Reforming Rights-Based Scrutiny and Interpretation of Legislation

The Hon Nicola Roxon (Attorney-General), ‘Human Rights Check for New Laws’ (Media Release, 4 January 2012).

Dixon Rosalind , ‘A New (Inter)national Human Rights Experiment for Australia’ (2012) 23 Public Law Review 69.

Roxon , above n 1.

Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth), sub-sections 15AB(2)(c), (d), (e), (f) and (h), respectively.

Scrutiny Act, section 8(4).

Electrolux Home Products v Australian Workers' Union (2004) 221 CLR 309, 329 [21]; and Momcilovic v The Queen (2011) 280 ALR 221, [43].

Plaintiff M47–2012 v Director General of Security [2012] HCA 46 (5 October 2012), [118].

[2012] HCA 46 (5 October 2012).

The Hon James Spigelman, Statutory Interpretation and Human Rights: The McPherson Lecture Series Volume Three (University of Queensland Press, 2008) 26–29.

Ibid 29.

Potter v Minahan (1908) 7 CLR 277.

Momcilovic v The Queen (2011) 280 ALR 221, [43].

Lacey Wendy , ‘The Judicial Use of Unincorporated International Conventions in Administrative Law: Back-Doors, Platitudes and Window-Dressing’ in Charlesworth Hilary (eds), The Fluid State: International Law and National Legal Systems (Federation Press, 2005) 84–5.

(1945) 70 CLR 60.

(1995) 183 CLR 273. Although see the High Court's marginalisation of Teoh in Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Lam (2003) 214 CLR 1.

244 CLR 144.

The Hon Robert McClelland, ‘Remarks at the Castan Centre Human Rights Conference 2009’ (Speech delivered at the Castan Centre Human Rights Conference, Melbourne, 17 July 2009).

Groves Matthew , ‘Treaties and Legitimate Expectations — The Rise and Fall of Teoh in Australia’ [2010] Judicial Review 323, 336.

Lacey , above n 13, 87.

Momcilovic v The Queen (2011) 280 ALR 221, [43].

See, eg, Meagher Daniel , ‘The Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 (Cth) and Common Law Rights Interpretation’ (Paper presented at Australian Association of Constitutional Law Victorian Seminar Series, Melbourne, 7 June 2012); and Dixon , above n 2.

Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth), section 15AB(2)(c).

See, eg, Evans Carolyn and Evans Simon , Australian Bills of Rights: The Law of the Victorian Charter and ACT Human Rights Act (LexisNexis Butterworths, 2008) [2.40], [5.15], and [6.78]–[6.81].

Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic), especially Part 2 and sections 7, 28, 29, 30, 32, 36, 37, and 38; and Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT), especially Part 3 and sections 28, 30, 31, 32, 37, 38, 39, and 40B.

Momcilovic v The Queen (2011) 280 ALR 221.

See the contrasting views on this provision by Chief Justice French Robert and Heydon Justice Dyson in Momcilovic v The Queen (2011) 280 ALR 221. [18], [453].

[2012] VSCA 25 (29 February 2012), [20].

[2012] VSCA 25 (29 February 2012), [21]. Justices Gummow and Hayne also would have invalidated the provisions relating to judicial declarations of inconsistency with human rights.

[2012] VSCA 25 (29 February 2012) [22].

Debeljak Julie , ‘Who is Sovereign Now? The Momcilovic Court Hands Back Power Over Human Rights that Parliament Intended It to Have’ (2011) 22 Public Law Review 15.

See, eg, Coleman v Power (2004) 220 CLR 1; and Wotton v Queensland (2012) 285 ALR 1.

See, eg, PJB v Melbourne Health (Patrick's Case) [2011] VSC 327 (19 July 2011); and Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs v Al Masri (2003) 126 FCR 54.

See, eg, Aurukun Shire Council v CEO Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing in the Department of Treasury (2010) 265 ALR 356.