Montgomery v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs

File number(s):

NSD 500 of 2020

Judgment of:

SC DERRINGTON J

Date of judgment:

15 November 2021

Date of publication of reasons:

19 November 2021

Catchwords:

MIGRATION – where applicant a New Zealand citizen – where applicant identifies with and is accepted by an Aboriginal community – where applicant claims Aboriginal descent through traditional and customary law – whether applicant is lawfully detained under s 189(1) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (Migration Act) – whether applicant entitled to a writ of habeas corpus – where constitutional question of applicant’s status removed to the High Court of Australia under s 40(1) of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) – whether detaining officer held reasonable suspicion that applicant is not an Aboriginal Australian

MIGRATION – where visa cancelled on character grounds – whether Minister erred in exercising discretion not to revoke visa cancellation by failing to give proper, genuine and realistic consideration to representations made by the applicant – whether Minister’s findings unreasonable

MIGRATION – validity of invitation under s 501CA(3) of the Migration Act to make representations – whether ‘period’ in reg 2.52 of the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) accurately crystallised in the invitation – whether power in s 501CA(4) nevertheless operative

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – habeas corpus – jurisdiction of Federal Court of Australia – relevant principles

Legislation:

Constitution s 51(xix)

Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 15A

Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 136

Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) ss 39B, 40(1), 79B

Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 13, 14, 119, 120, 189, 196, 198(2B), 476A, 499(1), 499(2A), 501, 501(3A), 501CA

Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) r 2.52

Cases cited:

Ali v Minister for Home Affairs [2020] FCAFC 109; 278 FCR 627

Aon Risk Services Australia Limited v Australian National University [2009] HCA 27; 239 CLR 175

Attorney-General (Cth) v State of Queensland [1990] FCA 358; 25 FCR 125

Avon Downs Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1949] HCA 26; 78 CLR 353

Bettencourt v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FCAFC 172

BHL19 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2020] FCAFC 94; 277 FCR 420

Buck v Bavone [1976] HCA 24; 135 CLR 110

Commonwealth v Okwume [2018] FCAFC 69; 263 FCR 604

Dillon v The Queen [1982] AC 484

Egan v Minister for Home Affairs [2021] FCAFC 85

EHF17 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2019] FCA 1681; 272 FCR 409

EPL20 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FCAFC 173

GBV18 v Minister for Home Affairs [2020] FCAFC 17; 274 FCR 202

Giannarelli v Wraith (No 2) [1991] HCA 2; 171 CLR 592

Gibbs v Capewell [1995] FCA 25; 54 FCR 503

Goldie v Commonwealth of Australia [2002] FCAFC 100

Guclukol v Minister for Home Affairs [2020] FCAFC 148; 279 FCR 611

Hands v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2018] FCAFC 225; 267 FCR 628

Hirama v Minister for Home Affairs [2021] FCA 648

Love v Commonwealth of Australia [2020] HCA 3; 375 ALR 597

Mabo v Queensland (No 2) [1992] HCA 23; 175 CLR 1

MacCormick v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1945] HCA 10; 71 CLR 283

Mashood v Commonwealth [2003] FCA 1147; 133 FCR 50

McHugh v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2020] FCAFC 223; 358 ALR 405

McHugh v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (No 2) [2020] FCA 843

Minister for Home Affairs v Omar [2019] FCAFC 188; 373 ALR

Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs v Al Masri [2003] FCAFC 70; 126 FCR 54

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Eden [2016] FCAFC 28; 240 FCR 158

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v EFX17 [2021] HCA 9

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Maioha [2018] FCAFC 216; 267 FCR 643

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Stretton [2016] FCAFC 11; 237 FCR 1

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li [2013] HCA 18; 249 CLR 332

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZJSS [2010] HCA 48; 243 CLR 164

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZMDS [2010] HCA 16; 240 CLR 611

Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu [1999] HCA 21; 197 CLR 611

Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v SGLB [2004] HCA 32; 78 ALJR 992

Ofu-Koloi v The Queen [1956] HCA 64; 96 CLR 172

Pallas v Minister for Home Affairs [2019] FCAFC 149

Plaintiff M47/2018 v Minister for Home Affairs [2019] HCA 17; 256 CLR 285

Shaw v Wolf [1998] FCA 39; 83 FCR 113

Sillars v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FCAFC 174

Stewart v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2020] FCAFC 196; 281 FCR 578

Viane v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2018] FCAFC 116; 263 FCR 531

Webb v Minister for Home Affairs [2020] FCA 831; 170 ALD 511

Western Australia v Ward [2000] FCAFC 191; 99 FCR 316

Division:

General Division

Registry:

New South Wales

National Practice Area:

Administrative and Constitutional Law and Human Rights

Number of paragraphs:

160

Date of hearing:

27, 28 October 2021; 12 November 2021

Counsel for the Applicant:

Mr M Albert with Ms E Tadros

Solicitor for the Applicant:

Russell Kennedy Lawyers

Counsel for the Respondents:

Mr C Lenehan SC with Mr P Knowles

Solicitor for the Respondents:

Australian Government Solicitor