Before the appeal was heard
12 Before the appeal was heard Mr Soames made a series of applications.
13 First, he claimed that through the fraudulent conduct of numerous people he had been improperly denied legal aid and legal representation and that, as a result, any hearing would be unfair. Mr Soames said he could not and would not proceed without legal representation. I took this to be an application for an adjournment of the hearing of the appeal to enable Mr Soames to obtain legal representation by means of an order of the Court to that effect.
14 I refused this application. As Flick J said in Soames v Secretary, Department of Social Services [2014] FCA 295 at [53] in respect of a similar submission from Mr Soames that the AAT denied him procedural fairness by his lack of legal representation:
The right to legal representation in criminal proceedings (Dietrich v The Queen (1992) 177 CLR 292), it should be noted, does not extend such that there is a denial of procedural fairness in an administrative proceeding if legal representation is not provided: Nguyen v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2000] FCA 1265 at [28-36], (2000) 101 FCR 20 at 27 - 29; per Sackville, Marshall and Lehane JJ. See also: Daw v Minister for Immigration & Citizenship [2012] FCA 705 at [25] per Edmonds J. (Affirmed: Daw v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2012] FCAFC 123); Herring v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2012] FCA 970 at [21].
15 Further, the hearing was fixed during the directions hearing on 1 July 2014 which Mr Soames attended. For the reasons given below, Mr Soames' appeal is also without substantive merit. In these circumstances, an adjournment of the hearing would be inappropriate.
16 Mr Soames then submitted that I should disqualify myself on the grounds that I was "extremely biased" and "corrupt" and that I had demonstrated this by reason of my refusal to disqualify myself during the directions hearing on 1 July 2014 and by other unspecified conduct on or about 6 February 2013.
17 Mr Soames had also asked me to disqualify myself on 1 July 2014. I refused his request on that day giving these oral reasons:
The applicant, Mr Soames, has made an oral application to me this morning that I disqualify myself from hearing his matter, on the basis that I have previously displayed what he described as "extreme bias" in respect of his matters. He says that, on 6 February 2012 [sic - 2013], I, perhaps along with another Judge of this Court, Katzmann J, directed the registry not to accept the filing of a document by him seeking certain orders of the Court, and that this matter relates to the same subject matter as that previous proceeding, which he was not permitted to file.
Assuming that I did direct the registry not to accept some proceeding for filing by Mr Soames, that would have been done pursuant to the rules of the Court that contemplate such a direction. In any event, it does not demonstrate any possibility that a reasonable person might consider that I might not bring an impartial and independent mind to bear upon the present application.
The present application, insofar as I can identify it on the basis of the few documents that have been filed, seeks an order for reinstatement of a disability pension, being styled, though, an appeal from a decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal dated 30 April 2014, at which time the Tribunal apparently decided to cancel Mr Soames' disability pension. As far as I can ascertain, the decision of the Tribunal was made by Senior Member Britton and Senior Member Toohey, although, at this stage, I do not have a copy of their decision.
The parameters for dealing with such an appeal are fixed by section 44 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act. An appeal is permitted only on a question of law. The grounds relied upon by Mr Soames are three in number: a contention of absence of procedural fairness and natural justice; a contention that the Tribunal made a finding of fact contrary to the evidence; and a contention that the member, or perhaps members, were "extremely biased".
I can see no basis whatsoever upon which a reasonable person might consider that I might not bring an impartial mind to bear upon this present appeal, which relates to a decision on 30 April 2014, irrespective of whatever direction I might have made to the Registrar of the Court on or about 6 February 2012 [sic - 2013]. Accordingly, the applicant's application that I disqualify myself is dismissed, and I refuse to do so.
18 Subsequent inquiry shows that on 6 February 2013 I made the following order in respect of an interlocutory application (proceeding NSD 1760/2012) filed by Mr Soames:
The applicant's interlocutory application seeking a stay of the order of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of 23 February 2012 and reinstatement of the applicant's disability pension not be accepted for filing.
19 This order was made pursuant to rr 1.37 and 2.26 of the Federal Court of Australia Rules 2011 (Cth) which provide as follows:
1.37
The Court may direct a Registrar to do, or not to do, an act or thing.
2.26
A Registrar may refuse to accept a document (including a document that would, if accepted, become an originating application) if the Registrar is satisfied that the document is an abuse of the process of the Court or is frivolous or vexatious:
(a) on the face of the document; or
(b) by reference to any documents already filed or submitted for filing with the document.
20 While it was not necessary for any reasons to be given for such an order, as Mr Soames raised the issue before me during the hearing and specifically requested reasons, it is appropriate that I record that I was satisfied that the interlocutory application was frivolous and vexatious on its face. The application in question was made nearly a year after the decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The case in this Court referred to in paragraph 1 of the application was for an extension of time (see Soames v Secretary, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs [2013] FCA 260). The interlocutory application, if granted, would have circumvented the hearing of the application for extension of time. The decision of the AAT sought to be stayed affirmed a decision of Centrelink to cancel Mr Soames' pension. As such, there was nothing to stay. Even if Mr Soames had succeeded in both obtaining an extension of time and on an appeal limited to a question of law, the best outcome he could have hoped for was a setting aside of the decision of the AAT and the remittal of the matter to the AAT for determination in accordance with law. He could not have obtained an order for reinstatement of his pension from this Court. For these reasons the interlocutory application was patently frivolous and vexatious.
21 During the hearing on 13 August 2014 I rejected Mr Soames further application for me to disqualify myself. Mr Soames' allegations of actual and apprehended bias are unfounded and based on nothing more than his dislike of decisions made contrary to his wishes. The allegations of actual bias are scandalous and improper. The allegations of apprehended bias fail to disclose any basis upon which it could be concluded that "a fair-minded lay observer might reasonably apprehend that the judge might not bring an impartial mind to the resolution of the question the judge is required to decide" (Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337; [2000] HCA 63 at [6]).
22 Mr Soames requested that I immediately provide written reasons for my decision on 13 August 2014 not to disqualify myself, as well as written reasons for the decision to the same effect on 1 July 2014 and in respect of the unspecified conduct on 6 February 2013. I explained to Mr Soames that I could not immediately provide written reasons for the decision just given but that written reasons for that decision would be included in the reasons for judgment concerning the appeal. I indicated also that Mr Soames would be able to obtain a copy of the transcript of the directions hearing on 1 July 2014 if he so wished. He responded that he could not afford to purchase the transcript. The written reasons for my decision of 1 July 2014 not to disqualify myself are set out above. Insofar as 6 February 2013 is concerned I also refer to the matters set out above.
23 Mr Soames next indicated that because of my bias and corruption against him, he withdrew from the hearing and refused to proceed with his appeal before me. I informed Mr Soames, who remained at the bar table, about rules 33.32 and 33.33 of the Federal Court Rules 2011 which provide as follows:
33.32
(1) A respondent to an appeal may apply to the Court for an order that the appeal be dismissed for the failure by the applicant for the appeal to do any of the following:
(a) comply with a direction of the Court;
(b) comply with these rules;
(c) attend a hearing relating to the appeal;
(d) prosecute the appeal.
(2) An application under subrule (1) must be served on the applicant:
(a) at the applicant's address for service; or
(a) personally.
33.33
(1) If a party is absent when an appeal is called on for hearing, the opposing party may apply to the Court for an order that:
(a) if the absent party is the applicant to the appeal:
(i) the appeal be dismissed; or
(ii) the hearing be adjourned; or
(b) if the absent party is the respondent to the appeal:
(i) the hearing proceed generally or in relation to a particular claim for relief in the appeal; or
(ii) the hearing be adjourned.
(2) If an appeal is dismissed because the applicant to the appeal was absent, the applicant may apply to the Court for an order:
(a) to set aside the dismissal; and
(b) for the further conduct of the appeal.
24 I note also that rule 1.40 provides that:
The Court may, at any stage of the proceeding, exercise a power mentioned in these Rules in the proceeding:
(a) on its own initiative; or
(b) on the application of a party, or a person who has a sufficient interest in the proceeding.
25 I pointed out to Mr Soames that although no application had been personally served on him as set out in rule 33.32(2) I could waive compliance with that requirement (rule 1.34 states that the "Court may dispense with compliance with any of these Rules, either before or after the occasion for compliance arises"). I also pointed out that if he refused to proceed he would be taken not to be prosecuting his appeal and, although he remained present in Court, his withdrawal amounted to his effective absence when the appeal was ready to be called on for hearing. The respondent invited Mr Soames to reconsider his withdrawal and refusal to proceed, which Mr Soames rejected repeating his allegations of corruption and bias, and then sought dismissal of the appeal on both bases. I indicated that, in the circumstances, I would reserve my decision so that any orders could be made at the same time as the provision of written reasons to the parties.
26 Mr Soames' withdrawal and refusal to proceed with the hearing of his appeal was without merit. He had not received decisions in his favour on his earlier applications and, accordingly, may be inferred to have sought to thwart the processes of the Court by simply refusing to prosecute his appeal. As noted, the appeal was fixed for hearing on 1 July 2014. Directions were made to enable the hearing to proceed. Mr Soames was in attendance on that date. He appeared at the hearing but, apparently, on the basis that if he did not obtain the orders he wanted, for an adjournment, for legal representation and for my disqualification from hearing the matter, he would refuse to proceed further. Mr Soames' conduct constitutes an abuse of the processes of the Court. It would be unjust to the respondent and contrary to the proper administration of justice to facilitate Mr Soames' desire to thwart the proper resolution of his appeal. It follows that I am satisfied that Mr Soames' appeal should be dismissed by reason of his failure to prosecute the appeal and to appear at the time the appeal was called on for hearing.
27 For the reasons given below, I am also satisfied that the appeal is without substantive merit and should also be dismissed on that basis.