*Please note that the links to the content in this Part will direct you to Westlaw AU.

To purchase an article, please email: [email protected] or contact us on 1300 304 195 (Australian customers) or +61 2 8587 7980 (international customers) during business hours (Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm AST).

The latest issue of the Australian Journal of Administrative Law (Volume 25 Part 2) contains the following material:

EDITORIAL – General Editors: Greg Weeks and Matthew Groves

  • Natural Justice Beyond Individual Affectation

CURRENT ISSUES – Editors: Justin Davidson, Katie Miller and Stephen Tully

  • A Fine State of Affairs: Reforms to Victoria’s Infringement System – Katie Miller

CASENOTE – Editor: Nathalie Ng

  • Legal Professional Privilege and AAT Act, s 38AA: Buttigieg v Comcare [2017] AATA 1002 – Kasper Maat and Laura Hilly

Articles

Separation of Powers – Dialogue and Deference – John Basten

This article is an edited version of the 2017 Harry Whitmore Lecture, under the auspices of the Council of Australasian Tribunals, delivered on 17 October 2017. It explores whether there is a role for a doctrine of deference in dealing with legislation and administrative decision-making. While many judges have been squeamish about the language of “deference”, the author argues that there is a legitimate interest in exploring the process by which “constructional choices” are made.

Tale of Two Characters – The Paradoxical Application of the Character Test between Visa Holders and Applicants for Australian Citizenship – Jason Donnelly

Applicants for Australian citizenship must demonstrate that they are persons of good character. Under current Australian law, applicants who fail to meet the character test under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth) continue to hold their permanent residency visas. In that context, this article broadly advances two essential arguments. First, it is contended that where a non-citizen fails the character test under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth), such a finding demonstrates that the non-citizen also fails the first limb of the character test under ss 501(2) and 501(6)(c) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). In support of this contention, it is demonstrated that similar legal principles are relied upon by decision-makers in applying the character test under both pieces of legislation. Second, this article argues that where a non-citizen is determined to have failed the character test under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth), a mandatory legislative obligation should be imposed on the Minister for Home Affairs to consider whether the non-citizen’s permanent residency visa should also be cancelled on character grounds under s 501(2) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).

Procedural Fairness in Application Cases: Is Compellability of Consideration a Critical Safeguard? – Emily Hammond

The proposition that governmental actors must extend procedural fairness to applicants for statutory rights, subject only to clear contrary legislation, has become a background assumption of Australian administrative law. However, experience in the migration context highlights a form of legislation that disrupts the presumptive operation of procedural fairness in application cases – namely, legislation for procedural non-compellability. This article describes how non-compellable powers disrupt the presumptive operation of procedural fairness in application cases. Drawing on this analysis, it proposes that an effective doctrinal response to the phenomenon will require courts to re-engage with the common law foundations for procedural fairness to applicants.

BOOK REVIEWS – Editor: Janina Boughey

  • Legitimate Expectations in the Common Law World, by Matthew Groves and Greg Weeks (eds) – Reviewed by Bruce Dyer
  • Reconstructing Judicial Review, by Sarah Nason – Reviewed by Matthew Groves

For the PDF version of the table of contents, click here: AJ Admin L Vol 25 No 2 Contents.

Click here to access this Part on Westlaw AU

For general queries, please contact: [email protected].