Ministerial Direction Number ?

by Paul Cutler | Oct 10, 2024 | Uncategorized

Which Ministerial Direction applies when a new one comes into operation after a review application is lodged and before a decision is made? The general rule is that the Tribunal should apply the law as it exists at the time making it’s decision.

Khalil v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2024] FCAFC 119, the Applicant’s partner visa was refused on s501 character grounds. At the time he lodged his application Ministerial Direction 65 was in force. By the time of the hearing Ministerial Direction 90 had come into effect. The Tribunal proceeded to apply the new Ministerial Direction. By the time the matter was heard by the Full Court two further Ministerial Directions had been made (numbers 99 and 110).

Timing matters like this can often cause difficult issues.

Right, privilege or obligation?

Although there were several arguments, the main one was based on section 7(2)(c ) of the Acts Interpretation Act. That section says if there is a repeal or amendment of any legislation then it does not: “affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquires, accrued or incurred under the affected Act or part”.

In short, Mr Kahlil said that he had an accrued right to have his review conducted on the basis of Ministerial Direction 65 and not 90. One of the obstacles to success was a previous Full Court decision of Jagroop v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2016] FCAFC 48. Jagroop had also considered the “accrued right” argument although it was in the context of a cancellation not a refusal.

Jagroop

In Jagroop the Full Court found:

1. The first was that the source of the right of an applicant to an exercise of the discretion by the Tribunal was not Direction 55 itself but ss 25 and 43 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1977 (Cth) (AAT Act), read with s 500 of the Migration Act.
2. the Tribunal’s obligation to comply with a Ministerial Direction was said to be contrary to the terms of s 499(2A), which requires a person or body to whom the direction is given to comply with the direction in operation at the time the decision is made.
3. Ultimately, in the application of both Directions, each decision-maker must return to the probative material and evidence in an individual case: it is not the content of the Direction which determines the outcome of the exercise of the s 501 discretion, but rather its application by a particular decision-maker to the evidence and material in an individual case.

The judgment in Kahlil is quite detailed. There were clearly many arguments raised. Mr Kahlil failed in his attempt to convince the Full Court to distinguish Jagroop. Once that failed the argument was then about whether Jagroop should be overturned. For that to occur, the Court had to be satisfied that the decision was “plainly wrong”.

Not plainly wrong

Unfortunately, for Mr Kahlil he failed on this argument as well for two reasons. Firstly, there were a number of practical considerations which weighed against overturning Jagroop. Secondly there is a quite a detailled discussion of the bases on which Jagroop was wrong. The conclusion was that: There are sound reasons in favour of the conclusion reached by the Full Court in Jagroop. Although it may be accepted that there are reasonable arguments that can be mounted in favour of the contrary conclusion, for the reasons given above, I am not convinced that the decision in Jagroop is plainly wrong (in the sense discussed at [62] above). This is an instance where, if there is to be any departure from the conclusion reached in that earlier decision, it is not appropriate that that step be taken by this Court. This Court should decline to overrule Jagroop. [129]

Creative commons acknowledgement for the photograph.

Valid Application

by Paul Cutler | Aug 29, 2024 | Uncategorized

It goes without saying that making a valid application is a very important first step in the review process at the AAT. Filing the application on time and paying the application fee are fundamental. However, there are other requirements. Section 29 of the AAT Act sets out the manner of applying for review. Section 29(1) makes it clear than an application: (b) must be accompanied by any prescribed fee; and (c ) …. must contain a statement of the reasons for the application

I have previously blogged about invalid applications where the prescribed fees haven’t been paid.

No statement of reasons

In Mr Miller’s case (a 501 cancellation case) the problems all started when his migration agent used the wrong form and didn’t provide a statement of reasons. The AAT proceeded as on the basis that it had jurisdiction despite the error. However, it affirmed the decision to cancel Mr Miller’s visa. Mr Miller sought judicial review in the Federal Court. Derrington J accepted the Minister’s submission that the AAT did not have jurisdiction (because there was no statement of reasons) and quashed the decision. Mr Miller’s appeal was dismissed by the Full Court.

The High Court decision

Things didn’t go well for the Minister in the High Court (see Miller v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2024]) HCA 13). The High Court found that to invalidate the application because no reasons were provided would be to (at [38])  “attribute to the legislature an intention wholly at odds with the express legislative imposition on the Tribunal of the obligation in s 2A(a) and (b) of the AAT Act to pursue the objective of providing a mechanism for review that is accessible, fair, just, economical, informal, and quick. Antithetically to each of those legislative aspirations, invalidity of an application for non-compliance with s 29(1)(c) would result in a mechanism for review which would shut out persons adversely affected by reviewable decisions who might have substantial reasons for seeking review of those decisions but who, through mistake or misfortune or lack of education or linguistic skills, failed to express those reasons in their written application”.

The new ART

For applications in the new ART, the amended s347(2) Migration Act says that the application must: (a) include prescribed information (if any) and be accompanied by the prescribed documents (if any) and prescribed fee (if any)(see (b) and (c )). Meanwhile s34 ART Act says that the application has to be in writing (34(1)), include information specified in practice directions (34(2)). Section 34(3) says that a failure to comply with 34(2) won’t affect the validity of the application.

Clearly there is a lot of administrative law ahead of us when the new ART commences operation.

Photo by Thomas Lefebvre on Unsplash

Citizenship character test

by Paul Cutler | Jul 31, 2024 | Uncategorized

The Migration Act character test is well known and notorious. It is the subject of a large number of cases in both the AAT and in the Federal Court. It has been the subject of this blog on many occasions…. but not this month.

Many permanent residents (who survive the character test) will one day want to apply for Australian citizenship by conferral. They must meet the residence requirement of having lived in Australia on a valid visa for 4 years and with one of those years being on a permanent visa. There is also a citizenship character test.

Definition of the citizenship character test

The citizenship character test is contained in section 21(2)(h) of the Australian Citizenship Act. The applicant has to be “of good character” at the time that the application is decided. For the vast majority of people this won’t present a problem. However, there can be issues when there is conduct which is below the threshold for s501 or which occurred a long time ago.

Good character for the purpose of citizenship is not defined. However, there is a common law meaning. The Full Federal Court in Irving v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1996) 68 FCR 422 at 431-432 contains the following: Unless the terms of the Act and Regulations require some other meaning be applied, the words “good character” should be taken to be used in their ordinary sense, namely, a reference to the enduring moral qualities of a person, and not to the good standing, fame or repute of that person in the community. The former is an objective assessment apt to be proved as a fact whilst the latter is a review [of] subjective public opinion… .

Citizenship policy

The Australian Citizenship Policy Statement  (Policy) and the Citizenship Procedural Instruction 15 (CPI 15) says the phrase ’enduring moral qualities’ encompasses (a) characteristics which have endured over a long period of time;  (b) distinguishing right from wrong; and  (c) behaving in an ethical manner, conforming to the rules and values of Australian society.  Relevantly, CPI 15 provides that a person who is of good character would generally be expected to exhibit certain characteristics. These include to abide by the law in Australia, not practice deception or fraud in dealings  with the Australian Government, or other organisations and to not cause harm to others through their  conduct.

A more recent summary of the requirements is set out in BOY19 [2019] FCA 574:

The following principles can be distilled from the authorities about the meaning of the expression “good character” in s 21(2)(h) of the Act. First, it refers to the enduring moral qualities of a person and not to the good standing, fame or repute of that person in the community, although the latter may provide evidence of the former. The expression is not concerned with the physical or intellectual attributes or abilities of a person. Second, the expression does not have a fixed and precise content. ….. Third, and as a corollary of the second point, the expression requires a judgment as to whether any proved deficiencies in the moral qualities of a person are sufficient to deny the person citizenship.

Citizenship – a privilege

Finally, I note the words of Deputy President Breen in Fenn and Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2000] AATA 931 at [8]: The grant of Australian citizenship is a privilege not bestowed lightly. It is given to those who uphold the values of the Australian community and who are willing to make a positive contribution to the country they want to call home…The refusal to grant citizenship is not a second form of punishment, which is the domain of the Criminal Courts. It is simply the right of the Australian community to decide whom they wish to have included as fellow citizens, which is a function of State. The refusal does not deprive Mr Fenn of any rights he currently holds, nor does it prevent him applying for citizenship again in a few years’ time when he can demonstrate a longer period of positive contribution to the Australian community.

Creative commons acknowledgment for the photograph.

Current Address

by Paul Cutler | Jun 28, 2024 | Uncategorized

I have lost count of how many times I have stressed to clients that it is important that their current address is notified to the Department. Sometimes that is not as easy as it sounds. It is also very difficult to undo adverse decisions which are made because the current address held by the Department is not actually current.. The decision in DXF22 v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2024] FCAFC 75 illustrates these difficulties.

The facts of that case

1. The protection visa application was refused in January 2020;
2. The Applicant had been arrested on 23 October 2020 and remained in custody;
3. In October 2021, the Tribunal sent a hearing invitation to the applicant for a hearing scheduled for 1 November 2021;
4. The Applicant was unaware of the hearing and did not attend;
5. The Tribunal dismissed the application;
6. The Applicant (unsurprisingly) did not apply for reinstatement and the Tribunal confirmed its decision on 17 November 2021;
7. It was accepted that prisoners do not have general access to the internet.

Under section 418(3) Migration Act the Secretary of the Department has to provide anything “relevant to the review of the decision” to the Tribunal. The Department was in possession of a Corrective Services spreadsheet dated 2 November 2020 which notified it of the Applicant’s arrest. This spreadsheet was not passed onto the Tribunal (although the Department updated it’s own records).

The grounds for review were effectively that: (a) there had been a breach of the duty in s418; and (b) the Tribunal could have made enquiry to ascertain the address. 

Both arguments failed.

In relation to the breach of duty argument there are a number of cases which are authority for the proposition that the Secretary’s failure to perform the duty doesn’t invalidate the decision of the Tribunal. The Full Court drew an analogy with the “migration agent fraud cases” and found that unless the breach of duty “stutifies” the exercise of the Tribunal’s power then it will not be enough.

Similarly with the failure to make enquiry about a critical fact, it was accepted that: “Asking the Department what it knew was clearly a reasonable (indeed, desirable) step to take” but, “it does not follow that the Tribunal fell into error by not taking that step. The same would be true of most if not all cases where a review applicant does not respond to a hearing invitation and does not attend the hearing.”

The take home message from this case is that Tribunal notices are sent to the last address provided by the review applicant. It is important to keep address details up to date!

Creative commons acknowledgment for the photograph.

Best interests of the children

by Paul Cutler | May 29, 2024 | Uncategorized

The best interests of minor children is one of the primary considerations which has to be taken into account in making a decision whether or not to revoke a visa cancellation on character grounds. Usually, the interests of children is raised by Applicants as a reason in favour of revocation i.e. the children shouldn’t be separated from, or deprived of, a relationship with both parents.

The Full Court decision of  Korat v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2024] FCAFC 59  is interesting for a couple of reasons. Firstly, because the judicial review applicant succeeded on a ground that wasn’t raised before the primary judge; and secondly because the Tribunal found that the best interest of the children would be served by separation from their father. The jurisdictional error was that Mr Korat was dealt with in a procedurally unfair way when the interests of the children factor was applied in support of the cancellation decision.

Submissions to the Tribunal

Mr Korat’s visa had been cancelled inter alia because of assault conviction and some breaches of an AVO. Unfortunately some of that offending conduct had been directed towards his wife. One of the factors relevant to the interests of the children was the position of Mrs Korat (the applicant’s wife):

1. Before the delegate, Mrs Korat had said that if her husband’s visa application for revocation was unsuccessful, she would relocate to India with their two children; however, 
2. by the time the matter was in the Tribunal she had had a change of heart and her evidence was that she and the children would remain in Australia.

This clearly influenced the way the parties made their submissions at the Tribunal:

1. the Applicant argued that Mr Korat had played a significant role in the upbringing of his children and that the best of interests of the children were strongly in favour of the revocation of the cancellation decision; and
2. the Minister accepted that the factor would weigh in favour of revoking the visa cancellation but that it should not have been given much weight.

Decision of the Tribunal

Despite those submissions, the Tribunal found (see [23] of the judgment) that:

1. If the appellant’s visa cancellation was not revoked such that he would return to India, Ms Korat would not leave Australia, and neither would the children.
2. The appellant’s drinking issues had not resolved and were not purely a historical problem. The appellant remained vulnerable to resorting to alcohol use and then engaging in aggressive behaviour.
3. The family violence and the alcohol misuse presented serious challenges to the proposition that revocation of the visa cancellation was in the children’s best interest.
4. Ms Korat had cared for the children all their lives, including during the appellant’s incarceration and detention, and she had fulfilled the parental role as a loving, caring, and responsible parent.
5. On balance, the Tribunal would give the “best interests of the children consideration” some weight against revocation. This was principally for two reasons: (1) Ms Korat would remain in Australia with the children and had looked after them lovingly and well; and (2) the appellant’s drinking issues were live issues which might devolve into aggressive behaviour.
6. Thus, the Tribunal concluded that the best interests of the children were better served by the appellant being separated from the children, giving the consideration some weight against revocation

The procedural fairness issue

The Full Court found that Mr Korat had not been given procedural fairness because:

[61] The Tribunal had asked Ms Korat questions relevant to the “best interests of the children consideration”, but the Tribunal had not directly put to a witness, or raised as an issue with the appellant, that the “best interests of the children consideration” might weigh against revocation as opposed to a matter: (a) going to how strongly the matter weighed in the appellant’s favour; or (b) neutralising it as a matter in the appellant’s favour. The Tribunal did not raise the issue during submissions.

[62]….In light of the course of the proceedings, practical injustice could only be avoided if the appellant were provided an opportunity to address the issue which the Tribunal ultimately found against the appellant. This was not an issue put forward by the parties, it was not an issue which the Tribunal squarely raised, and it was not an issue which was obvious given the course of the administrative decision-making process and the course the proceedings had taken; and 

[63] The denial of procedural fairness deprived the appellant of a realistic possibility of a different outcome:……The Tribunal heard no argument (from either party) about why the “best interests of children consideration” should not weigh against revocation.

If nothing else, the decision is a good example of procedural fairness in action.

Creative commons acknowledgment for the photograph.