Commonwealth of Australia Bills

[Index] [Search] [Download] [Related Items] [Help]

This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.

MIGRATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (JUDICIAL REVIEW) BILL 1998

1998

The Parliament of the
Commonwealth of Australia

THE SENATE




Presented and read a first time









Migration Legislation Amendment (Judicial Review) Bill 1998

No. , 1998

((Immigration and Multicultural Affairs)



A Bill for an Act to amend the Migration Act 1958, and for related purposes




ISBN: 0642 378673

Contents

Part 1—Amendments 3

Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 3

Migration Act 1958 3

Part 2—Application provisions 11

A Bill for an Act to amend the Migration Act 1958, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Migration Legislation Amendment (Judicial Review) Act 1998.

2 Commencement

(1) Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), Schedule 1 commences on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.

(3) If Schedule 1 does not commence under subsection (2) within the period of 6 months beginning on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent, it commences on the first day after the end of that period.

3 Schedule(s)

Subject to section 2, each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Judicial review

Part 1—Amendments

Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977

1 Paragraph (da) of Schedule 1

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

(da) a privative clause decision within the meaning of subsection 474(2) of the Migration Act 1958;

Migration Act 1958

2 Subsection 5(1) (definition of judicially-reviewable decision)

Repeal the definition.

3 Subsection 5(1)

Insert:

privative clause decision has the meaning given by subsection 474(2).

4 Subsection 32(2)

After “that” (first occurring), insert “the Minister is satisfied”.

5 Subsection 36(2)

After “whom”, insert “the Minister is satisfied”.

6 Section 73

Omit all the words before “a bridging visa” (second occurring), substitute “If the Minister is satisfied that an eligible non-citizen satisfies the criteria for a bridging visa as prescribed under subsection 31(3), the Minister may grant”.

7 Part 8

Repeal the Part, substitute:

Part 8—Judicial review

Division 1—Privative clause

474 Decisions under Act are final

(1) A privative clause decision:

(a) is final and conclusive; and

(b) must not be challenged, appealed against, reviewed, quashed or called in question in any court; and

(c) is not subject to prohibition, mandamus, injunction, declaration or certiorari in any court on any account.

(2) In this section:

privative clause decision means a decision of an administrative character made, proposed to be made, or required to be made, as the case may be, under this Act or under a regulation or other instrument made under this Act (whether in the exercise of a discretion or not), other than a decision referred to in subsection (4) or (5).

(3) A reference in this section to a decision includes a reference to the following:

(a) granting, making, suspending, cancelling, revoking or refusing to make an order or determination;

(b) granting, giving, suspending, cancelling, revoking or refusing to give a certificate, direction, approval, consent or permission (including a visa);

(c) granting, issuing, suspending, cancelling, revoking or refusing to issue an authority or other instrument;

(d) imposing, or refusing to remove, a condition or restriction;

(e) making or revoking, or refusing to make or revoke, a declaration, demand or requirement;

(f) retaining, or refusing to deliver up, an article;

(g) doing or refusing to do any other act or thing;

(h) conduct preparatory to the making of a decision, including the taking of evidence or the holding of an inquiry or investigation;

(i) a decision on review of a decision, irrespective of whether the decision on review is taken under this Act or a regulation or other instrument under this Act, or under another Act;

(j) a failure or refusal to make a decision.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (2), a decision under a provision, or under a regulation or other instrument made under a provision, set out in the following table is not a privative clause decision:


Decisions that are not privative clause decisions

Item

Provision

Subject matter of provision

1

section 213

Liability for the costs of detention, removal or deportation

2

section 217

Conveyance of removees

3

section 218

Conveyance of deportees etc.

4

section 222

Orders restraining non-citizens from disposing of property

5

section 223

Valuables of detained non-citizens

6

section 224

Dealing with seized valuables

7

section 252

Searches of persons

8

section 259

Detention of vessels for search

9

section 260

Detention of vessels/dealing with detained vessels

10

section 261

Disposal of certain vessels

11

Division 14 of Part 2

Recovery of costs

12

section 269

Taking of securities

13

section 272

Migrant centres

14

section 273

Detention centres

15

Part 3

Migration agents registration scheme

16

Part 4

Court orders about reparation

17

section 353A

Directions by Principal Member

18

section 354

Constitution of Migration Review Tribunal

19

section 355

Reconstitution of Migration Review Tribunal

20

section 355A

Reconstitution of Migration Review Tribunal for efficient conduct of review

21

section 356

Exercise of powers of Migration Review Tribunal

22

section 357

Presiding member

23

Division 7 of Part 5

Offences

24

Part 6

Establishment and membership of Migration Review Tribunal

25

section 421

Constitution of Refugee Review Tribunal

26

section 422

Reconstitution of Refugee Review Tribunal

27

section 422A

Reconstitution of Refugee Review Tribunal for efficient conduct of review

28

Division 6 of Part 7

Offences

29

Division 9 of Part 7

Establishment and membership of Refugee Review Tribunal

30

Division 10 of Part 7

Registry and officers

31

regulation 5.35

Medical treatment of persons in detention

(5) The regulations may specify that a decision, or a decision included in a class of decisions, under this Act, or under regulations or another instrument under this Act, is not a privative clause decision.

(6) Subject to the requirements of the Constitution, it is the intention of the Parliament that this section:

(a) be construed in a way that gives full effect to its natural and ordinary meaning; and

(b) not be construed in a way that would limit its operation.

Note: Section 5A ensures that this Act is not applied so as to exceed the Commonwealth’s legislative power.

Division 2—Provisions relating to privative clause decisions

475 This Division not to limit section 474

This Division is not to be taken to limit the scope or operation of section 474.

476 Federal Court does not have any other jurisdiction in relation to certain privative clause decisions

(1) Despite any other law, including sections 39B and 44 of the Judiciary Act 1903, the Federal Court does not have any jurisdiction in relation to a privative clause decision if:

(a) a decision on review of the privative clause decision has been made under Part 5 or 7 or section 500; or

(b) the privative clause decision is reviewable under Part 5 or 7 or section 500, but a decision on such a review has not been made, whether:

(i) because the review has not been completed; or

(ii) for any other reason; or

(c) the privative clause decision would have been reviewable under Part 5 or 7 or section 500 if an application for such review had been made within a specified period, but such an application was not made within that period.

(2) Despite any other law, including sections 39B and 44 of the Judiciary Act 1903, the Federal Court does not have any jurisdiction in respect of a decision of the Minister not to exercise, or not to consider the exercise, of the Minister’s power under section 48B, paragraph 72(1)(c), section 91F, 345, 351, 391, 417 or 454.

(3) This section does not affect the jurisdiction of the Federal Court under sections 39B and 44 of the Judiciary Act 1903 in relation to any decision other than a decision in respect of which the Court’s jurisdiction is excluded by subsection (1) or (2).

(4) Despite section 44 of the Judiciary Act 1903, the High Court must not remit a matter to the Federal Court if it relates to a decision or matter in respect of which the Federal Court would not have jurisdiction because of subsection (1) or (2).

477 Time limits on applications for judicial review

(1) An application to the Federal Court under section 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 for:

(a) a writ of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari; or

(b) an injunction or a declaration;

in respect of a privative clause decision in relation to which the jurisdiction of the Federal Court is not excluded by section 476 must be made to the Registry of the Federal Court within 28 days of the notification of the decision.

(2) An application to the High Court for a writ of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari or an injunction or a declaration in respect of a privative clause decision must be made to the Registry of the High Court within 28 days of the notification of the decision.

(3) Neither the High Court nor the Federal Court may make an order allowing, or which has the effect of allowing, an applicant to lodge an application referred to in subsection (1) or (2), as the case requires, outside the period specified in whichever of those subsections is applicable.

(4) If this Act, or regulations or other instrument made under this Act, do not prescribe:

(a) a method of notification of a decision; or

(b) the time within which notification of a decision is taken to be given;

the regulations may prescribe circumstances (including circumstances relating to time) in which notification of the decision is taken to have been given for the purposes of this section.

478 Persons who may make application

An application referred to in subsection 477(1) may only be made by the Minister and:

(a) if the privative clause decision concerned was reviewable under Part 5 or 7 or section 500 of this Act and a decision on such a review has been made—the applicant in the review by the relevant Tribunal; or

(b) in any other case—the person who is the subject of the decision.

479 Parties to review

The parties to a review of a privative clause decision resulting from an application referred to in subsection 477(1) are the Minister and:

(a) if the privative clause decision concerned was reviewable under Part 5 or 7 or section 500 of this Act and a decision on such a review has been made—the applicant in the review by the relevant Tribunal; or

(b) in any other case—the person who is the subject of the decision.

480 Intervention by Attorney-General

(1) The Attorney-General may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, intervene in a proceeding resulting from an application referred to in subsection 477(1) or (2).

(2) If the Attorney-General intervenes in such a proceeding, the High Court or the Federal Court (as the case requires) may make such orders as to costs against the Commonwealth as the court thinks fit.

(3) If the Attorney-General intervenes in such a proceeding, he or she is taken to be a party to the proceeding.

481 Operation etc. of decision

The making of an application referred to in subsection 477(1) or (2) does not:

(a) affect the operation of the decision; or

(b) prevent the taking of action to implement the decision; or

(c) prevent the taking of action in reliance on the making of the decision.

482 Changing person holding, or performing the duties of, an office

If:

(a) a person has, in the performance of the duties of an office, made a privative clause decision; and

(b) the person no longer holds, or, for whatever reason, is not performing the duties of, that office;

this Part has effect as if the decision had been made by:

(c) the person for the time being holding or performing the duties of that office; or

(d) if there is no person for the time being holding or performing the duties of that office or that office no longer exists—such person as the Minister specifies.

483 Section 44 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975

Section 44 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 does not apply to a privative clause decision.

484 Exclusive jurisdiction of Federal Court

(1) The jurisdiction of the Federal Court in relation to privative clause decisions is exclusive of the jurisdiction of all other courts, other than the jurisdiction of the High Court under section 75 of the Constitution.

(2) To avoid doubt, despite section 67C of the Judiciary Act 1903, the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory does not have jurisdiction in matters in which a writ of mandamus or prohibition or an injunction is sought against the Commonwealth or an officer of the Commonwealth in relation to privative clause decisions.

(3) To avoid doubt, jurisdiction in relation to privative clause decisions is not conferred on any court under the Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987.

Part 2—Application provisions

8 Application

(1) If an application for judicial review of a decision under the Migration Act 1958 is lodged before the commencement of this Schedule, the Migration Act 1958, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 and the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977, as in force immediately before that commencement, apply in respect of the application, and in respect of the review, as if this Schedule had not been enacted.

(2) The Migration Act 1958 and the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977, as amended by this Schedule, apply in respect of judicial review of a decision under the Migration Act 1958 if:

(a) the decision was made on or after the commencement of this Schedule; or

(b) the decision:

(i) was made before the commencement of this Schedule; and

(ii) as at that commencement, an application for judicial review of the decision had not been lodged.

(3) A reference in subitem (1) or (2) to an application for judicial review of a decision is a reference to:

(a) an application for review of the decision under:

(i) section 44 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975; or

(ii) Part 8 of the Migration Act 1958; or

(iii) the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review ) Act 1977; or

(b) an application for a writ of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari or an injunction or a declaration in respect of the decision under:

(i) section 75 of the Constitution; or

(ii) section 39B or 67C of the Judiciary Act 1903.

(4) If this Schedule commences before Schedule 2 to the Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1998, then until Schedule 2 to that Act commences:

(a) item 20 in the table in subsection 474(4) of the Migration Act 1958, as amended by this Schedule, does not apply; and

(b) subsection 474(4) of the Migration Act 1958, as so amended, applies as if the references in the table in that subsection to the Migration Review Tribunal were references to the Immigration Review Tribunal.

(5) If this Schedule commences before Schedule 3 to the Migration Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1998, then until Schedule 3 to that Act commences, item 27 in the table in subsection 474(4) of the Migration Act 1958, as amended by this Schedule, does not apply.

 

[Index] [Search] [Download] [Related Items] [Help]