Beale v Chief Health Officer & Anor [2022] QCA 188
SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND
CITATION: Beale v Chief Health Officer & Anor [2022] QCA 188
PARTIES: JAYDEN BEALE
(applicant)
v
CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER
(first respondent)
STATE OF QUEENSLAND
(second respondent)
FILE NO/S: Appeal No 3101 of 2022
SC No 14945 of 2021
DIVISION: Court of Appeal
PROCEEDING: Miscellaneous Application – Civil
ORIGINATING
COURT:
Supreme Court at Brisbane – Unreported, 4 March 2022
(Dalton J)
DELIVERED ON: 30 September 2022
DELIVERED AT: Brisbane
HEARING DATE: 6 June 2022
JUDGES: Morrison and Bond JJA and Flanagan J
ORDERS: 1. The application for leave to appeal is refused.
2. The applicant pay the respondents’ costs of and
incidental to the application.
CATCHWORDS: PROCEDURE – MISCELLANEOUS PROCEDURAL
MATTERS – OTHER MATTERS – where the applicant
sought to challenge Directions made by the Chief Health
Officer, mandating the need to be vaccinated against the
Covid-19 virus – where the applicant commenced proceedings
seeking a Statutory Order of Review of the First and Second
Direction – where the applicant challenged the Directions on
the basis that the applicant was an aggrieved person because
his application for exemption was refused – where the Second
Direction was revoked and a Third Direction was issued – where
the primary Judge made consent orders that the respondent
give disclosure to relevant documents subject of review –
where the respondents raised the issue of disclosure with the
applicant on the basis that disclosure would prejudice the
timely hearing of all proceedings seeking to review the Chief
Health Officer’s directions – whether the applicant was an
aggrieved person in respect to the revoked Directions – where
the applicant had foreshadowed amending to challenge the
Third and Fourth Direction but had not yet done so – whether
the Directions were made in a way that was not compatible
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with the applicant’s right of freedom of religion and belief –
whether the Court should grant declaratory relief – whether the
primary judge failed to give reasons for orders made – whether
the application for leave to appeal should be granted
Civil Proceedings Act 2011 (Qld), s 10
Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld), s 5, s 13, s 58, s 59
Judicial Review Act 1991 (Qld), s 7, s 20, s 30, s 44, s 47
Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Philip Morris Inc
(1981) 148 CLR 170; [1981] HCA 39, cited
Adeva Home Solutions Pty Ltd v Queensland Motorways
Management Pty Ltd [2021] QCA 198, followed
Australian Conservation Foundation Inc v Commonwealth
(1980) 146 CLR 493; [1980] HCA 53, cited
Drew v Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd [2009] 2 Qd R 219; [2009]
QCA 66, cited
Jones v Public Trustee of Qld & Anor (2004) 209 ALR 106;
[2004] QCA 269, cited
Transurban CityLink Ltd v Allan (1999) 95 FCR 553; [1999]
FCA 1723, cited
COUNSEL: The applicant appeared on his own behalf
B I McMillan for the respondents
SOLICITORS: The applicant appeared on his own behalf
G R Cooper, Crown Solicitor for the respondents
[1] MORRISON JA: The applicant seeks to challenge two Directions made by the
Chief Health Officer, mandating the need to be vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus.
[2] The first was the Public Health and Social Measures linked to vaccination status
Direction (the First Direction). It was posted online on 7 December 2021 but did
not become effective until 17 December 2021.1
[3] The second was the Public Health and Social Measures linked to vaccination status
Direction (No 2), made on 24 December 2021 (the Second Direction).2 That
revoked the First Direction as at 24 December 2021.
[4] On 15 December 2021 the applicant commenced proceedings seeking a Statutory
Order of Review of the First Direction. The Amended Application was filed on
21 January 2022. Relevantly it challenged a decision to refuse the applicant an
exemption from the First Direction. It also sought to challenge the First and Second
Directions, in each case on the basis that the applicant was an aggrieved person
because his application for exemption had been refused. It asserted:
(a) that the First and Second Directions were contrary to s 58 of the Human Rights
Act 2019 (Qld), and affected by jurisdictional error; and
(b) the decision to refuse an exemption was contrary to s 58 of the Human Rights
Act, involved an error of law within the meaning of s 20 of the Judicial Review
Act 1991 (Qld), and was an improper exercise of power.
1 Paragraph 5 of the First Direction.
2 It was posted online on 24 December and became effective the same day: paragraph 5 of the Second
Direction.
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[5] The relief sought was as follows:
(a) paragraph 3: declaratory relief in respect of the First and Second Directions,
pursuant to s 10 of the Civil Proceedings Act 2011 (Qld), or alternatively
s 47(1) of the Judicial Review Act; and
(b) paragraph 4: a declaration in respect of the decision to refuse an exemption,
under s 30(1)(c) of the Judicial Review Act, that the applicant is not subject to
the vaccination entry requirements under the First and Second Directions.
[6] On 4 February 2022 Boddice J made consent orders on a review of the proceedings.
Those orders were part of an effort to have the applicant’s proceedings brought on for
a hearing along with others that challenged the First Direction.
[7] Order No 6 related to disclosure:
“6. On or before 4pm on 14 February 2022, the respondents give
disclosure of the following documents relevant to the first
respondent’s decision to give the direction the subject of review:
a. documents with which the first respondent was briefed;
and
b. any documents relevant to the formation of the belief in
s 362B(1) of the Public Health Act 2005 (Qld).”
[8] As can be seen, Order 6(a), concerned the documents with which the decision maker
was briefed when making the First Direction. Order 6(b) concerned a wider scope of
documents, namely those that were in the possession of the decision maker at the time
he formed the belief which was the basis upon which the First Direction was given.
[9] The respondents commenced the process of assembling the documents to review them
for those that were required to be disclosed under each part of Order 6.
[10] On 8 February 2022, the Second Direction was revoked, and a new Direction (the
Third Direction) was issued.3
[11] Yet another direction was issued on 4 March 2022: the Public Health and Social
Measures linked to Vaccination status Direction (No 4) (the Fourth Direction). That
revoked the Third Direction. However, it was not in evidence before the learned
primary judge, as it only became effective at 6 pm on 4 March.
[12] On 15 February 2022, the respondents wrote to the applicant making several points:4
(a) the Direction, the subject of the proceeding had been revoked and the Third
Direction was in force;
(b) the respondents understood that the applicant intended to amend his application
so that his proceedings were directed at the Third Direction; and
(c) because the Direction, the subject of the proceeding was no longer in force or
effect, the respondents proposed to make disclosure in accordance with Order 6
but treating it as referring to the Third Direction.
3 It was the Public Health and Social Measures linked to vaccination status Direction (No 3).
4 Affidavit of Mr Grayson, Ex LEG-14, AB 33.
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[13] On 21 February 2022, the respondents sent a list of documents complying with
Order 6(a), as it applied to the Third Direction.5 The letter made the following points:
(a) because the disclosure under the order made by Boddice J would “prejudice the
timely hearing of all the proceedings seeking review of the Chief Health
Officer’s directions”, and the matter would be reviewed on 4 March 2022, they
did not propose to give further disclosure in the proceeding;
(b) they proposed to inform the court on 4 March 2022 of the disclosure made, and
seek that the orders made by Boddice J be vacated; and
(c) the applicant was asked to confirm his position, including whether he
maintained a challenge to the First and Second Directions.
[14] The applicant replied on 22 February 2022, stating he maintained his challenge to the
First and Second Directions, and insisted on compliance with the orders made by
Boddice J.6
[15] On 22 February 2022, the respondents replied,7 stating that the documents potentially
caught by Order 6(b) numbered in the thousands. Those documents had not been
reviewed for relevance and privilege, and that process would be costly and time
consuming and “risks prejudicing the expeditious resolution of this and related
proceedings”. They foreshadowed that at the review on 4 March 2022, they would
seek to have Order 6(b) vacated.
[16] On 23 February 2022, the respondents wrote to the applicant,8 attaching a copy of the
Human Rights assessment for the Third Direction, pointing out that as the First and
Second Directions had been revoked, the applicant could no longer be aggrieved by
the decision to give those directions, and there was no utility in the court giving
declarations or other orders in respect of the First and Second Directions.
[17] On 3 March 2022, the respondents wrote to the applicant stating that they intended to
raise the issues of disclosure, the review of the First and Second Directions, and a time
for a hearing, and then made these points:9
(a) 7,229 documents had been identified as potentially the subject of Order 6(b),
of which 57 per cent had been assessed for relevance and privilege;
(b) disclosure under Order 6(b) would “prejudice the timely hearing of all of the
proceedings seeking to review the Chief Health Officer’s directions”;
(c) they would seek that Order 6(b) be vacated; and
(d) as the First and Second Directions had been revoked the applicant could no
longer be aggrieved by the decision to give those directions or seek to review
them.
[18] That was the state of the evidence when the matter was brought on for review before
the learned primary judge, on 4 March 2022.
5 Affidavit of Mr Grayson, Ex LEG-15, AB 35.
6 Affidavit of Mr Grayson, Ex LEG-16, AB 41.
7 Affidavit of Mr Grayson, Ex LEG-17, AB 43.
8 Affidavit of Mr Grayson, Ex LEG-18, AB 44.
9 Affidavit of Mr Grayson, Ex LEG-20, AB 48.
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[19] The respondents proposed that in the circumstances, namely that the First and Second
Directions in respect of which Order 6(b) was made had been revoked, Order 6(b) as
made by Boddice J should be vacated. Importantly, the respondent submitted:
(a) orders had been made with a view to bringing the proceeding on for a hearing;
(b) compliance with the disclosure order would jeopardise the timely hearing of
the various proceedings challenging the Directions, including this proceeding;10
(c) order 6(b) had been vacated in other “like proceedings”;11
(d) they proposed that if order 6(b) was not vacated, then they would need further
time to make that disclosure, but on the basis that it apply to the Third Direction.12
[20] At the review the respondents explained the facts listed above.13 The exchange
covered aspects of the other proceedings that were being reviewed with a view to
having directions to bring them all to a joint hearing.
[21] The learned primary judge addressed the draft order which had been provided, which
sought, inter alia, that Order 6(b) be vacated. Her Honour reiterated that the hearing
was a review to set a timetable for a hearing.14 The applicant was asked to address
the draft orders including vacating Order 6(b). The applicant made his submission.
The learned primary judge was not persuaded by what he said and vacated Order 6(b).
[22] The order made was as follows:
“3. The following paragraphs of the order of Boddice J dated
4 February 2022 are vacated:
(a) Paragraph 6(b).
(b) Paragraph 6(a), insofar as it relates to the revoked Public
Health and Social Measures linked to vaccination status
Direction and Public Health and Social Measures linked
to vaccination status Direction (No 2).”
[23] The effect of the order was that paragraph 6(a) remained relevant to the Third
Direction, whereas the respondent was relieved of the requirement to give disclosure
in respect of the First and Second Directions.
[24] The applicant seeks to challenge only that order. He does so on a number of bases
that include:
(a) error of law, including under s 13(1) of the Human Rights Act;
(b) failure to deliver reasons; and
(c) the respondents’ failure to disclose material was defiant of the Court’s authority.
[25] There are a number of substantial hurdles confronting acceptance of the applicant’s
contentions.
10 Affidavit of Mr Grayson, Ex LEG-15, AB 35; Ex LEG-17, AB 43; Ex LEG-20, AB 48.
11 Outline paragraph 5, AB 28.
12 Outline paragraph 6 & 7, AB 28.
13 Except those in paragraph [11] above.
14 AB 60 line 36.
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[26] First, the applicant’s proposed appeal proceeds on a fundamental misunderstanding
as to the basis upon which the learned primary judge dealt with the matter. It was a review
to make directions to take the matter to a hearing. It was quintessentially a hearing
resulting in discretionary orders relating to matters of practice and procedure. That
is apparent from the nature of the hearing, but particularly from these features:
(a) it was a review of a matter, designed to adjust a timetable to bring it on for
hearing;
(b) as circumstances changed so too did the need for previous orders to be amended
or continued;
(c) whilst the respondents proposed that Order 6(b) be vacated, they did offer an
alternative course, namely that if it remained that disclosure would require
further time, it was proposed that it be in respect of the Third Direction, the
First and Second Directions having been revoked; and
(d) her Honour was told that while the applicant had foreshadowed amending to
challenge the Third Direction, that had not yet happened; thus disclosure issues
were not finalised.
[27] There is longstanding authority concerning the restraint to be shown by an
intermediate appellate court when dealing with matters of practice and procedure.15
As was said by this Court in Adeva Home Solutions Pty Ltd v Queensland Motorways
Management Pty Ltd:16
“[13] In appeals from an exercise of judicial discretion in an
interlocutory decision concerning questions of practice and
procedure, although there is no absolute rule and each case must
be considered in light of its own particular circumstances,
generally an appellate court will not interfere unless, in addition
to error of principle, the appellant demonstrates that the order
will work a substantial injustice to one of the parties: see Just
GI Pty Ltd v Pig Improvement Co Aust Pty Ltd [2001] QCA 48 at
[14] per Williams JA (with whom Davies JA and Mullins J
agreed) and Santos Limited v Fluor Australia Pty Ltd [2020]
QCA 254 at [29].”
[28] Therefore, even if error on the part of the learned primary judge was established, the
applicant would need to show the order worked a substantial injustice. In my view,
that cannot be shown.
[29] The applicant foreshadowed to the respondents that he intended to amend the
proceedings to challenge the Third and Fourth Directions. When he does, it will
create issues as to the Third and Fourth Directions which have not yet arisen in the
proceedings. Disclosure will be required under the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules
1999 as to those matters, and the trial division of the court can adjudicate on any
issues in relation to it. If, as the applicant suggests, disclosure for the Third and
Fourth Directions will be essentially co-extensive with that for the First and Second
Directions, he will not be prejudiced. The limits under Order 6 of the order made by
15 Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Philip Morris Inc (1981) 148 CLR 170; Adeva Home
Solutions Pty Ltd v Queensland Motorways Management Pty Ltd [2021] QCA 198.
16 [2021] QCA 198 at [13].
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Boddice J did not apply to the Third and Fourth Directions, and though Order 6(a),
as modified by the orders made by the learned primary judge, extended to disclosure
by reference to the Third Direction, it did not in respect of the Fourth Direction, nor
were they made when there was an extant issue raised as to the Third and Fourth
Directions. And it must be borne in mind that the State of Queensland is subject to
model litigant obligations, so the court can anticipate that if there is disclosure to give,
it will occur.
[30] Secondly, in my view, it is doubtful that the applicant has the requisite standing to
pursue the relief in the Amended Application, which impacts upon his ability to
establish a substantial injustice as identified in Adeva.
[31] A number of features about the events must be understood:
(a) the First Direction was posted on 7 December 2021, but did not become
operative until 17 December 2021;
(b) the decision about which the applicant complains (to refuse an exemption), was
only in respect of an exemption from the First Direction; it seems the applicant
sought that exemption before the First Direction became operative as the
decision is alleged to have been made on 9 December 2021;
(c) the First Direction could not have impacted upon the applicant until it became
operative, i.e. on 17 December 2021;
(d) the First Direction was only operative for seven days, being revoked on
24 December 2021;
(e) the Second Direction was operative for 45 days, being revoked on 8 February
2022; and
(f) no exemption was sought from the operation of the Second Direction.17
[32] Once the First Direction was revoked, the applicant had effectively obtained all the
relief he sought with respect to the refusal to grant an exemption. The applicant did
not seek an exemption from the Second Direction and informed this Court that he had
not sought exemptions in respect to the Third and Fourth Directions, so there was no
further refusal to challenge.
[33] Further, whilst the applicant asserted that he had been affected in terms of his ability
to play at music venues, there was nothing in what was said to show that any such
impact fell in the seven days during which the First Direction was operative. Even
allowing the applicant some latitude in terms of proof (given he is self-represented),
there is no clear link between what the First Direction prevented and any impact on
the applicant between 17 and 24 December 2021.
[34] The applicant did not seek an exemption in respect of the Second Direction; even if
he did, no relief is sought in that respect. Therefore, nothing need be addressed in
terms of the exemption decision issue.
[35] From the time when the First and Second Directions were revoked18 the applicant
ceased to be a person who could be aggrieved under the Judicial Review Act.
Section 7(1) of that Act defines a person aggrieved as including a “person whose
17 Or the Third or Fourth Directions.
18 In the case of the First Direction, 24 December 2021; in the case of the Second Direction, 8 February 2022.
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interests are adversely affected by the decision”. Section 44 enables a person to apply
for a review “if the person’s interests are, or would be, adversely affected”. The
decisions attacked were revoked some time ago, and therefore if the applicant once
had an interest affected, that is no longer the case. Thus, the applicant does not fall
into the category of a person entitled to a review.19
[36] In other words, once the First and Second Directions were revoked, the applicant’s
rights were no more than that of any other citizen.
[37] A requirement for standing demands a connection between the applicant’s interests
and the relief sought. There must be a personal connection with the dispute. As was
said in Australian Conservation Foundation Inc v Commonwealth:20
“I would not deny that a person might have a special interest in the
preservation of a particular environment. However, an interest, for
present purposes, does not mean a mere intellectual or emotional
concern. A person is not interested within the meaning of the rule,
unless he is likely to gain some advantage, other than the satisfaction
of righting a wrong, upholding a principle or winning a contest, if his
action succeeds or to suffer some disadvantage, other than a sense of
grievance or a debt for costs, if his action fails. A belief, however
strongly felt, that the law generally, or a particular law, should be
observed, or that conduct of a particular kind should be prevented,
does not suffice to give its possessor locus standi. If that were not so,
the rule requiring special interest would be meaningless. Any plaintiff
who felt strongly enough to bring an action could maintain it.”
[38] As this Court said in Jones v Public Trustee of Qld & Anor:21
“The expression “person aggrieved” is no doubt one of wide import,
but it excludes mere busybodies (Re Whitehouse [1982] Qd R 196,
204); and the classic exposition of James LJ in Re S, ex p Sidebotham
[1880] 14 Ch D 458, 465, requires that the applicant be someone who
has “suffered a legal grievance … which has wrongfully deprived him
of something, or wrongfully refused him something, or wrongfully
affected his title to something”. See also Australian Conservation
Foundation Inc v Commonwealth (1980) 146 CLR 493, 530-531.”
[39] The reference in that passage to Australian Conservation Foundation Inc v
Commonwealth was to the following passage by Gibbs J:22
“It is quite clear that an ordinary member of the public, who has no
interest other than that which any member of the public has in
upholding the law, has no standing to sue to prevent the violation of
a public right or to enforce the performance of a public duty. There is
no difference, in this respect, between the making of a declaration and
the grant of an injunction. The assertion of public rights and the
prevention of public wrongs by means of those remedies is the
responsibility of the Attorney-General, who may proceed either ex
19 Transurban CityLink Ltd v Allan (1999) 95 FCR 553, [69].
20 (1980) 146 CLR 493 at 530-531 [20].
21 [2004] QCA 269 at [10].
22 (1980) 146 CLR 493, 526-527, [12]-[13].
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officio or on the relation of a private individual. A private citizen who
has no special interest is incapable of bringing proceedings for that
purpose, unless, of course, he is permitted by statute to do so.
The rules as to standing are the same whether the plaintiff seeks a
declaration or an injunction. In Boyce v. Paddington Borough Council
(1903) 1 Ch 109, at p 114, Buckley J. stated the effect of the earlier
authorities as follows:
“A plaintiff can sue without joining the Attorney-General in two
cases: first, where the interference with the public right is such as
that some private right of his is at the same time interfered with . . . ;
and, secondly, where no private right is interfered with, but the
plaintiff, in respect of his public right, suffers special damage
peculiar to himself from the interference with the public right.””
[40] The amended application23 has a number of features to be noted:
(a) it applies to “review the decision of Queensland Health – Health Directions
Exemption Service made on 9 December 2021 that rejected the applicant’s
application for exemption … from [the First Direction]”; that decision is
defined as “the Decision”, and the First Direction as “the Direction”;
(b) no other decision is challenged; the applicant confirmed that he applied for an
exemption only in respect of the First Direction;24
(c) it also applies for “relief in connection with the making of the Direction and its
successor [the Second Direction]”;
(d) it states that the applicant is “aggrieved by the Decision because … by reason
of the Direction and the refusal of his application for exemption [the applicant is]:
(i) unable to meaningfully participate in public life and attend many public
and private venues in Queensland”, and
(ii) “unable to practice his faith through his recreational passions such as by
performing as a professional musician in live music venues …”; and
(iii) being discriminated against on the basis of religion and contrary to the
Human Rights Act;
(e) paragraphs 1 and 2 then challenge the First and Second Directions as being
contrary to s 58 of the Human Rights Act and affected by jurisdictional error; and
(f) paragraphs 3 and 4 challenge the Decision on a variety of grounds.
[41] The final relief sought in the amended application is separately directed at the First
and Second Directions, and the Decision.
[42] As for the Directions, paragraph 3 seeks a declaration pursuant to s 10 of the Civil
Proceedings Act 2011 (Qld) or alternatively s 47(1) of the Judicial Review Act 1991
(Qld), that “the Vaccination Entry Requirements in the Directions were made in
a way that is not compatible with the applicant’s right of freedom of religion and
belief”.
23 AB 18.
24 Appeal transcript T 1-21 lines 34-38.
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[43] As for the Decision, paragraph 4 seeks an order pursuant to s 30(1)(c) of the Judicial
Review Act, “declaring the rights of the applicant to be such that (whether by
exemption or otherwise) he is not subject to the vaccination entry requirements in
sections 8 and 9 of the Directions”.
[44] Therefore, the decision which the applicant seeks to contend is contrary to s 58 of the
Human Rights Act, is the decision to refuse him an exemption. However, as the applicant
accepted, by the revocation of the First Direction, the applicant has already obtained
the relief he sought. He had achieved that relief on 24 December 2021. Further, he
did not seek an exemption under the Second, Third or Fourth Directions, so there has
never been a question of his being refused an exemption. Therefore, from the
revocation of the First Direction on 24 December 2021, there has been no live issue
as to the relief sought in paragraph 4.
[45] The final relief in paragraph 3 seeks a declaration that “the Vaccination Entry
Requirements in the Directions were made in a way that is not compatible with the
applicant’s right of freedom of religion and belief”.
[46] That relief plainly applies only to the First and Second Directions. The applicant
sought an exemption from the operation of the First Direction, but it was refused.
Had the exemption been granted the applicant would not have held any special interest
such as would have entitled him to pursue the relief in paragraph 3 in so far as it relates
to the First Direction. He did not seek an exemption from the Second Direction.
[47] But, as the applicant accepted, once the First Direction was revoked, he had achieved
the relief he sought in respect of paragraph 4 which concerned whether he was bound
by the vaccination entry requirements in each Direction. In other words, he was no
longer subject to those requirements. They are the same requirements that are at the
heart of the relief sought in paragraph 3. Once the First and Second Directions were
revoked if there was ever a question to be agitated concerning the making of the
vaccination entry requirements, it no longer existed.
[48] As far as the declaratory relief in paragraph 3 is concerned, the applicant’s interest is
not special in the sense described in Australian Conservation Foundation Inc v
Commonwealth. The applicant’s rights are the same as every other citizen. The
applicant asserted during the hearing in this Court that his interests were affected
because during the period of the First and Second Directions he had been unable to
play shows in a band, and thereby suffered loss. There are two difficulties with that.
First, as the appeal is one stricto sensu, the material is confined to that before the
learned primary judge. Secondly, what was said did not rise above assertion. As
explained in paragraph [33] above there was no evidentiary basis to conclude that the
First or Second Directions affected the applicant in a way distinct from other citizens.
[49] Thirdly, in so far as it was contended that the Human Rights Act gives rise to an
independent obligation on the court to grant relief in respect of disclosure, that
contention should be rejected. Section 5(2)(a) the Human Rights Act provides that
the Act applies to a court but only if the court is carrying out a function under Part 2
and Part 3 Division 3 of the Act. The relief sought here is under the Civil Proceedings
Act and the Judicial Review Act. No relief is sought under s 53 of the Human Rights
Act so there is no function the court performs under Part 2 and Part 3 Division 3 of
the Act.
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[50] Fourthly, the applicant’s reliance upon the general disclosure obligations under r 211
of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules does not assist the applicant. They do not
govern disclosure under an application such as this, and in any event are subject to
any order of the court.
[51] Fifthly, the applicant contended that the learned primary judge failed to give reasons
for the orders made. In my view, this contention can be rejected. Given the learned
primary judge was only reviewing the matter for the purpose of setting directions to
take the matter to a hearing, it is not unusual to have no reasons delivered for the
orders made. The learned primary judge had the benefit of written submissions from
the respondents and raised the relevant matters by reference to a draft order of which
the applicant had advance notice. The applicant was given a full opportunity to
respond, which he did. The necessity to give reasons depends on the nature of the
issues for determination and hearing itself.25 None were required here as the applicant
was fully aware of the process being followed and why the learned primary judge was
asking for his views on the draft order.
[52] In any event, upon a consideration of the transcript of the hearing the learned primary
judge did give brief but adequate reasons.26
[53] It has not been demonstrated that the discretion exercised by the learned primary
judge miscarried in any way, nor has it been demonstrated that the applicant has
suffered a substantial injustice by reason of the impugned order having been made.
Conclusion
[54] For the reasons expressed above the application for leave to appeal must be dismissed.
[55] I propose the following orders:
1. The application for leave to appeal is refused.
2. The applicant pay the respondents’ costs of and incidental to the application.
[56] BOND JA: I agree with the reasons for judgment of Morrison JA and with the orders
proposed by his Honour.
[57] FLANAGAN J: I agree with the reasons and orders proposed by Morrison JA.
25 Drew v Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd [2009] 2 Qd R 219; [2009] QCA 66.
26 AB 62 line 36 to AB 63 line 6; AB 63 lines 40-45; AB 64 lines 1-30.
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Official source: https://www.sclqld.org.au/caselaw/QCA/2022/188