International Human Rights Law in Australian Courts

Royal Women's Hospital v Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ Maxwell P Charles JA , 20 April 2006) [69].

See, eg, Lynch Philip , ‘The Establishment and Role of the Human Rights Law Resource Centre’ (2006) 31(1) Alternative Law Journal 42, 43.

See, eg, Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Teoh (1995) 183 CLR 273, 287 ( Mason CJ Deane J Gaudron J , concurring) (‘Teoh’).

(1995) 183 CLR 273.

Although Teoh has been criticised (see, eg, Re Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs; Ex Parte Lam (2003) 214 CLR 1), it has not been overturned and continues to apply.

Teoh (1995) 183 CLR 273 287 ( Mason CJ Deane J ); Kartinyeri v The Commonwealth (1998) 195 CLR 337, 384 ( Gummow Hayne JJ ); Royal Women's Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ Maxwell P Charles JA , 20 April 2006) [73] ( Maxwell P ).

Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (1992) 175 CLR 1, 42 ( Brennan J , with whom Mason CJ McHugh J , agreed); Dietrich v The Queen (1992) 177 CLR 292, 321 ( Brennan J ), 360 ( Toohey J ); Teoh (1995) 183 CLR 273, 288 ( Mason CJ Deane J ); Royal Women's Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ Maxwell P Charles JA , 20 April 2006) [74] ( Maxwell P ).

Schoenmakers v Director of Public Prosecutions (1991) 30 FCR 70, 75; Dietrich v The Queen (1992) 177 CLR 292, 321 ( Brennan J ); Royal Women's Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ Maxwell P Charles JA , 20 April 2006) [75] ( Maxwell P ).

See, eg, Lacey Wendy , ‘Judicial Discretion and Human Rights: Expanding the Role of International Law in the Domestic Sphere’ (2004) 5 Melbourne Journal of International Law 108.

Ibid 115.

See, eg, R v Walsh (1996) 67 SASR 143; R v Hollingshed (1993) 112 FLR 109; Sillery v R (1981) 180 CLR 353; R v Togias (2001) 127 A Crim R 23.

Submissions of the Appellant in Royal Women's Hospital [16].

Submissions of the Appellant in Royal Women's Hospital [22]. See also Royal Women's Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ Maxwell P Charles JA , 20 April 2006) [139] ( Charles JA ).

Submissions of the Appellant in Royal Women's Hospital [3]–[7]. See also Royal Women's Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ Maxwell P Charles JA , 20 April 2006) [135] ( Charles JA ).

Public interest immunity protects a certain class of documents or information from compulsory production. In Sankey v Whitlam (1978) 142 CLR 1, 39, Gibbs ACJ stated that, ‘[t]he general rule is that the court will not order the production of a document, although relevant and otherwise admissible, if it would be injurious to the public interest to disclose’. The Court of Appeal in Royal Women's Hospital held, however, that public interest immunity is restricted to highly sensitive areas of government and was, therefore, not capable of applying to Ms X's medical record.

Royal Women's Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ Maxwell P Charles JA , 20 April 2006) [69] ( Maxwell P ).

Royal Women's Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ Maxwell P Charles JA , 20 April 2006) [71].

Royal Women's Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ Maxwell P Charles JA , 20 April 2006) [70].

Royal Women's Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ Maxwell P Charles JA , 20 April 2006) [72]–[80].

Corporate Affairs Commission v Bradley [1974] 1 NSWLR 391, 400.

(1988) 20 FCR 520.

Ibid [95].

Levy v State of Victoria (1997) 189 CLR 579, 604–5 ( Brennan CJ ) (‘Levy’).

See Levy (1997) 189 CLR 579, 600–05 ( Brennan CJ ), 650–1 ( Kirby J ); Project Blue Sky & Ors v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355, 359; Garcia v National Australia Bank Ltd (1998) 194 CLR 395, 398–9; and Justice Kenny Susan , Interveners and Amici Curiae in the High Court' (1998) 20 Adelaide Law Review 159.

Australian Conservation Foundation v South Australia (1988) 53 SASR 349, 352 (King CJ). See also Onus v Alcoa (1981) 149 CLR 27, 37 ( Gibbs CJ ); Davis v Commonwealth (1986) 68 ALR 18, 23 ( Gibbs CJ ).

(1983) 158 CLR 1.

Kenny Susan , ‘Interveners and Amici Curiae in the High Court’ (1998) 20 Adelaide Law Review 159.

For example, Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) s 20(1)(e); Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) s 48(1)(gb); Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) s 67(1)(l); and Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) ss 11(1)(o), 31(j) and (for amicus applications specifically) s 46PV.

Victorian Council for Civil Liberties v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2001) 110 FCR 452, which overturned Ruddock v Vadarlis (2001) 110 FCR 452.

Pursuant to s 46PV of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth).

(2001) 115 FCR 306.

Breen v Williams [1994] 35 NSWLR 522, 533 ( Kirby P ).

Royal Women's Hospital [2006] VSCA 85 (Unreported, Warren CJ Maxwell P Charles JA , 20 April 2006) [72].