Summary of Interventions by the Australian Human Rights Commission
Explore how the Commission has intervened in legal cases to advance human rights protections and establish important precedent in Australian courts since 1986.
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14 December 2012
Summary of Interventions by the Australian Human Rights Commission
Updated 11 December 2009
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| YEAR | NO. OF CASES | NAME OF CASE | SUBJECT MATTER OF CASE | COURT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 1. | Re A Teenager(1988)94 FLR 181 | Family Law – Sterilisation of a young woman with a disability | Family Court |
| 2. | Re Jane | Family Law – Sterilisation of person with disability – whether parents require courts consent | Family Court | |
| 1990 | 3. | Federated Workers Union of Aust & Ors 773/1990 | Family Law – Parental Leave Test case | AIRC |
| 1991 | 4. | Secretary, Department of Health and Community Services v JWB & SMB (In re Marion (No.1))(1992) 175 CLR 218 | Family Law – Sterilisation of a young woman with a disability | High Court |
| 1992 | 5. | Mount Isa Mines Ltd v Marks(1992) 35 FCR 96 | Employment Law – OH&S issues | Full Federal Court |
| 6. | R v Cheung, Unreported, Badgery-Parker J, 26 November 1992 | Criminal Law – Right to a fair trial | NSW Supreme Court | |
| 1994 | 7. | Re Michael: John Briton, Acting Public Advocate (Victoria) v GP and KP and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1994) FLC 92-486 | Family Law – Consent to surgical treatment | Family Court |
| 8. | ZP & PS (1994) 181 CLR 639 | Family Law – Abduction of a child | High Court | |
| 9. | Minister of State for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Teoh(1995) 183 CLR 273 | Family Law – Deportation of the father of seven children | High Court | |
| 10. | P & P: In the Matter of; Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales, Unreported, Moore J, 23 September ߊP & P: In the Matter of; Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales (1995) FLC 92-615 | Family Law – Sterilisation of a young woman with a disability | Family Court Full Family Court High Court | |
| 11. | In re Marion (No.2) (1994) FLC 92-448 | Family Law – Sterilisation of a young woman with a disability | Family Court | |
| 1995 | 12. | C, L, J & Z v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, Unreported, O'Loughlin J, 30 March ߋ Long Guan Chun, Li Liu Ying & Long Guan Juan v Minister for Immigration, Local Government & Ethnic Affairs (1996) 136 ALR 303 | Refugee Law – ‘One child policy' of the Peoples Republic of China | Federal Court Full Federal Court |
| 13. | Wu Yu Fang & Ors v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs, FedCt(NT) DG4/95 Wu Yu Fang v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and Commonwealth of Australia(1996) 64 FCR 245 | Refugee Law – Access to lawyers by persons in detention | Federal Court Full Federal Court | |
| 14. | Re: Katie(1996) FLC 92-659 | Family Law – Sterilisation of a young woman with a disability | Family Court | |
| 1996 | 15. | Albert Langer v Australian Electoral Commission (1996) 59 FCR 450 | Electoral Law – Freedom of political speech | Full Federal Court |
| 16. | Rodney Croome & Nicholas Toonen v The State of Tasmania(1997) 71 ALR 397 | Constitutional Law – Alleged inconsistency between State and Federal legislation | High Court | |
| 1997 | 17. | In the matter of: B v B: Family Law Reform Act 1995(1997) No.TV 1833 of 1996 | Family Law – Relocation of mother and children away from father | Full Family Court |
| 18. | Qantas Airlines Limited v John Christie(1998) 193 CLR 280 | Employment Law – Meaning of ‘inherent requirements' | High Court | |
| 1998 | 19. | Kartinyeri v The Commonwealth of Australia (1998) 195 CLR 337 | Constitutional Law – The race power in s 51(xxvi) of the Constitution | High Court |
| 20. | Death of Andrew Ross | Coronial inquest – Death of indigenous youth in custody | NT Coroners Court | |
| 2000 | 21. | AMWU Casuals and Part-time Case 1572/2000 | Employment Law – Pay equity for casual and part time Employees | AIRC |
| 2001 | 22. | Western Australia v Ward(2002) 213 CLR 1 | Native Title Law -Definition of native title rights | High Court |
| 23. | Ming Dung Luu v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2001)65 ALD ¡ Luu v Minister for Immigration Multicultural Affairs [2002] 127 FCR 24 | Refugee Law – Criminal deportation | Federal Court Full Federal Court | |
| 24. | Victorian Council for Civil Liberties Incorporated & Vardalis v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs & Ors (2001) 110 FCR DŽ Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs & Ors v Vardalis & VGCCL (2001) 110 FCR ǫ Vardalis v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs & Ors – M93/2001 (27 November 2001) (Special leave application to High Court of Australia) | Refugee Law – Tampa litigation | Federal Court Full Federal Court High Court | |
| 2002 | 25. | (IVF Case) Re McBain: Ex parte Australian Catholic Bishops Conference[2002] HCA 16 | Constitutional Law –Standing and sex discrimination legislation | High Court |
| 26. | Rainsford v State of Victoria[2002] FMCA 266 | Discrimination Law – Application of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) to the States | Federal Magistrates Court | |
| 27. | Peter Martizi and Simon Odhiambo v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2002) 122 FCR 29 | Refugee Law – Guardianship of unaccompanied minors | Full Federal Court High Court | |
| 28. | (Pay Equity Case) AMWU v Gunn & Taylor (2002) EOC 93-225 | Employment Law –Pay equity for casual employees | Australian Industrial Relations Commission | |
| 29. | Members of the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Community v State of Victoria & Ors (2002) 214 CLR 422 | Native Title Law – Concept of ‘abandonment' of native title | High Court | |
| 30. | NAAV v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs(2002) 123 FCR 298 | Refugee Law – Privative clause amendments | Full Federal Court | |
| 31. | AM (Written submissions provided to Tribunal, decision not publicly available) | Refugee Law – ‘sur place' amendments to Migration Act 1958 (Cth) | Refugee Review Tribunal | |
| 32. | Song v Ainsworth Games Technology[2002] FMCA 31 | Discrimination Law – Family responsibilities and flexible work hours | Full Federal Court | |
| 33. | Graincorp Operations Ltd v Markham (2003) EOC 93-250 | Employment Law – Sexual harassment | Australian Industrial Relations Commission | |
| 34. | Minister for Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v VFAD(2002) 125 FCR 249 | Refugee Law – Power to detain under s 196 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) | Full Federal Court | |
| 35. | Death of Nurjan and Fatimeh Husseini | Death of “unlawful non-citizens” at sea | WA Coroner's Court | |
| 2003 | 36. | Attorney-General for the Commonwealth v Kevin and Jennifer[2003] FamCA 94 | Family Law – Right of people with a transsexual history to marry | Full Family Court |
| 37. | S134/ 2002 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs(2003) 211 CLR 441 | Refugee Law – Privative clause amendments | High Court | |
| 38. | Minister for Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs v Al Masri (2003) 126 FCR 54 | Refugee Law – Power to detain under s 196 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) | Full Federal Court | |
| 2004 | 39. | Al-Kateb v Godwin (2004) 219 CLR 562 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v Al Khafaji (2004) 219 CLR 664 Behrooz v Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs(2004) 219 CLR 486 | Refugee Law – Power to detain under s 196 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) | High Court |
| 40. | Catholic Education Office v Clarke [2004] FCAFC 197 | Disability discrimination in Education | Full Federal Court | |
| 41. | Re Woolley; Ex parte Applicants M276/2003 by their next friend GS (2004) 225 CLR 1 | Constitutional validity of s.196 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) in so far as it authorises the detention of children | High Court | |
| 42. | Re Alex: Hormonal Treatment For Gender Identity Dysphoria[2004] FamCA 297 | Family Law – Hormonal Treatment for Gender Identity Dysphoria | Family Court | |
| 43. | ACTU Work and Family Test Case [2005] AIRC PRO82005 | Family friendly award provision | AIRC | |
| 44. | Howe v QANTAS (Affidavit filed matter discontinued) | Sex discrimination –pregnancy and flexible working hours | Federal Court | |
| 2005 | 45. | Australian Competition Consumer Commission v Radio Rentals[2005] FCA 1133 (The Commission's involvement was to make submissions in relation to certain orders sought by the ACCC in the event that breaches of the TPA were established. Submissions were not prepared as the application was dismissed.) | Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) | Federal Court |
| 46. | Inquest into the Death of Mulrunji | Aboriginal death in custody on Palm Island | Qld Coroners Court | |
| 47. | The Queen v GJ [2005] NTCCA 20 (The Court refused HREOC's application for leave to appear) | Group rights (art 27 ICCPR) v individual human rights and fundamental freedoms (freedom from violence from discrimination (CEDAW)) | NT Court of Criminal Appeal | |
| 48. | Petrol Sniffing Coronial Inquest (Written submissions provided to the Coroner) | Systemic issues relating to petrol sniffing | NT Coroners Court | |
| 2006 | 49. | Baird & Ors v State of Queensland (2006) 156 FCR 451 | Indigenous wage differentiation and interpretation of RDA | Full Federal Court |
| 50. | Coronial Inquest into the death of Scott Simpson | Systemic issues on the treatment of mentally ill people within the criminal justice system | Glebe Coroner's Court | |
| 51. | Re Bernadette | Medical treatment for children and young people – transsexualism. | Family Court | |
| 52. | Hurst v Education Qld (2006) 151 FCR 562 | Disability Discrimination in education | Full Federal Court | |
| 2007 | 53. | Qantas Airways Limited v Gama (2008) 167 FCR 537 | Racial and disability discrimination in employment. | Federal Court |
| 54. | Bropho v Western Australia(2008) 169 FCR 59 | Racial discrimination under the Reserves (Reserve 43131) Act 2003 (WA). | Full Federal Court | |
| 2008 | 55. | R v Tang(2008) 237 CLR 1 | Interpretation of slavery provisions under the Commonwealth Criminal Code | High Court |
| 56. | Morton v The Queen [2009] QDC 233 | Racial discrimination and alcohol limitations on Palm Island | Queensland District Court | |
| 57. | Coronial Inquest into the death of Mr Ward | Aboriginal death in custody: arrest and transportation of prisoners in remote Western Australia | WA Coroners Court | |
| 58. | Coronial Inquest into the deaths of Mr Gurralpa and Robert Plasto-Lahner [2009] NTMC 014 | Deaths in custody, use of force by police in arrest, treatment of people with mental illness | NT Coroners Court | |
| 59. | Aurukun Shire Council v Chief Executive, Office of Liquor gaming and Racing in the Department of Treasury [2008] QSC 305 | Racial discrimination and liquor licensing laws | Qld Court of Appeal | |
| 2009 | 60. | NT Coroners Court Inquest into the deaths of David Gurralpa and Robert Plasto-Lehner [2009] NTMC 014 | Aboriginal deaths in custody | NT Coroners Court |
| 61. | Coronial Inquest into the death of Mr Ward | Aboriginal death in custody: arrest and transportation of prisoners in remote Western Australia | WA Coroners Court | |
| 62. | Application by the Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union and Others for an Equal Remuneration order in the Social and Community Services Industry – Fair Work Australia | Pay Equity application for the whole sector | Fair Work Australia | |
| 2010 | 63. | AB and AH v State of Western Australia and Gender Reassignment Board of WA | Gender Reassignment – application of Gender Reassignment Act WA | High Court |
| 2011 | 64. | Plaintiff M106/2011 by his Litigation Guardian v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Also referred to as Plaintiff M70 /2011 v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship; Plaintiff M106 of 2011 v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2011] HCA 32 (31 August 2011)) | Human rights – removing unaccompanied children to another country was unlawful. | High Court |
| 65. | Clarke v Nationwide News trading as The Sunday Times [2012] FCA 307 (27 March 2012) | unlawful discrimination – racial discrimination – contravention of s 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) –posting of comments on a website | Federal Court | |
| 66. | Smeaton | applicant parents challenge whether hormonal treatment of a child for transsexualism requires authorisation by the Family Court, and alternatively seek declaratory relief authorising certain treatment for transsexualism to be administered to their child | Family Court | |
| 2012 | 67. | Ellison & Karnchanit [2012] FamCA 602 | International surrogacy arrangements – application for parenting orders – Convention on the Rights of the Child | Family Court |
| 68. | Re: Jamie [2013] FamCAFC 110 | Special medical procedures – childhood gender identity disorder –is treatment of childhood gender identity disorder a medical procedure which requires court authorisation pursuant to the court's welfare jurisdiction under s 67ZC? | Full Court of the Family Court of Australia | |
| 69. | Plaintiff M47-2012 v Director General of Security [2012] HCA 46 | Human rights – adverse security assessment by ASIO of person found to be a refugee – whether regulation prescribing PIC 4002 as a criteria for a protection visa valid – natural justice | High Court | |
| 2013 | 70. | Karim v R; Magaming v R; Bin Lahaiya v R; Bayu v R; Alomalu v R [2013] NSWCCA 23 | Human Rights – Constitutional law- criminal law - mandatory minimum sentences - two overlapping provisions for sentences - whether minimum mandatory sentences valid | NSW Court of Criminal Appeal |
| 71. | Wilson v Joseph Michael Francis, Minister for Corrective Services For The State of Western Australia [2013] WASC 157 (3 May 2013) | Administrative law – decision to declare a place a ‘detention centre' – transfer juvenile offenders to prison – authority to transfer juvenile offenders in emergency circumstances – human rights | Western Australia Supreme Court | |
| 72. | Magaming v The Queen [2013] HCA 40 (11 October 2013) | Constitutional Law - separation of powers – Mandatory Minimum sentence for people smuggling | High Court | |
| 73. | Maloney v The Queen [2013] HCA 28 (19 June 2013) | interpretation of section 10 and section 8 of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). The Commission sought leave in a further attempt to have the law in relation to section 10 of the Racial Discrimination Act clarified. This followed previous interventions in Aurukun and Morton | High Court | |
| 2014 | 74. | Tajjour, Hawthorne, Forster v NSW 2014 | proceedings challenging validity of s 93X of Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) | High Court |
| 75. | Bateman v Kavan | Definition of parent for Child Support Assessment Act | Family Court of Australia | |
| 76. | CPCF v Min DIPB & Commonwealth | Maritime Powers Act | High Court | |
| 77. | Farnell & Li v Minjaroen | Parenting orders for a child born through an international surrogacy matter | Family Court of Western Australia |