(b) Insufficient prospects of success
26 The Court notes that the submissions of both parties concentrated extensively upon whether the proposed grounds of appeal have sufficient prospects of success. Whilst these submissions have been of assistance, the Court must be guided by the overall principle that at this preliminary stage it is not appropriate for the Court to form any conclusive view as to the likely outcome of any appeal. As Besanko J stated in Hamden v Secretary, Department of Human Services [2013] FCA 3 at [40] in relation to an application for extension of time made under r 31.02 of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth):
As far as the merits of the substantive application are concerned, it is not for the court to determine the application at this stage. However, an extension of time should not be granted if the substantive application is not reasonably arguable. Furthermore, if the prospects of success of a substantive application are plainly strong or plainly weak, then that may be a relevant consideration depending on the nature of the other factors (for example, the period of the delay and the explanation for it) relevant to the application for an extension of time.
27 Although the present application is not one for an extension of time to review a decision made under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) as was considered by Besanko J, similar considerations arise.
28 The proposed ground 1 requires consideration as to whether it is reasonably arguable. The course the appellant now seeks to adopt may be due to the appellant's failure to apply for a writ of habeas corpus before the FMC. Even if the grounds for such writ were made out in the evidence before the court below, the writ itself is not issued as of course. In Antunovic v Dawson (2010) 30 VR 355 at [129]-[130] ('Antunovic'), Bell J stated:
The writ of habeas corpus, although grantable ex debito justitiae, 'does not issue as of course' (see R v Langdon; Ex parte Langdon (1953) 88 CLR 158 at 161). A remedy ex debito justitiae is 'a remedy to which the applicant is entitled as of right', as distinct from a discretionary remedy (John Burke (ed) Jowitts Dictionary of English Law (2nd ed, 1977) Vol 1, 731).
…
The nature of habeas corpus as a writ available as of right, but not of course, was explained in Opinion on the Writ of Habeas Corpus (1758) 97 ER 29. Wilmot J said at common law the writ did not issue as of course 'but upon probable cause being shown' (at [32]). When that cause was shown, the writ was issued as of "right", indeed as of "birthright", to the applicant (at [33]). The procedure for showing cause was 'not a check upon justice, but a wise and prudent direction of it' (at [33]). (Footnotes inserted as references).
29 In the Opinion on the Writ of Habeas Corpus (1802) Wilm 77; (1758) 97 ER 29, Wilmot J at [33] found in reference to a class of writs, including that of habeas corpus, that 'a proper case must be laid before the Court by affidavit, before the parties, praying such writs, may be entitled to them'. Similarly, in Wall v R; Ex parte King Won and Wah On (No 1) (1927) 39 CLR 245, Isaacs J said at [256] that a writ of habeas corpus was 'not a writ of course, though a writ of right. It had to be moved for, and a proper case made out'.
30 The appellant specifically does not seek the issue of a writ of habeas corpus, nor was such writ sought in the court below. Rather, the appellant claims that having established the grounds for the issue of such writ before the Federal Magistrate, it is entitled to relief in the nature of prohibition and certiorari.
31 Should an application for a writ of habeas corpus have been made in the lower court, and provided that the grounds for such writ were made out, there would have been no discretion for the Federal Magistrate to have refused the relief: see Ruddock v Vadarlis (2001) 110 FCR 491 at [91]; Antunovic at [132]; Murray v Director General, Health and Community Services and Superintendent, Larundel Psychiatric Hospital (Unreported, Supreme Court of Victoria, Eames J, 23 June 1995).
32 The Court is mindful of a class of decisions referred to by the respondent, namely MIAC v Lu, SZLHP v MIAC and NAWZ v MIAC. Each of these cases confirms the general principle that a grant of constitutional writs is a matter for discretion: see also SZBYR at [28]. However, these decisions do not concern relief sought on the basis of a writ of habeas corpus.
33 Further, the Court notes that the proposed ground, if established, is one which could affect not merely the rights of the parties, but would be of importance to the future conduct of the state in detaining persons pursuant to the Act. In this respect, 'the outcome of the case necessarily involves interests wider than the individual interests of the parties': see Nguyen v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1996) 66 FCR 239 at 244.
34 For the above reasons, the Court will grant leave to the appellant to rely on ground 1 of the draft notice.
35 Ground 2(a) to 2(d) contained in the draft notice may be relevant to the appellant's argument as to ground 1. It may be necessary for the appellant to refer to the matters in ground 2 in order to attempt to make out ground 1 even though ground 2 is pleaded only in the alternative. The conduct of the appellant which gave rise to the Federal Magistrate's finding of bad faith are the same for grounds 1 and 2.