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Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-15285-3 - Australian Constitutional Landmarks Edited by H. P. Lee and George Winterton Frontmatter More information

AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTIONAL LANDMARKS

Australian Constitutional Landmarks presents the most significant cases and controversies in the Australian constitutional landscape. Including the Communist Party case, the dismissal of the Whitlam government, the Free Speech cases, a discussion of the race power, the Lionel Murphy saga, and the Tasmanian Dam case, this book highlights turning points in the shaping of the Australian nation since Federation.

Each chapter clearly examines the legal and political context leading to the case or controversy and the impact on later constitutional reform. With contributions by leading constitutional lawyers, judges and two former chief justices, this book is sure to have lasting appeal to all members of the judiciary, lawyers, political scientists, historians and all people with an interest in Australian politics, government and history.

H. P. Lee is the Sir John Latham Professor of Law at Monash University. The author of many legal works on Australia, Singapore and Malaysia, he has been a member of various committees advising on the press and humanitarian law. His most recent work, co- authored with Enid Campbell, is The Australian Judiciary.

George Winterton is Professor of Law at the University of New South Wales. He has published extensively in Australia and overseas and was a member of the Executive Government Advisory Committee of the Constitutional Commission, the Republic Advisory Committee, and an appointed delegate to the Consti- tutional Convention.

© in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-15285-3 - Australian Constitutional Landmarks Edited by H. P. Lee and George Winterton Frontmatter More information

AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTIONAL LANDMARKS

Edited by H.P. LEE Monash University, Melbourne

GEORGE WINTERTON University of New South Wales, Sydney

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo, Delhi, Dubai, Tokyo, Mexico City

Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK

Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York

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First published 2003 First paperback printing 2010

A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library

National Library of Australia Cataloguing in Publication data

Australian constitutional landmarks. Includes index. ISBN 0 521 83158 X. 1. Constitutional law – Australia – Cases. I. Lee, H. P. (Hoong Phun). 342.94

ISBN 978-0-521-83158-1 Hardback ISBN 978-0-521-15285-3 Paperback

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Contents

List of Cases vii List of Commonwealth Constitution Provisions xviii List of Statutes xx List of Contributors xxiii Preface xxvii

Introduction: The Commonwealth’s Constitutional Century xxix H. P. Lee and George Winterton 1 The Emergence of the Commonwealth Constitution 1 John Williams 2 The Engineers Case 34 Keven Booker and Arthur Glass 3 The Uniform Income Tax Cases 62 Cheryl Saunders 4 The Bank Nationalisation Cases: The Defeat of Labor’s Most 85 Controversial Economic Initiative Peter Johnston 5 The Communist Party Case 108 George Winterton 6 Fitzpatrick and Browne: Imprisonment by a House 145 of Parliament Harry Evans 7 The Boilermakers Case 160 Fiona Wheeler

8 The Race Power: A Constitutional Chimera 180 Robert French 9 The Double Dissolution Cases 213 Sir Anthony Mason 10 1975: The Dismissal of the Whitlam Government 229 George Winterton 11 The Tasmanian Dam Case 262 Leslie Zines 12 The Murphy Affair in Retrospect 280 Geoffrey Lindell 13 The Privy Council and the Constitution 312 Sir Gerard Brennan 14 Cole v Whitfield: ‘Absolutely Free’ Trade? 335 Dennis Rose 15 The ‘Labour Relations Power’ in the Constitution and 355 Public Sector Employees Marilyn Pittard 16 The Implied Freedom of Political Communication 383 H. P. Lee

Index 412

Cases

Abley v Dale (1851) 20 LJ (CP) 235, …58 Abrams v United States (1919) 250 US 616, …136 Ackroyd v McKechnie (1986) 161 CLR 60, …352 Actors and Announcers Equity Association of Australia v Fontana Films Pty Ltd (1982) 150 CLR 169, …142, 272 Adelaide Company of Jehovah’s Witnesses Inc v Commonwealth (1943) 67 CLR 116, …110, 135, 137, 139 Airlines of New South Wales v New South Wales (No. 2) (1965) 113 CLR 54, …50, 58, 60 Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd (1920) 14 CAR 428, …57 Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd (1920) 28 CLR 129, …xxxii, 34–60, 71, 83, 129, 141, 270, 278, 318, 320, 331, 333, 334, 373, 381 Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd (1921) 29 CLR 406, …57 Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1977) 139 CLR 54, …393 Application for Registration of Association of Australian University Staff, Re (1981) 23 AILR [222], …369 Arena v Nader (1997) 71 ALJR 1604, …159 Asma Jilani v Government of Punjab [1972] PLD (SC) 139, …143 Attorney-General (Cth) v Colonial Sugar Refining Company Pty Ltd (1913) 17 CLR 644; [1914] AC 237, …316, 317, 320, 330 Attorney-General (Cth) v Finch (No. 1) (1983) 155 CLR 102, …334 Attorney-General (Cth) v Finch (No. 2) (1984) 155 CLR 107, …334 Attorney-General (Cth); Ex rel McKinlay v Commonwealth (1975) 135 CLR 1, …334, 388, 397

vii

viii CASES

Attorney-General (Cth) v R; Ex parte Boilermakers’ Society of Australia (1957) 95 CLR 529; [1957] AC 288, …175, 177, 260, 318, 319, 326 332, 334 Attorney-General (Cth) v T & G Mutual Life Society Ltd (1978) 144 CLR 161, …334 Attorney-General of Mauritius v Ramgoolam [1993] 3 LRC 82, …309 Attorney-General (NSW) v Trethowan (1931) 44 CLR 394, …257, 334 Attorney-General (NSW) v Trethowan (1932) 47 CLR 97; [1932] AC 526, …328, 329, 334 Attorney-General for Ontario v Attorney-General for Canada [1912] AC 571, …58, 320 Attorney-General (Victoria); Ex rel Black v Commonwealth (1981) 146 CLR 559, …79, 84 Attorney-General (Victoria); Ex rel Dale v Commonwealth (1945) 71 CLR 237, …104, 142 Attorney-General (WA) v Australian National Airlines Commission (1976) 138 CLR 492, …60 Austin v Commonwealth (2003) 77 ALJR 491, …49, 50, 59, 102 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd (2001) 208 CLR 199; 185 ALR 1, …107, 401 Australian Capital Television v Commonwealth (1992) 104 ALR 389, …406 Australian Capital Television Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1992) 177 CLR 106, …xxxi, xxxv, xxxvi, 32, 58, 107, 134, 143, 354, 383, 384, 386, 387, 389, 391–5, 397, 398, 406–8 Australian Communist Party v Commonwealth (1951) 83 CLR 1, …xxxii, xxxvi, 103, 108, 124, 129–35, 137, 139–44, 212, 300, 310 Australian Education Union, Re; Ex parte Victoria (1995) 184 CLR 188, …49, 59, 84, 375, 376, 378, 381 Australian Insurance Staffs’ Federation v Accident Underwriters Association; Bank Officials’ Association v Bank of Australasia (1923) 33 CLR 517, …361, 365, 366 Australian National Airways Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1945) 71 CLR 29, …90, 103, 104, 142, 319 Australian National Airways Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (No. 2) (1946) 71 CLR 115, …319, 332 Australian Social Welfare Union v Jobless Action Civic Community Youth Support Scheme (1982) 2 IR 18, …379 Australian Workers’ Union v Adelaide Milling Co Ltd (1919) 26 CLR 460, …56 Bank of New South Wales v Commonwealth (1948) 76 CLR 1, …xxx, 85, 87, 93, 98–101, 105, 106, 130, 140, 142, 337 Barley Marketing Board (NSW) v Norman (1991) 171 CLR 182, …338, 347, 348, 352

CASES ix

Barnwell v Attorney-General [1994] 3 LRC 30, …309 Bath v Alston Holdings Pty Ltd (1988) 165 CLR 411, …339, 340, 342, 348, 352 Baxter v Commissioners of Taxation (NSW) (1907) 4 CLR 1087, …37, 38, 58, 315, 317, 319 Brandenburg v Ohio (1969) 395 US 444, …143 Brandy v Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1995) 183 CLR 245, …173 Breen v Sneddon (1961) 106 CLR 406, …210 British Imperial Oil Co Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1925) 35 CLR 422, …175 British Medical Association v Commonwealth (1949) 79 CLR 201, …104, 140, 142 Brown v Members of the Classification Review Board of the Office of Film & Literature Classification (1998) 82 FCR 225; 154 ALR 67, …404, 410 Bruce v Cole (1998) 45 NSWLR 163, …307, 309 Buck v Bavone (1976) 135 CLR 110, …307, 408 Builders’ Labourers Federation v Minister for Industrial Relations (1986) 7 NSWLR 372, …143 Builders’ Labourers Case (1914) 18 CLR 224, …316, 318 Burns v Ransley (1949) 79 CLR 101, …133, 137 Caltex Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd v XL Petroleum (NSW) Pty Ltd (1983) 155 CLR 72, …334 Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v South Australia (1990) 169 CLR 436, …106, 338–41, 343, 344, 346, 348, 352, 353 Chapman v Tickner (1995) 55 FCR 316, …211 Chu Kheng Lim v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1992) 176 CLR 1, …196 Clark King & Co Pty Ltd v Australian Wheat Board (1978) 140 CLR 120, …336, 352 Clayton v Heffron (1960) 105 CLR 214, …223, 334 Clenae Pty Ltd v Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd [1999] 2 VR 573, …107 Coco v R (1994) 179 CLR 427, …212 Cole v Whitfield (1988) 165 CLR 360, …xxx, xxxii, xxxiv, xxxv, 28, 84, 87, 96, 98, 99, 101, 106, 321, 325, 326, 333, 335, 337–42, 345, 347–9, 351–4 Collector v Day (1870) 78 US (11 Wall.) 113, …37 Colonial Sugar Refining Company v Irving [1905] AC 369, …331 Commissioner for Motor Transport v Antill Ranger & Co Pty Ltd (1956) 94 CLR 177; [1956] AC 527, …325, 326, 334 Commissioners of Taxation (NSW) v Baxter (1907) 5 CLR 398; [1908] AC 214, …331, 332

x CASES

Commonwealth v Bank of New South Wales (1949) 79 CLR 497; [1950] AC 235, …xxx, xxxii, xxxvi, 100, 142, 319, 323–5, 332–4, 337 Commonwealth v Bogle (1953) 89 CLR 229, …83 Commonwealth v Cigamatic Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) (1962) 108 CLR 372, …xxx, xxxvi, 48–50 Commonwealth v Colonial Combing, Spinning and Weaving Co Ltd (1922) 31 CLR 421, …334 Commonwealth v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1980) 147 CLR 39, …395 Commonwealth v Kreglinger & Fernau Ltd and Bardsley (1926) 37 CLR 393, …331 Commonwealth v Limerick Steamship Co. (1924) 35 CLR 69, …331 Commonwealth v Queensland (1975) 134 CLR 298, …317 Commonwealth v Tasmania (1983) 158 CLR 1, …xxxiv, xxxvii, 28, 47, 48, 51, 58, 60, 84, 193, 194, 199, 205, 206, 210, 212, 262, 269, 272, 275, 277, 278 Communications, Electrical, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia v Commissioner Laing of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (1998) 159 ALR 73, …410 Cooper v Commissioner of Income Tax (Queensland) (1907) 4 CLR 1304, …334 Cormack v Cope (1974) 131 CLR 432, …213, 220, 221 Cormick, In the Marriage of (1984) 156 CLR 170, …142 Crandall v Nevada (1867) 73 US (6 Wall.) 35, …408 Cunliffe v Commonwealth (1994) 182 CLR 272, …354, 409, 410 Davis v Commonwealth (1988) 166 CLR 79, …84, 334 Dawson v Commonwealth (1946) 73 CLR 157, …141 Deakin v Webb (1904) 1 CLR 585, …314, 315 D’Emden v Pedder (1904) 1 CLR 91, …36–8, 40, 41, 46, 58, 315 Dennis v United States (1951) 341 US 494, …133 Dennis Hotels Pty Ltd v Victoria (1961) 104 CLR 621; [1962] AC 25, …318 Deputy Federal Commissioner of Taxation (NSW) v W R Moran Pty Ltd (1939) 61 CLR 735, …76, 84 Duncan v Kahanamoku (1946) 327 US 304, …143 Eastman v R (2000) 203 CLR 1, …57 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 377, …105 Egan v Chadwick (1999) 46 NSWLR 563, …259 Egan v Willis (1998) 195 CLR 424, …159, 258, 309 Essendon Corporation v Criterion Theatres (1947) 74 CLR 1, …58, 83 Farey v Burvett (1916) 21 CLR 433, …xxx Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Munro; British Imperial Oil Co Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1926) 38 CLR 153, …175, 258, 334 Federated Amalgamated Government Railway and Tramway Services Association v New South Wales Railway Traffic Employees’ Association (1906) 4 CLR 488, …37, 38, 40, 41, 56, 381

CASES xi

Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen’s Association of Australasia v Broken Hill Co Pty Ltd (1911) 12 CLR 398, …37 Federated Municipal and Shire Council Employees’ Union of Australia v The Lord Mayor Alderman Councillors and Citizens of the City of Melbourne (1919) 26 CLR 508, …363, 364, 367, 368, 379 Federated State School Teachers’ Association of Australia v Victoria (1929) 41 CLR 569, …60, 363, 365–7, 370, 371, 374, 379, 380 Fish Board v Paradiso (1956) 95 CLR 443, …352 Flint v Webb (1907) 4 CLR 1178, …316 Foggitt, Jones & Co Ltd v New South Wales (1916) 21 CLR 357, …354 Fox v Robbins (1909) 8 CLR 115, …105 Freightlines & Construction Holding Ltd v New South Wales (1967) 116 CLR 1; [1968] AC 625, …325 Georgeadis v Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation (1994) 179 CLR 297, …106 Gerhardy v Brown (1985) 159 CLR 70, …210 O. Gilpin Ltd v Commissioner for Road Transport and Tramways (NSW) (1935) 52 CLR 189, …32 Gould v Brown (1998) 193 CLR 346, …178 Grace Bros Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1950) 82 CLR 357, …332, 333 Grannall v Marrickville Margarine Pty Ltd (1995) 93 CLR 55, …106 Grey v Pearson (1857) 6 HLC 61; 10 ER 1216, …58 Grollo v Palmer (1995) 184 CLR 348, …178, 307 Groppi v Leslie (1972) 404 US 496, …158 Ha v New South Wales (1997) 189 CLR 465, …353 Hardy v Fothergill (1888) 13 App Cas 351, …58 Harris v Wagner (1959) 103 CLR 452, …106 Hematite Petroleum v Victoria (1983) 157 CLR 599, …79, 84 Higgins v Commonwealth (1998) 79 FCR 528, …394 Hilton v Wells (1985) 157 CLR 57, …172 Hirabayashi v United States (1943) 320 US 81, …143 Hodge v R (1883) 9 App Cas 117, …320, 329 Horta v Commonwealth (1994) 181 CLR 183, …203, 276 Hospital Provident Fund Ltd v Victoria (1953) 87 CLR 1, …333, 352 Huddart, Parker & Co Pty Ltd v Moorehead (1909) 8 CLR 330, …xxx, 105, 175 Hughes & Vale Pty Ltd v New South Wales (1954) 93 CLR 1, …324, 334 Hughes & Vale Pty Ltd v New South Wales (No. 2) (1955) 93 CLR 127, …106 Independent Commission Against Corruption v Cornwall (1993) 28 NSWLR 207, …395, 410 Inland Revenue Commissioners v Herbert [1913] AC 326, …58 Jacobsen v Rogers (1995) 182 CLR 572, …60

xii CASES

James v Commonwealth (1935) 52 CLR 570, …332 James v Commonwealth (1936) 55 CLR 1; [1936] AC 578, …xxx, 105, 322, 323, 325, 326 James v Commonwealth (1939) 62 CLR 339, …323, 334 James v Cowan (1930) 43 CLR 386, …105, 122 James v Cowan (1932) 47 CLR 386; [1932] AC 542, …105, 318, 321, 323, 325, 326 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Attorney-General (NSW) (2000) 181 ALR 694, …402–4 John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson (2000) 203 CLR 503, …333 Johnston Fear & Kingham & Offset Printing Co Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1943) 67 CLR 314, …175 Jones v Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration (1917) 24 CLR 396; [1917] AC 528, …318 Judiciary and Navigation Acts, Re (1921) 29 CLR 257, …105, 167, 173, 177, 260 Jumbunna Coal Mine NL v The Victorian Coal Miners’ Association (1908) 6 CLR 309, …357, 363, 364, 366–8, 371, 378, 380 Jurney v MacCracken (1935) 294 US 125, …158 Kartinyeri v Commonwealth (1998) 195 CLR 337, …xxxiii, 181, 192, 199, 205–8, 210, 212 Kartinyeri v Commonwealth (No. 2) (1998) 72 ALJR 1334, …310 Kable v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (1996) 189 CLR 51, …172, 260, 307 King Ansell v Police [1979] 2 NZLR 531, …210 King v Burrell (1840) 2 Ad & El 460; 113 ER 886, …58 Kirmani v Captain Cook Cruises Pty Ltd (No. 2) (1985) 159 CLR 461, …317 Kitano v Commonwealth (1975) 132 CLR 231, …334 Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen (1982) 153 CLR 168, …xxx, 51, 107, 192, 194–6, 206, 211, 269–71, 273, 278 Korematsu v United States (1944) 323 US 214, …143 Kruger v Commonwealth (1997) 190 CLR 1, …143, 199, 211 Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 189 CLR 520, …xxx, xxxv, 31, 58, 107, 143, 258, 310, 333, 334, 398–403, 405 Langer v Commonwealth (1996) 186 CLR 302, …31, 409 Lardill Peoples v Queensland (2001) 108 FCR 453, …212 Lee, Re; Ex parte Harper (Minister for Justice and Attorney General for Queensland) (1986) 160 CLR 430, ...59, 375, 380, 381 Leeth v Commonwealth (1992) 174 CLR 455, …178, 179, 196 Le Mesurier v Connor (1929) 42 CLR 481, …175 Levy v Victoria (1997) 189 CLR 579, …143, 397, 401 Little v Commonwealth (1947) 75 CLR 94, …141 Liversidge v Anderson [1942] AC 206, …143

CASES xiii

Lloyd v Wallach (1915) 20 CLR 299, …128, 129, 131, 132, 141–3 LNC Industries v BMW (Australia) Ltd (1983) 151 CLR 575, …331 Lochner v New York (1905) 198 US 45, …55 Lockwood v Commonwealth (1954) 90 CLR 177, …317 Mabo v Queensland (No. 1) (1988) 166 CLR 186, …197 Mabo v Queensland (No. 2) (1992) 175 CLR 1, …xxxiii, 196–8 McCarter v Brodie (1950) 80 CLR 432, …324, 325, 327, 334 McCawley v R (1918) 26 CLR 9, …334 McCawley v R (1920) 28 CLR 106; [1920] AC 691, …327, 329 McClure v Australian Electoral Commission (1999) 163 ALR 734, …409 McCulloch v Maryland (1819) 17 US (4 Wheat.) 316, …36, 37 McGinty v Western Australia (1996) 186 CLR 140, …54, 58, 334, 397–9, 409 McGrain v Daugherty (1927) 273 US 135, …158 McGraw-Hinds (Aust) Pty Ltd v Smith (1979) 144 CLR 633, …408 McIlwraith McEachern Ltd v Shell Co of Australia Ltd (1945) 70 CLR 175, …316, 331 McLean, Ex parte (1930) 43 CLR 472, …332 Marbury v Madison (1803) 5 US (1 Cranch) 137, …23, 132 Marcus Clarke & Co Ltd v Commonwealth (1952) 87 CLR 177, …141 Matter of Certain Complaints under Investigation by an Investigating Committee of the Judicial Council of the Eleventh Circuit (1986) 783 F 2d 1488, …309 Melbourne Corporation v Commonwealth (1947) 74 CLR 31, …xxx, xxxvi, 28, 48–50, 57–60, 74, 76, 80, 83, 84, 89, 90, 92, 96, 102, 103, 105, 142 Metal Trades Employers Association v Boilermakers Society of Australia (1955) 81 CAR 112, …176 Mewett v Commonwealth (1998) 191 CLR 471, …106 Milicevic v Campbell (1975) 132 CLR 307, …142 Miller v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 556, …336, 353, 393, 394, 408 Miller v Salomons (1852) 7 Ex 475; 155 ER 1036, …58 Milligan, Ex parte (1866) 71 US (4 Wall.) 2, …143 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259, …307 Minister for Trading Concerns v Amalgamated Society of Engineers [1923] AC 170, …57 Minister for Works (WA) v Gulson (1944) 69 CLR 338, …60 W. R. Moran Pty Ltd v Deputy Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1940) 63 CLR 338; [1940] AC 838, …71, 83 Mulholland v Australian Electoral Commission (2002) 193 ALR 710, …410 Murphy v Lush (1986) 60 ALJR 523, …309, 310

xiv CASES

Nationwide News Ltd v Wills (1992) 177 CLR 1, …xxxi, xxxv, xxxvi, 58, 134, 354, 383, 386, 387, 389, 391–3, 395, 397, 398, 406 Nelson, Ex parte (No. 1) (1928) 42 CLR 209, …354 Nelson, Ex parte (No. 2) (1929) 42 CLR 258, …332 Nelungaloo Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1950) 81 CLR 144; [1951] AC 34, …332 Nelungaloo Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (No. 4) (1953) 88 CLR 529, …332 New South Wales v Commonwealth (1908) 7 CLR 179, …81 New South Wales v Commonwealth (1915) 20 CLR 54, …162, 163, 175, 333 New South Wales v Commonwealth (1975) 135 CLR 337, …107 New South Wales v Commonwealth (1990) 169 CLR 482, …84 Newcrest Mining (WA) v Commonwealth (1997) 190 CLR 513, …333 Nixon v United States (1993) 506 US 224, …296, 308 North v Tamplin (1881) 8 QBD 235, …58 North Eastern Dairy Co Ltd v Dairy Industry Authority of NSW (1975) 134 CLR 559, …338, 346, 354 North Ganalanja Aboriginal Corporation v Queensland (1996) 185 CLR 595, …212 Northern Territory v GPAO (1999) 196 CLR 553, …331 O’Reilly v State Bank of Victoria Commissioners (1983) 153 CLR 1, …84 Osborne v Commonwealth (1911) 12 CLR 321, …333 O’Sullivan v Noarlunga Meat Ltd (1956) 95 CLR 177, …332 O’Sullivan v Noarlunga Meat Ltd (No. 2) (1956) 94 CLR 367, …332, 333 Peanut Board v Rockhampton Harbour Board (1933) 48 CLR 266, …105, 321, 322, 352 Pedder v D’Emden (1903) 2 Tas LR 146, …36 Peterswald v Bartley (1904) 1 CLR 497, …46 Pirrie v McFarlane (1925) 36 CLR 170, …318, 332 Pitfield v Franki (1970) 123 CLR 448, …380, 381 Plaintiff S157 v Commonwealth (2003) 77 ALJR 454, …104 Polites v Commonwealth (1945) 70 CLR 60, …203 Polyukhovich v Commonwealth (1991) 172 CLR 501, …142, 144, 178, 179 Popovic v Herald and Weekly Times Ltd [2002] VSC 174 (21 May 2002), …310, 403 Powell v Apollo Candle Co (1885) 10 App Cas 282, …320, 329 Power v Coleman [2002] 2 Qd R 620, …402, 410 Prize Cases (1863) 67 US (2 Black) 635, …143 Proprietors of the Daily News Ltd v Australian Journalists’ Association (1920) 27 CLR 352, …380 Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital v Thornton (1953) 87 CLR 144, …334 Queensland Electricity Commission v Commonwealth (1985) 159 CLR 192, …50, 84 R v Barger (1908) 6 CLR 41, …57, 82

CASES xv

R v Bertrand (1867) LR 1 PC 520, …331 R v Burah (1878) 3 App Cas 889, …58, 320, 329 R v Burgess; Ex parte Henry (1936) 55 CLR 608, …268, 275, 277 R v Clarkson; Ex parte Australian Telephone and Phonogram Officers’ Association (1982) 56 ALJR 224, …371 R v Coldham & Ors; Ex parte Australian Social Welfare Union (1983) 153 CLR 297, …xxxv, 356–8, 365–8, 372–8, 380 R v Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission; Ex parte Association of Professional Engineers (1959) 107 CLR 208, …366, 367, 371, 380 R v Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration; Ex parte Victoria (1942) 66 CLR 488, …374, 381 R v Federal Court of Bankruptcy; Ex parte Lowenstein (1938) 59 CLR 55, …163, 174, 175 R v Findlay; Ex parte Victorian Chamber of Manufactures (1950) 81 CLR 537, …140 R v Foster; Ex parte The Commonwealth Life (Amalgamated) Assurances Ltd (1952) 85 CLR 138, …176 R v Holmes; Ex parte Public Service Association of New South Wales (1977) 140 CLR 63, …369–71, 374, 380 R v Hughes (2000) 202 CLR 535, …84 R v Hush; Ex parte Devanny (1932) 48 CLR 487, …135 R v Joske; Ex parte Australian Building Construction Employees and Builders’ Labourers’ Federation (1974) 130 CLR 87, …172, 173 R v Joske; Ex parte Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (1976) 135 CLR 194, …178 R v Kellett [1976] QB 372, …158 R v Kirby; Ex parte Boilermakers’ Society of Australia (1956) 94 CLR 254, …xxxiii, xxxvi, 58, 140, 160–8, 170–8, 260 R v Liverpool Justices (1883) 11 QBD 638, …58 R v Ludeke; Ex parte Builders Labourers’ Federation (1985) 159 CLR 636, …142 R v McMahon; Ex parte Darvall (1982) 151 CLR 57, …369, 370, 379–81 R v Marshall and the Australian Bank Officials Association; Ex parte Federated Clerks Union of Australia (1975) 132 CLR 595, …361, 368–71, 381 R v Metal Trades Employers’ Association; Ex parte Amalgamated Engineering Union, Australian Section (1951) 82 CLR 208, …164, 166, 176 R v Murphy (1985) 4 NSWLR 42, …306 R v Richards; Ex parte Fitzpatrick and Browne (1955) 92 CLR 157, …xxx, xxxi, xxxiii, xxxvi, 145, 154–7, 159, 392 R v Sharkey (1949) 79 CLR 121, …133, 137 R v Smithers; Ex parte Benson (1912) 16 CLR 99, …394

xvi CASES

R v Spicer; Ex parte Australian Builders’ Labourers’ Federation (1957) 100 CLR 277, …178 R v Vizzard; Ex parte Hill (1933) 50 CLR 30, …103, 105, 321–3, 325 R v Wright; Ex parte Waterside Workers’ Federation of Australia (1955) 93 CLR 528, …176 Rees v Crane [1994] 2 AC 173, …309, 310 Registrar of Supreme Court v McPherson [1980] 1 NSWLR 688, …158 Registrar of Western Australia Industrial Relations Commission v Communications, Electrical, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Workers Union of Australia, Engineering and Electrical Division WA Branch [1999] WASCA 170, …410 Reid, Re; Ex parte Bienstein [2001] HCA 54 (21 September 2001), …290, 294, 297, 307 Reid v Sinderberry (1944) 68 CLR 504, …141 Richardson v Forestry Commission (1988) 164 CLR 261, …279, 353 Roberts v Bass (2002) 194 ALR 161, …107 Robtelmes v Brenan (1906) 4 CLR 395, …186 Rola Co (Australia) Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1944) 69 CLR 185, …175 Rowley v O’Chee [2000] 1 Qd R 207, …159 Scales v United States (1961) 367 US 203, …143 Sellars v Coleman [2001] 2 Qd R 565, …410 Shell Company of Australia Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1930) 44 CLR 530; [1931] AC 275, …327 Shrimpton v Commonwealth (1945) 69 CLR 613, …141 Silver Bros Ltd, Re [1932] AC 514, …74, 75, 84 Slaughter House Cases (1873) 83 US (16 Wall.) 36, …26, 33 SOS (Mowbray) Pty Ltd v Mead (1972) 124 CLR 529, …106 South Australia v Commonwealth (1942) 65 CLR 373, …xxxii, xxxvi, 58, 62, 64, 69, 72, 74, 76–80, 82, 83, 102, 274, 278 Southern Centre of Theosophy Inc v South Australia (1979) 145 CLR 246, …334 State Public Services Federation, Re; Ex parte Attorney-General (WA) (1993) 178 CLR 249, …59 Stenhouse v Coleman (1944) 69 CLR 457, …102 Stephens v Western Australia Newspapers Ltd (1994) 182 CLR 211, …396–9, 401 Street v Queensland Bar Association (1989) 168 CLR 461, …33 Strickland v Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd (1971) 124 CLR 468, …xxx, xxxvi, 60, 105, 278 Sussex Peerage Case (1844) 11 Cl & Fin 85; 8 ER 1034, …58 Switzman v Elbling [1957] SCR 285, …143 Tasmania v Commonwealth (1904) 1 CLR 329, …46, 58, 333 Tasmania v Victoria (1935) 52 CLR 157, …354

CASES xvii

Theophanous v Herald and Weekly Times Ltd (1994) 182 CLR 104, …58, 107, 334, 390, 395–9, 401, 410 Tickner v Chapman (1995) 57 FCR 451, …211 Thomas v Attorney-General of Trinidad and Tobago [1982] AC 113, …309 Uebergang v Australian Wheat Board (1980) 145 CLR 266, …106, 336, 337, 353, 408 United States v Brown (1965) 381 US 437, …144 Uther v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1947) 74 CLR 508, …60 Vacher & Sons Ltd v London Society of Compositors [1913] AC 107, …58 Victoria v Commonwealth (1926) 38 CLR 399, …76, 78, 84 Victoria v Commonwealth (1957) 99 CLR 575, …xxxii, xxxvi, 59, 62, 64, 70, 71, 74–7, 79, 80, 82–4 Victoria v Commonwealth (1971) 122 CLR 353, …48, 53 Victoria v Commonwealth (1975) 134 CLR 81, …213, 222, 225–8, 253, 257 Victoria v Commonwealth (1975) 134 CLR 338, …84, 259 Victoria v Commonwealth (1975) 135 CLR 337, …107 Victoria v Commonwealth (1996) 187 CLR 416, …277–9, 382 Victorian Stevedoring & General Contracting Co Pty Ltd v Dignan (1931) 46 CLR 73, …163, 168, 175, 333 Viro v R (1976) 141 CLR 88, …333 W & A McArthur Ltd v Queensland (1920) 28 CLR 530, …323 Wakim, Re; Ex parte McNally (1999) 198 CLR 511, …xxx, 173, 174, 178 Walsh, Ex parte (1942) 48 ALR 359, …128, 141, 143 Walsh and Johnson, Ex parte; In re Yates (1925) 37 CLR 36, …127, 142, 307 Waterside Workers’ Federation of Australia v J W Alexander Ltd (1918) 25 CLR 434, …162, 163, 175 Webb v Outtrim (1906) 4 CLR 356; [1907] AC 81, …37–8, 58, 315–17, 320, 330 West v Commissioner of Taxation (NSW) (1937) 56 CLR 657, …45, 57–9 Western Australia v Commonwealth (1975) 134 CLR 201, …107, 213, 227, 253 Western Australia v Commonwealth (1995) 183 CLR 373, …192, 194–6, 206, 210–12 Western Australia v Wilsmore (1982) 149 CLR 79, …334 Whitehouse v Queensland (1961) 104 CLR 635, …317 Williamson v Ah On (1926) 39 CLR 95, …142 Wilson v Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (1996) 189 CLR 1, …177, 178, 211, 260, 307 Yates v United States (1957) 354 US 298, …143 Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co v Sawyer (1952) 343 US 579, …133, 143

Commonwealth Constitution Provisions

Chapter I …161, 166–7, 169 s.1 …161, 167, 169, 388 s.5 …254, 303 s.7 …388–9, 394, 398–400, 409 s.12 …232 s.15 …234 s.23 …235 s.24 …388–9, 394, 398–400, 409 s.28 …254 s.44(iv) …235 s.49 …xxx, xxxiii, 145, 146, 150, 152–5, 157, 293, 294, 309 s.50 …153 s.51 …xxxi, 11, 35, 94, 169, 199, 270, 333 s.51(i) …97, 100, 101, 272 s.51(ii) …50, 75, 79, 81 s.51(vi) …115, 140 s.51(xiii) …50, 92, 94–7, 100, 101, 105 s.51(xiv) …50 s.51(xix) …208 s.51(xx) …xxxiv, 92, 94, 105, 266, 272 s.51(xxvi) …xxxiii, 180, 185–96, 198, 201–3, 206, 266, 273 s.51(xxvii) …208 s.51(xxix) …xxxiv, 193, 266, 268, 270, 275, 277 s.51(xxxi) …92, 93, 95, 98, 101, 104–6, 198, 274, 406, 407 s.51(xxxv) …xxxv, 37, 41, 47, 57, 169, 318, 355–8, 362, 363, 370, 372–4, 376 s.51(xxxvii) …142 s.51(xxxix) …92, 115, 153, 292, 294, 299

xviii

COMMONWEALTH CONSTITUTION PROVISIONS xix

s.52 …371, 372, 381 s.53 …214, 215, 242 s.57 …xxxi, xxxiii, xxxiv, 107, 123, 213–18, 220–7, 233, 242, 245, 253, 254, 298, 309 s.58 …215 Chapter II …xxix, 161, 166–7, 169 s.61 …115, 161, 167, 169, 247, 388 s.62 …388 s.64 …243, 249, 400 Chapter III …161–3, 166–70, 172–4, 290, 294, 317 s.71 …160, 161, 167, 169 s.72 …xxxiv, 162, 280, 285, 291, 303, 305, 307 s.72(ii) …xxxiv, 287–92, 294–300, 303, 306 s.73 …163 s.74 …22, 42, 96, 101, 140, 314, 316, 317, 319, 320, 324, 329, 330 s.75 …167, 207 s.75(iii) …96, 104, 105 s.75(v) …104, 309 s.76 …167 s.76(i) …140 s.83 …244–7 s.87 …81 s.89 …81 s.90 …4, 46, 78, 344, 353 s.92 …xxxi, xxxii, xxxv, 4, 87, 90, 92, 93, 95–8, 100, 101, 103, 106, 107, 276, 318, 321–6, 335–8, 341–3, 345–52, 354, 394, 406, 407 s.93 …81 s.94 …81 s.96 …xxxii, 63, 64, 73, 76, 79 s.100 …4 s.105 …93 s.105A …95, 81 s.107 …35, 41, 126 s.109 …xxxi, 38, 41, 47, 50, 183, 319 s.114 …50 s.116 …276 s.117 …25 s.127 …185, 187, 188 s.128 …xxxii, 180, 388, 398, 400

Statutes

Commonwealth A New Tax System (Commonwealth–State Financial Arrangements) Act 1999, …84 Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984, …199–202 Approved Defence Projects Protection Act 1947, …137 Archives Act 1983, …157 Australia Act 1986, …329 Banking Act 1945, …45, 88 Banking Act 1947, …85, 87, 89–91, 95 Bankruptcy Act 1924, …163 Broadcasting Act 1942, …384, 385 Commonwealth Bank Act 1911, …100 Commonwealth Bank Sale Act 1975, …107 Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904. see Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 (Cth) Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1949 (Cth), …137 Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, …409 Communist Party Dissolution Act 1950, …108, 115, 126, 127, 131–4, 137, 138, 142 Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904, …35, 38, 42, 164, 175, 355, 357, 359, 360, 362, 364, 366, 370–3, 375, 376, 381 Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904–1952, …319, 369 Conciliation and Arbitration Act (No. 2) 1983, …381 Crimes Act 1914, …126, 140, 159 High Court of Australia Act 1979, …307 Hindmarsh Island Bridge Act 1997, …200–3 Immigration Restriction Act 1901, …209 Income Tax Act 1942, …66, 68, 73, 76, 80 Income Tax (Arrangements with the States) Act 1978, …84

STATUTES xxi

Income Tax (Arrangements with the States) Repeal Act 1989, 84 Income Tax Assessment Act 1922–25, …327 Income Tax Assessment Act 1936–41, …81 Income Tax Assessment Act 1942, …66, 80 Income Tax and Social Services Contribution Assessment Act 1936–56, …80, 82 Income Tax (War Time Arrangements) Act 1942, …66, 68, 73, 80 Industrial Relations Act 1988, …355, 372, 376, 379, 381, 383 Judiciary Act 1903, …39, 50, 307, 315, 316, 318, 332 Judiciary Act 1907, …332 Judiciary Act 1968, …332 Migration Act 1958, …196, 409 National Emergency (Coal Strike) Act 1949, …137 National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975, …265, 268 Native Title Act 1993, …196, 198, 202, 211 Pacific Labourers Act 1903, …186 Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry Act 1986, …287, 300, 305, 306, 308 Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (Repeal) Act 1986, …305 Parliamentary Papers Act 1908, …153 Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987, …xxxiii, 150, 153–5, 309 Political Broadcasts and Political Disclosures Act 1991, …384 Privy Council (Appeals from the High Court) Act 1975, …329 Privy Council (Limitation of Appeals) Act 1968, …328, 332 Public Service Arbitration Act 1920, …371 Racial Discrimination Act 1975, …107, 192, 193, 197, 198, 269, 273 Reserve Bank Act 1959, …107 Royal Commissions Act 1902, …316, 317 Senate (Representation of Territories) Act 1973, …223, 224 States Grants (Income Tax Reimbursement) Act 1942, …66, 70, 72, 73, 75, 76, 80 States Grants (Personal Income Tax Sharing) Act 1976, …84 States Grants (Tax Reimbursement) Act 1946–48, …80 Workplace Relations Act 1996, …355, 376–9, 382 Workplace Relations and other Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1996, …382 World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983, …194, 266, 268, 271, 273

Commonwealth Regulations National Security (General) Regulations 1939, …135 National Security (Industrial Peace) Regulations 1940, …381 National Security (Subversive Associations) Regulations 1940, …110, 135, 137 World Heritage (Western Tasmania Wilderness) Regulations 1983, …265, 271

New South Wales Constitution Act 1902, …258, 304, 311, 328 Constitution (Amendment) Act 1992, …311

xxii STATUTES

Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1998, …395 Judicial Officers Act 1986, …311 Marketing of Primary Products Act 1993, …347 Supreme Court Act 1970, …402

Queensland Constitution Act 1867, …327 Industrial Arbitration Act 1916, …327 Land Act 1968, …193 Queensland Coast Islands Declaratory Act 1985, …197 Vagrants, Gaming and Other Offences Act 1931, …402

Tasmania Gordon Hydro-Electric Development Act 1982, …264, 267 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970, …264

Victoria Business Franchise (Tobacco) Act 1974, …339, 340 Commonwealth Powers (Industrial Relations) Act 1996, …382 Federal Awards (Uniform System) Act 2003, …377 Income Tax Act 1895, …314 Magistrates’ Court Act 1989, …410 Transport Regulation Act 1958, …324

Japan Constitution of Japan, …140

South Africa Group Areas Act 1966, …203

United Kingdom Act of Settlement 1701, …290 Bill of Rights 1689, …297, 309 Constitution Act 1867 (formerly British North America Act 1867 ), …14, 15, 209, 320 Federal Council of Australasia Act 1885, …10, 11 Parliament Act 1911, …226, 244 Representation of the People Act 1832, …258 Western Australia Act 1829, …29

United States Smith Act 1940, …133 United States Constitution, …15, 24, 25, 133, 138, 146, 161, 166, 209, 252, 294, 296, 308, 386, 391

Contributors

Keven Booker has taught at the University of New South Wales for many years. His principal interests are constitutional law and the High Court. He is the co-author of Federal Constitutional Law (2nd edn, 1998).

Sir Gerard Brennan AC KBE is a former Chief Justice of Australia. He was appointed as a Judge of the Australian Industrial Court and the Supreme Courts of the ACT and the NT in 1976, the Federal Court in 1977 and as a Justice of the High Court of Australia in 1981. He was appointed Chief Justice in 1995 and retired in 1998. He was the Foundation President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and of the Administrative Review Council 1976–1979. He is currently a Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong and Chancellor of the University of Technology, Sydney.

Harry Evans has been Clerk of the Senate since 1988, and served the Senate in various capacities, including as secretary to the two Senate committees on the Justice Murphy Affair. He is the author of many articles on constitutional and parliamentary matters, and the editor of the 7th and subsequent editions of the authoritative work on the Senate, Odgers’ Australian Senate Practice.

Robert French was appointed a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia in November 1986. He is resident in Perth. In 2003 he was appointed as a non-resident member of the Supreme Court of Fiji which is the final appeal court for the Republic of Fiji. From 1994 to 1998 he served as President of the National Native Title Tribunal. He has been President of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law since 2001.

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xxiv CONTRIBUTORS

Arthur Glass is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of New South Wales. He teaches and writes in the areas of legal theory, constitutional law and immigration law. He is the co-author of books on Australian constitutional law and has published numerous articles in Rechtstheorie, Ratio Juris, Law/Text/Culture, Sydney Law Review and UNSW Law Journal among other journals. He is an editor of an immigration law service and a part time member of Commonwealth migration and medical tribunals.

Peter Johnston is a Senior Fellow at the University of Western Australia where he has taught Constitutional, Administrative and International Law since 1974. He is also a barrister who has appeared in a number of High Court constitutional cases. He was Deputy Chairman of the Western Australian Environment Protection Authority 1985–90, a Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal 1990–93 and an Inquiry Commissioner for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Com- mission 1996–2000.

H. P. Lee is the Sir John Latham Professor of Law at Monash University. He specialises in constitutional law. His published works include The Australian Judiciary (2001) (jointly); Constitutional Conflicts in Contemporary Malaysia (1995); Emergency Powers (1984), Australian Federal Constitutional Law – Commentary and Materials (1999) (jointly), and In the Name of National Security – The Legal Dimensions (1995) (jointly). He is the co-editor of Australian Constitutional Perspectives (1992) and two books on The Constitution of Malaysia (1978 and 1986). Currently, he is serving as the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law, Monash University.

Geoffrey Lindell has taught and published widely in the field of Australian constitutional law. He has assisted in major reviews of the Australian Constitution and provided constitutional advice to govern- ments and parliaments. He is currently an Adjunct Law Professor at the Adelaide and Australian National Universities and a Professorial Fellow at Melbourne University. He has appeared as counsel in two major High Court constitutional cases. He was the inaugural Secretary of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law, a body he helped to form.

Sir Anthony Mason AC KBE was a Justice of the High Court of Australia 1972–87 and Chief Justice 1987–95. He was Commonwealth Solicitor- General 1964–69 and a Judge of the NSW Court of Appeal 1969–72. Until recently he was Chancellor of the University of New South Wales and National Fellow at the Research School of Social Sciences at the

CONTRIBUTORS xxv

Australian National University. In 1996–97 he was Arthur Goodhart Professor in Legal Science at Cambridge University. Sir Anthony has been a non-permanent Judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal since 1997.

Marilyn Pittard is a Professor of Law and Associate Dean (Postgraduate Studies) at Monash University. She has published extensively in labour law, including constitutional, contract of employment and industrial action issues, and has co-authored Industrial Relations in Australia: Development, Law and Practice (1995) and Australian Labour Law: Cases and Materials (4th edn, 2003). She is consultant to a national law firm, has engaged in external consultancies, including with the Commonwealth Government, and has undertaken ARC-funded research. She is section editor of the Australian Journal of Labour Law and Australian Business Law Review, and is editor of the Employment Law Bulletin.

Dennis Rose AM has been a Special Counsel with the Canberra office of Blake Dawson Waldron since 1995. From 1962 to 1995, apart from three years teaching at the Australian National University, he served in the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department. He was Chief General Counsel from 1989, including substantial periods acting as Common- wealth Solicitor-General. He was appointed by the Commonwealth as a Queen’s Counsel in 1991 and appeared as counsel for the Common- wealth in numerous constitutional cases in the High Court and other courts, including Cole v Whitfield. He has published a number of articles on constitutional law. He is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Canberra.

Cheryl Saunders AO is a Director of the Institute for Comparative and International Law and of the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies at the University of Melbourne. She has held a personal chair in the Faculty since 1989 and is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. She has specialist interests in constitutional law and comparative constitutional law, including federalism and intergovern- mental relations, constitutional design and change and constitutional theory. Cheryl Saunders is Vice President of the International Associ- ation of Constitutional Law, of the International Association of Centres for Federal Studies and of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law. She is an editor of the Public Law Review and a member of the editorial boards of a range of Australian and international journals, including I.Con and Publius. In 1994 she was made an officer of the Order of Australia, for services to the law and to public administration.

xxvi CONTRIBUTORS

Fiona Wheeler is a Reader in the Faculty of Law, Australian National University. Her research is primarily in the area of constitutional law, with a particular interest in courts and the judicial system, including separation of powers. Her publications include a number of articles on aspects of Chapter III of the Australian Constitution. With Brian Opeskin, she co-edited The Australian Federal Judicial System (2000). She is Comments Editor of the Public Law Review, a contributor to the Oxford Companion to the High Court of Australia (2001) and has served on the Executive of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law. From 2000 to 2003 she served as ANU Faculty of Law Sub-Dean.

John Williams is a senior lecturer in the Law School at the University of Adelaide. He teaches and researches in the areas of constitutional law and Australian legal history. He has published widely, and founded and co-edited The New Federalist: The Journal of Australian Federation History. He has been a Council member of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law since its inception.

George Winterton is a Professor of Law at the University of New South Wales. He has published widely in constitutional law, especially on the republic, the executive, and the judiciary. He has been appointed to constitutional reform bodies by both sides of politics, including the Executive Government Advisory Committee of the Constitutional Commission (1985–87), the Republic Advisory Committee (1993) and the Constitutional Convention (1998). He is General Editor of Constitutional Law and Policy Review, and has been a Council member of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law since its inception.

Leslie Zines AO is emeritus professor at the Australian National University and a visiting fellow in the law program of the Research School of Social Sciences of that university. He was formerly a Professor of Law and Dean of the Faculty of Law and from 1977 to 1992 was the Robert Garran Professor of Law. In 1992–93 he was Arthur Goodhart Professor of Legal Science at the University of Cambridge. His publications include Federal Jurisdiction in Australia (3rd edn, 2002); The High Court and the Constitution (1st edn, 1981, 4th edn, 1997); and Constitutional Change in the Commonwealth (1991).

Preface

The High Court of Australia, which has been pivotal to the Commonwealth Constitution’s successful operation and adaptation to change, celebrates its centenary in 2003. That century records many landmark constitutional cases and other controversies. While the legal aspects of these cases are analysed in constitutional texts, their other dimensions, especially the political context in which these controversies arose, have rarely been examined. This book seeks to explain these constitutional landmarks in their political, social or industrial contexts. In this way, we hope to bring these cases and controversies to the attention of an audience beyond the narrow circle of constitutional lawyers. After all, if our Constitution is grounded in popular sovereignty, it is desirable that citizens should understand their Constitution. While the lay person often finds legal cases arid, we hope that setting the cases and controversies in their political and human context will render them accessible to a wider audience. We wish to record our gratitude to a number of persons who assisted us in bringing the book to fruition: Peter Debus and his staff at Cambridge University Press for their patience and understanding as we sought to overcome the hitches inevitably arising in a project of this nature; Venetia Somerset for editing the book for the publisher; Maryanne Cassar for her word-processing and general assistance; Fiona Hamilton, Public Information Officer of the High Court of Australia; the staff at the State Library of Victoria; Dr Gail Kreltszheim and Jesper Hansen for research assistance; James Emmett for assistance in locating cartoons; and the authors of the various chapters for their co-operation in writing and refining their contributions to the book. As with all our work, we are grateful to our respective Law Schools (Monash and UNSW) for providing the necessary library and other facilities; and, above all, we thank our wives, Rose and Ros, for their encouragement and support. xxvii

xxviii PREFACE

We record our thanks to a number of sources for their kind permission in reproducing the various illustrations in the book. We have tried as best we could to track down the appropriate sources from whom permission should be sought. The cartoons captioned ‘To be swallowed whole’, ‘A bit backward’ and ‘Cornered’ are reproduced by courtesy of The Bulletin; the cartoon captioned ‘The Throwback’ is reproduced with permission from the holder of the copyright in the work of Norman Lindsay @ H. A. & C. Glad; the cartoon by Nicholson was reproduced from the Australian: www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au; the cartoon of Justice Lionel Murphy was reproduced from The Age with permission from Spooner; the Tandberg cartoons by courtesy of Ron Tandberg and The Age; the photograph of Fitzpatrick and Browne was reproduced by courtesy of the Sydney Morning Herald; and the photograph of the Mason Court was reproduced by courtesy of the High Court of Australia.

H. P. Lee George Winterton

INTRODUCTION

The Commonwealth’s Constitutional Century

H. P. Lee and George Winterton

Australia celebrated the centenary of Federation in 2001. The year 2003 marks the centenary of the High Court of Australia, which first sat on 6 October 1903 in Melbourne. The Commonwealth Constitution continues to flourish after more than a century as the founding document of the Australian federation; as J. A. La Nauze observed, Australians can ‘claim citizenship of one of the most venerable federations of the world’.1 He also remarked that Australia, together with the United States, Switzerland and Canada, were the four federations whose constitutions were framed and adopted before the end of the nineteenth century and which ‘have, so far, survived’.2 That the Australian polity has not only survived but has evolved into a prosperous independent liberal democratic nation is all the more remarkable given that the Constitution appears to be a ‘dull, remote and incomprehensible document’ which ‘seems to have no connection with life as it is actually lived’.3 Colin Howard, however, considered first appearances ‘misleading’, remarking that ‘[t]he Constitution has everything to do with life as it is actually lived in Australia’.4 An exception must, of course, be made for Chapter II, dealing with the Executive, which on its face suggests that the Governor-General runs the Commonwealth Government with the assistance of ‘the Queen’s Ministers of State’. The deceptively simple words of the Constitution have provided the battleground for a number of major constitutional controversies in Australia. The passage of over a hundred years from the inauguration of the Commonwealth has witnessed many controversies, and their resolution by the High Court (and, to a lesser extent, the Privy Council) has determined the changing patterns of constitutional interpretation and the evolution of the Commonwealth. These legal controversies

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xxx AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTIONAL LANDMARKS

reflect the great political and economic battles of the nation, for Alexis de Tocqueville’s observation regarding the United States more than 150 years ago is also largely true of Australia: ‘Scarcely any political question arises … that is not resolved, sooner or later, into a judicial question’.5 Many of the resulting cases are represented in this volume, and most continue to dominate the constitutional landscape. The sixteen ‘landmarks’ discussed in this book include a concise account of the federation process, an overview of the constitutional contribution of the High Court’s principal competitor in constitutional interpretation – the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council – and two non-judicial ‘incidents’ raising important constitutional issues: the dismissal of the Whitlam Government and the travails of Murphy J. The other twelve landmarks are cases decided by the High Court and, in two instances, also the Privy Council. Interestingly, they are evenly divided between those resulting in the expansion of Commonwealth power and those reducing it. Were one nominating the leading cases of Australian constitutional law – creating a ‘constitutional Hall of Fame’6 – the list would not be confined to these twelve cases. It would, for example, include cases such as Huddart, Parker & Co Pty Ltd v Moorehead,7 Farey v Burvett,8 the State Banking case,9 James v Commonwealth,10 the Cigamatic case,11 the Concrete Pipes case,12 Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen,13 Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation14 and Re Wakim; Ex parte McNally15 to name but a few. Cases such as these have been omitted from this volume partly to keep its size within reasonable proportions, but also because many are derived from or superseded by cases discussed in the book. Of the cases included, only the Bank Nationalisation case16 has been superseded (by Cole v Whitfield),17 although not formally overruled. The only other case which might be decided differently today is R v Richards; Ex parte Fitzpatrick and Browne,18 a case which left an ‘indelible impression’ on junior counsel for Fitzpatrick, A. F. Mason (later Mason CJ):19

The two men were convicted and imprisoned by Parliament for contempt of Parliament without being given an opportunity to address Parliament on the question of their guilt or innocence. They were convicted in absentia in the absence of any specification in the warrant of commitment of the nature of the breach of privilege of which they were convicted and after they were denied representation by counsel who was to appear on their behalf in the Committee of Privileges and in the House. As counsel who was refused leave to appear, my sense of outrage over Parliament’s denial of due process and natural justice remains undimmed after a lapse of 40 years.20

Fitzpatrick and Browne could be reversed on either or both of two grounds:21 that s. 49 of the Constitution should be interpreted more narrowly than it was in that case in the light of the separation of powers doctrine;22 and/or that the decision is incompatible with the freedom of

H. P. LEE AND GEORGE WINTERTON xxxi

political communication recognised in the ACTV and Nationwide News cases.23 However, as to the first ground, Fitzpatrick and Browne was decided by a strong High Court including Dixon CJ and Fullagar and Kitto JJ, who were generally sensitive to the importance of the separation of judicial power.24 Regarding the second ground, it must be remembered that, as Harry Evans emphasises in his chapter in this work, the contempt of Parliament was constituted not by mere defamation but by intimidation, which amounts to more than political comment. In any event, Harry Evans has little doubt that the High Court would affirm the case, and its reversal is probably less likely now than it might have been in the era of the Mason Court. One reflection of Australia’s legal adulthood is that the Privy Council’s opinion that the High Court’s decision was ‘unimpeachable’25 would carry little weight nowadays. The conspectus of the landmark constitutional cases and episodes begins with an account of the events that led to the unification of the six colonies into the new Commonwealth of Australia. John Williams explores these events and examines the role of the critical players and controversies that were associated with the movement towards federation. He highlights the centrifugal and centripetal forces at work in the crafting of the Constitution. The constitutional framers drew inspiration from the US Constitution and sought to amalgamate its federal principle with the British and colonial Australian doctrine of responsible government. A bicameral Parliament with an upper House (the Senate) and a lower House (the House of Representatives) was established. Disagreement over the Senate’s proper role regarding Supply became pivotal in the political struggles that led to the unprecedented dismissal of a popularly elected government by an appointed Governor-General in 1975. Section 57 of the Constitution provides a mechanism to resolve disputes between the two Houses over the passage of legislation, but the periods specified in that section made it unsuitable for resolving the 1975 impasse. Section 51 of the Commonwealth Constitution sets out a list of ‘concurrent’ powers, that is, law-making powers on topics which are available to both the Commonwealth and State legislatures. In the event of a conflict between a law of the Commonwealth and a law of a State, the Constitution declares supremacy to be accorded to the Common- wealth law, to the extent of the inconsistency (s. 109). The Constitution also provides expressly for certain limits on the power to make legislation. A proscription on legislative power is found in s. 92, which guarantees the absolute freedom of interstate trade and commerce. Controversies continue to simmer over the efforts of the High Court to graft implied limitations on the legislative power of the Commonwealth and the States.