Fisher v Commonwealth of Australia

• Jurisdiction: Australia Federal only
• Court: Full Federal Court (Australia)
• Judgment Date: 12 July 2023
• Neutral Citation: [2023] FCAFC 106
• Date: 12 July 2023

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Fisher v Commonwealth of Australia [2023] FCAFC 106

File number:	VID 545 of 2021
Judgment of:	MORTIMER CJ, KATZMANN, CHARLESWORTH, ABRAHAM AND KENNETT JJ
Date of judgment:	12 July 2023
Catchwords:	HUMAN RIGHTS – discrimination – special case stated – where applicant an Aboriginal man not yet of the age to qualify for the age pension if Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) is applied according to its terms – where Indigenous men have shorter life expectancy than non-Indigenous men – whether applicant or represented persons enjoy the right to apply for and receive age pension ‘to a more limited extent’ than non-Indigenous men for purposes of s 10 of Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) ; REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING – whether applicant and represented persons have same interests in proceeding – where interests of group members in proceeding contingent on future events for practical value
Legislation:	Constitution ss 51, 75, 83, 109 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 (Cth) Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 15AA, 15AB Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 24 Invalid and Old-Age Pensions Act 1908 (Cth) ss 15, 16 Invalid and Old-Age Pensions Act 1942 (Cth) s 13 Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 476, 478 Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) ss 8, 9, 10 Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 (Cth) ss 3, 40G, 242 Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) ss 23, 43, 44, 55, 593, 1064, 1065, 1067G, 1067L, 1068, 1068A, 1068B Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Pension Reform and Other Budget Measures) Act 2009 (Cth) Social Security Legislation Amendment Act (No 2) 1994 (Cth) Social Services Act 1959 (Cth) Social Services Act 1966 (Cth) Social Services Consolidation Act 1947 (Cth) s 21 Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 9.21, 38.01 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities (Justice Land, and Other Matters) and Other Acts Amendment Act 2008 (Qld) Alcohol Protection Orders Act 2013 (NT) s 6 Liquor Act 1992 (Qld) Misuse of Drugs Act 1990 (NT) ss 5A, 5D Succession Act 1981 (Qld) ; International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, opened for signature 21 December 1965, 660 UNTS 195 (entered into force 4 January 1969) arts 1, 2, 5 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, opened for signature 16 December 1966, 993 UNTS 3 (entered into force 3 January 1976) art 9
Cases cited:	Algama v Minister for Immigration [2001] FCA 1884; 115 FCR 253 Aurukun Shire Council v Chief Executive Officer, Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing [2010] QCA 37; [2012] 1 Qd R 1 Australian Securities Commission v Marlborough Gold Mines Ltd [1993] HCA 15; 177 CLR 485 Baker v Carr (1962) 369 US 186 Bara v Blackwell [2022] NTCCA 17 Bugmy v The Queen [2013] HCA 37; 249 CLR 571 Buttes Gas and Oil Co v Hammer [1982] AC 888 CAL No 14 Pty Ltd v Motor Accidents Board [2009] HCA 47; 239 CLR 390 Campbells Cash and Carry Pty Ltd v Fostif Pty Ltd [2006] HCA 41; 229 CLR 386 Clark v Vanstone [2004] FCA 1105; 211 ALR 412 Dietrich v The Queen [1992] HCA 57; 177 CLR 292 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 22; 230 CLR 89 Fraser v Canada (Attorney-General) [2020] SCC 28 Gerhardy v Brown [1985] HCA 11; 159 CLR 70 Hamzy v Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW [2022] NSWCA 16; 400 ALR 507 Hill v Zuda Pty Ltd [2022] HCA 21; 96 ALJR 540 Jones v Public Trustee of Qld [2004] QCA 269; 209 ALR 106 Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen [1982] HCA 27; 153 CLR 168 Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [1997] HCA 25; 189 CLR 520 Mabo v Queensland [1988] HCA 69; 166 CLR 186 Mabo v Queensland (No 2) [1992] HCA 23; 175 CLR 1 Maloney v the Queen [2013] HCA 28; 252 CLR 168 Melkman v Commissioner of Taxation (1988) 20 FCR 331 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v QAAH of 2004 [2006] HCA 53; 231 CLR 1 Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs v FAK19 [2021] FCAFC 153; 287 FCR 181 Munkara v Bencsevich [2018] NTCA 4 Nguyen v Refugee Review Tribunal (1997) 74 FCR 311 North Ganalanja Aboriginal Corporation v Queensland [1996] HCA 2; 185 CLR 595 O’Donnell v Commonwealth [2021] FCA 1223 Pitman v Commissioner of Taxation [2021] FCAFC 230; 289 FCR 287 Queensland Construction Materials Pty Ltd v Redland City Council [2010] QCA 182; 271 ALR 624 R v Woods [2010] NTSC 69; 246 FLR 4 Sahak v Minister for Immigration [2002] FCAFC 215; 123 FCR 514 Vanstone v Clark [2005] FCAFC 189; 147 FCR 299 Viskauskas v Niland [1982] HCA 15; 153 CLR 280 Western Australia v Commonwealth (Native Title Act Case) [1995] HCA 47; 183 CLR 373 Western Australia v Ward [2002] HCA 28; 213 CLR 1 Wotton v Queensland (No 5) [2016] FCA 1457; 352 ALR 146
Division:	General Division
Registry:	Victoria
National Practice Area:	Administrative and Constitutional Law and Human Rights
Number of paragraphs:	158
Date of last submissions:	26 June 2023
Date of hearing:	20-21 February 2023
Counsel for the Applicant:	Mr R Merkel KC with Mr T Farhall and Ms R Amamoo
Solicitor for the Applicant:	Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
Counsel for the First Respondent:	Ms J Firkin KC with Mr J Kirkwood SC and Ms M Salinger
Solicitor for the First Respondent:	Australian Government Solicitor
Counsel for the Second Respondent:	The Second Respondent submitted save as to costs
Counsel for the Third Respondent	The Third Respondent submitted save as to costs

ORDERS

		VID 545 of 2021
BETWEEN:	DENNIS JAMES FISHER Applicant
AND:	COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA First Respondent ; MINISTER FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES Second Respondent ; MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND SOCIAL SERVICES Third Respondent

order made by:	MORTIMER CJ, KATZMANN, CHARLESWORTH, ABRAHAM AND KENNETT JJ
DATE OF ORDER:	12 july 2023

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1. The questions of law in the amended special case set out in Annexure B of the orders of the docket judge dated 9 December 2022 be answered as follows:

(1) Do the Applicant and each of the represented persons have the same interest in the proceeding, save for the relief set out in paragraph 2 of the amended originating application?

Answer: Yes.

(2) Do:

a. the Applicant; and, or alternatively

b. the represented persons,

enjoy the right to apply for and receive the age pension “to a more limited extent” (within the meaning of that expression in s 10 of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)) than non-Indigenous men born on or between 1 January 1957 and 31 December 1957, by reason of:

c. ss 23(5A) and 43 of the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth); or

d. alternatively, s 3 and Schedule 11, item 1, of the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Pension Reform and Other 2009 Budget Measures) Act 2009 (Cth) (as it applied to item 5 of the table in s 23(5A) of the Social...