Loielo V Giles [2020] VSC
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA Not Restricted AT MELBOURNE COMMON LAW DIVISION JUDICIAL REVIEW AND APPEALS LIST S ECI 2020 03608 MICHELLE LOIELO Plaintiff v ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MICHELLE GILES (in her capacity Defendant as Deputy Public Health Commander as authorised to exercise emergency powers by the Chief Health Officer under section 199(2)(a) of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (Vic)) --- JUDGE: Ginnane J WHERE HELD: Melbourne DATE OF HEARING: 28-29 September, 1-2 October 2020 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 2 November 2020 CASE MAY BE CITED AS: Loielo v Giles MEDIUM NEUTRAL CITATION: [2020] VSC 722 --- JUDICIAL REVIEW – COVID 19 Pandemic – State of emergency – Directions by authorised officer – Stay at Home Directions - Whether power to impose Curfew – Whether plaintiff had standing - Whether authorised officer acted at the direction or behest of the Premier – Whether Curfew decision unreasonable, irrational or illogical – Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 ss 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 111, 197, 198, 199, 200. HUMAN RIGHTS – COVID-19 Pandemic - Stay at Home Restrictions – Curfew – Right of freedom of movement – Right to liberty – Whether restrictions on rights proportionate – Whether less restrictive means reasonably available – Whether act of imposing Curfew incompatible with human rights – Whether proper consideration given to human rights in making Curfew decision – Plaintiff’s standing to bring Charter claims – Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 ss 7(2), 12, 21, 38, 39. --- APPEARANCES: Counsel Solicitors For the Plaintiff Mr M Clarke QC with Ms V Plain and Dr NOH Legal J Harkess For the Defendant Ms K Walker QC, Solicitor-General for Victorian Government the State of Victoria with Mr J Pizer QC, Solicitor’s Office Mr E Nekvapil, Ms S Fitzgerald and Mr T Wood Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 2 The plaintiff’s case ......................................................................................................................... 9 Legislation .................................................................................................................................... 11 Background to the making of the Curfew Direction .............................................................. 14 Mr Andrews’ statements about the curfew ............................................................................. 19 Media Conference 10 September 2020 ..................................................................................... 21 Associate Professor Giles appointed to consider Directions ................................................ 21 Associate Professor Giles decides whether to make the Curfew Direction ........................ 23 The plaintiff commences the proceeding and the curfew is revoked .................................. 25 Associate Professor Giles’ evidence about how she made the Directions .......................... 25 The email chain between Lynch, Sutton and Giles ................................................................ 28 The amendments to the Directions ........................................................................................... 31 Giles’ knowledge of the Premier’s statements ........................................................................ 33 Associate Professor Giles’ reasons for signing the Curfew Direction ................................. 36 Was there power to order a curfew? ............................................................................................. 42 Consideration of submissions about s 200............................................................................... 47 The plaintiff’s standing .................................................................................................................. 50 Consideration of submissions about standing ........................................................................ 53 Ground 1 – Did Associate Professor Giles act under direction? ............................................. 54 Legal principles ........................................................................................................................... 55 The plaintiff’s submissions about ground one........................................................................ 56 Defendant’s submissions on ground one ................................................................................ 58 Consideration of ground one .................................................................................................... 60 Ground 2 – Unreasonableness ....................................................................................................... 62 Consideration of ground two .................................................................................................... 63 Ground 3 – Irrationality / Illogicality ........................................................................................... 65 Consideration of ground three .................................................................................................. 68 Ground 4 – Breach of Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities ................................. 69 Section 39 ...................................................................................................................................... 69 Relevant Charter provisions ...................................................................................................... 70 Plaintiff’s submissions ................................................................................................................ 71 Defendant’s submissions ........................................................................................................... 71 The rights engaged ...................................................................................................................... 72 Which limbs of s 38(1) were engaged? ..................................................................................... 74 Charter questions – The first limb of s 38(1) ........................................................................... 75 Summary of Charter advice received by Associate Professor Giles .................................... 75 Plaintiff’s submissions ................................................................................................................ 79 Defendant’s submissions ........................................................................................................... 80 Consideration of the first limb – Acts incompatible with human rights ............................ 82 Plaintiff’s submissions ...................................................................................................... 85 Defendant’s submissions .................................................................................................. 85 Consideration of second limb - Proper consideration of human rights .............................. 86 Declaratory relief ......................................................................................................................... 88 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 88 SC: 1 JUDGMENT Loielo v Giles HIS HONOUR: Summary 1 This proceeding concerns the legality of a 9:00pm to 5:00am curfew, binding all people living in ‘greater Melbourne’,1 imposed by a Direction made to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. It was contained in the Stay at Home Directions (Restricted Areas) (No 15), which was one of eleven Directions, signed by the defendant, Associate Professor Michelle Giles, an authorised officer and senior medical adviser in the Department of Health and Human Services (‘the Department’) on 13 September 2020. It was made under statutory powers exercisable only when a State of Emergency is in effect in Victoria. The effect of the Curfew was that residents of the Restricted Areas could not leave their home between those hours, except for specified purposes under penalty of a significant fine. I will call the Directions, the Curfew Direction, because, although the Directions contained a number of restrictions, the plaintiff, Ms Michelle Loielo only challenges the Curfew, which on her case, was ‘a step too far’. An 8:00pm to 5:00am Curfew had been introduced on 5 August at the peak of the second wave of COVID-19 infections, so the Directions of 13 September contained a modification of that initial Curfew, as well as a lessening of other restrictions. It is necessary to keep in mind that the Curfew was only one part of the Stay at Home Directions and there were other restrictions, such as the four permitted reasons for leaving home and the ‘ring of steel’ between greater Melbourne and the rest of Victoria. 2 The Curfew was a major restriction of human rights and liberties of the free people of Victoria. No instance of a curfew being imposed in Victoria by the Executive exists in living memory. Curfews are normally imposed to control civil disturbances and widespread outbreaks of lawlessness. 3 This proceeding was given an urgent hearing and was listed to commence on Monday, 28 September. The day before, on the Sunday, at a media conference, the Premier of Victoria, Mr Daniel Andrews, announced the end or revocation of the Curfew with 1 ‘Greater Melbourne’ included 28 Cities and three Shires, one of which was Mornington Peninsula Shire. See Court Book, Loielo v Giles