024] FCAFC 129; (2024) 305 FCR 172.
Singh
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2025] FedCFamC2G 1178
ABV16 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2017] FCA 184
Cardenas v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2001] FCA 17
El Ess and Another v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2004] FCA 1038; (2004) 142 FCR 43
Gehlert v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2024] FCAFC 129; (2024) 305 FCR 172
LPDT v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2024] HCA 12; (2024) 418 ALR 152
MZAIB v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] FCA 1392; (2015) 238 FCR 158
Nathanson v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] HCA 26; (2022) 276 CLR 80
Oshlack v Richmond River Council [1998] HCA 11; (1998) 193 CLR 72
Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth [2003] HCA 2; (2003) 211 CLR 476
SAAP v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2005] HCA 24; (2005) 228 CLR 294
SZBYR v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [1981] HCA 26; (2007) 147 CLR 297
(2022) 289 FCR 21
(2004) 142 FCR 43
(2024) 305 FCR 172
(2024) 418 ALR 152
(2001) 2006 CLR 323
(2003) 128 FCR 553
(2015) 238 FCR 158
(2021) 273 CLR 506
(2022) 276 CLR 80
(1998) 193 CLR 72
(2003) 211 CLR 476
(2001) 206 CLR 57
(2005) 228 CLR 294
(2006) 228 CLR 152
(2007) 147 CLR 297
(1986) 162 CLR 24