Coolwell v Chief Executive, Department of Justice and Attorney-General & Anor [2015] QSC 213
SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND
CITATION: Coolwell v Chief Executive, Department of Justice and Attorney-
General & Anor [2015] QSC 213
PARTIES: COOLWELL
(applicant)
v
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
(first respondent)
and
SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND REGIONAL PAROLE
BOARD
(second respondent)
FILE NO/S: BS3363/15
DIVISION: Trial Division
PROCEEDING: Application
DELIVERED ON: 31 July 2015
DELIVERED AT: Brisbane
HEARING DATE: 23 July 2015
JUDGE: Jackson J
ORDER: The order of the court is as follows:
1. The decision of the second respondent on 19 September
2014 to grant a parole order subject to conditions and
the parole order made on that date are set aside.
2. The decision of the second respondent on 19 September
2014 to suspend the parole order and the order for
suspension of the parole order made on that date are
set aside.
3. The decision of the second respondent on 17 December
2014 to cancel the parole order and the order to cancel
the parole order made on that date are set aside.
4. Declare that the applicant was entitled to be released
on parole on 9 October 2014.
5. Declare that the first respondent is obliged to release
the applicant on parole by issuing a parole order.
-- 1 of 12 --
2
CATCHWORDS: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – JUDICIAL REVIEW –
GROUNDS OF REVIEW – FAILURE TO OBSERVE
STATUTORY PROCEDURE – where the applicant was
sentenced to detention for 5 years for offences committed as a
child – where the applicant became eligible for parole after
serving 70 per cent of the period of detention – where the second
respondent made decisions to grant a parole order and to suspend
the parole order on the same day and to cancel the parole order at
a later date – where the applicant applied for a statutory order for
review of the decisions of the second respondent – where the
applicant sought an order in the nature of mandamus for release on
parole and an injunction against a further suspension or
cancellation order – whether the second respondent’s decisions
and orders were made invalidly
Acts Interpretation Act 1954 (Qld), ss 4, 32A, 32AA
Corrective Services Act 2006 (Qld), ss 176, 180, 187, 193, 194,
199, 194, 200, 201, 205
Youth Justice Act 1992 (Qld), ss 132, 138, 175, 227, 228, 276B,
276D, 363
Youth Justice Act Amendment Act 2014 (Qld), s 20
Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue
(2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41, cited
Attorney-General v Great Eastern Railway Co [1880] 5 App Cas
473, followed
Egan v Willis (1998) 195 CLR 424; [1998] HCA 71, followed
Fenton v Hampton (1858) 11 Moo PCC 347; 14 ER 727, followed
Foster v Shaddock [2015] QSC 36, considered
Plaintiff M47/2012 v Director-General of Security (2012) 251
CLR 1; [2012] HCA 46, applied
Trolly, Draymen and Carters Union of Sydney and Suburbs v
Master Carriers Association of New South Wales (1905) 2 CLR
509; [1905] HCA 20, followed
COUNSEL: S Keim SC and M Black for the applicant
D Kent QC and M Woodford for the respondent
SOLICITORS: Prisoners’ Legal Service for the applicant
Crown Solicitor for the respondent
[1] Jackson J: On 19 September 2014, the second respondent purported to make a parole
order under s 276D(9) of the Youth Justice Act 1992 (Qld) (“YJA”) that the applicant
as a “prisoner is to be released to a parole order on 19 September 2014”, subject to
conditions. I will describe the decision to make the parole order as “the parole
decision”.
[2] Second, also on 19 September 2014, the second respondent made an order to suspend
the parole order. I will describe the decision to make the suspension order as “the
suspension decision”. The ground of the decision was that the second respondent
“reasonably believes that the prisoner poses an unacceptable risk of committing an
offence”. The power relied on was s 205(2) of the Corrective Services Act 2006 (Qld)
(“CSA”).
-- 2 of 12 --
3
[3] Third, on 17 December 2014 the second respondent made an order to cancel the
parole order. I will describe the decision to make the cancellation order as “the
cancellation decision”. The ground of the decision is that the second respondent
“reasonably believes that the prisoner poses an unacceptable risk of committing an
offence.” The power relied on was s 205(2) of the CSA.
[4] The applicant applies for judicial review and an order quashing or setting aside the
parole decision, the suspension decision and the cancellation decision and the orders
made by or under those decisions.
[5] As well, the applicant applies for an order in the nature of mandamus directing the
first respondent to issue a parole order requiring that the applicant be released to
parole effective 9 October 2014.
[6] Lastly, the applicant applies for an injunction restraining the first and second
respondents from suspending or cancelling any parole order issued to the applicant
before he is in fact (meaning physically) released on parole.
[7] The applicant was and is in custody by reason of an order made under s 175(1)(g) of
the YJA. The order was that he be detained for a period of five years. Under s 227(1)
of the YJA he must be released from detention after serving 70 per cent of the period
of detention. Taking into account the period of pre-sentence custody which he had
served at the time the detention order was made, the five year period of detention
expires on 10 April 2016. Accordingly, although there was some confusion about the
date at the time of the parole order and the suspension order, the applicant was entitled
to be released on a supervised release order under ss 227 and 228 of the YJA on 9
October 2014.
[8] The applicant was not released from custody on that day because of the parole order
and the suspension order.
Part 8 Division 2A of the YJA
[9] As previously stated, the second respondent purported to make the parole order under
s 276D(9) of the YJA. Section 276D is contained in Pt 8 Div 2A of the YJA.
[10] Sections 276B and 276D in their present form were introduced to the YJA by s 20 of
the Youth Justice Act Amendment Act 2014 (Qld) (“YJAA2014”). They commenced
on 28 March 2014. They relevantly provide:
“276B Application of div 2A
This division applies to the following (each a relevant
individual)—
(a) a child who—
(i) has been ordered to serve a period of detention under a
detention order; and
(ii) will, during the period of detention, turn 17 years; and
(iii) from the day the child turns 17 years (the transfer day), has
to serve part of the period of detention for a period (the
unserved period of detention) that is 6 months or more; and
(iv) will not, within 6 months after the transfer day, be required
to be released under section 227;
-- 3 of 12 --
4
(b) an adult who—
(i) either—
(A) is 17 years and is sentenced for an offence
committed by the adult as a child; or
(B) was 17 years at the time the adult was found guilty
of an offence committed as a child and is 18 years or
more at the time the adult is sentenced for the
offence; and
(ii) is ordered to serve a period of detention under a detention
order (the transferred detention order) that is 6 months or
more; and
(iii) will not, within 6 months after being sentenced, be required
to be released.
…
276D Application of Corrective Services Act 2006
(1) The Corrective Services Act 2006 applies to the relevant individual.
(2) A prison transfer direction or a transferred detention order is taken
for all purposes to be a sentence to a period of imprisonment equal
to the unserved period of detention or the period of detention.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), the relevant individual must be released
on parole on the day the relevant individual would have been
released under a supervised release order as if the prison transfer
direction had not been given or transferred detention order had not
been made.
(4) Subsection (3) does not prevent—
(a) the earlier release of the relevant individual under an
exceptional circumstances parole order; or
(b) the continued custody of the relevant individual for the
unserved part of any other sentence of imprisonment
imposed against the relevant individual.”
[11] Section 276D of the YJA applies to a “relevant individual”. As defined in s 276B(b)
a “relevant individual” includes an “adult”1 who “is 17 years and is sentenced” for an
offence committed by the adult as a child or an adult who “was 17 years at the time
the adult was found guilty” “and is 18 years or more at the time the adult is sentenced
for the offence” and who “is ordered” to serve a period of detention under a detention
order that is six months or more and will not within six months after being sentenced
be required to be released under s 227.
[12] By its text, s 276B applies where an individual “is sentenced”. It operates from the
time of its commencement. Neither s 276B nor s 276D applied to the applicant when
the parole order was made because he was sentenced before s 276B and s 276D
commenced, unless a transitional provision has that effect, because he was sentenced
before 28 March 2014.
[13] Section 363 of the YJA, which was also introduced by YJAA2014, applies to a child
who at the commencement was serving a period of detention. However, the applicant
was then an adult, not a child.
1 “Adult” is defined in Schedule 4 to be a person who is not a child. “Child” is defined to mean a
person who has not turned 17 years.
-- 4 of 12 --
5
[14] The applicant was not, therefore, a “relevant individual” for the purposes of s 276D
at the time of the parole decision.
[15] As previously stated, the second respondent, not the first respondent, purported to
make the parole decision and to make a parole order relying on s 276D(9) of the YJA
and s 200 of the CSA. Subsection 276D(9) did not exist as at the date of the parole
decision. That subsection was deleted on 28 March 2014, by s 20 of YJAA2014,
although the current s 276D(3) makes similar provision. However, as previously
explained, the applicant was not a “relevant person” within the meaning of s 276D as
it operated after 28 March 2014.
[16] Section 200 is not the source of any power to make a parole order. It only provides
for the conditions that may be attached to a parole order.
Part 6 Division 11 of the YJA
[17] Part 6 Division 11 of the YJA also makes provision for a child offender who becomes
an adult. Under s 132, “offender” in Pt 6 Div 11 of the YJA means a person who has
committed an offence as a child and since that offence has become an adult. That
includes the applicant.
[18] Under s 138(3) of the YJA, a period of detention to which the offender is sentenced
for a child offence must be served in a corrective services facility. A “child offence”
is one committed by a “child”. The applicant’s offence was a child offence.
[19] By s 138(6) of the YJA, the CSA applies to the applicant in relation to the period of
detention served in a corrective services facility under s 138(3). Section 138(7)
provides:
“However, the offender may only, and must, be released on parole
on the day the offender would have been released under a supervision
order if the offender was serving a period of detention in a detention
centre.” (emphasis added)
[20] Under Sch 4 of the YJA, “parole” is defined to mean a parole order under the CSA.
It follows that the provision for release on parole under s 138(7) of the YJA requires
the making of a parole order under the CSA.
[21] As already mentioned, s 227(1) of the YJA provides that a child sentenced to serve a
period of detention must be released from detention after serving 70 per cent of the
period of detention.
[22] Section 228(1) of the YJA provides that at the end of the period after which a child is
required to be released under s 227, the chief executive must make an order releasing
the child from detention. Such an order is termed a “supervised release order”.
[23] There is no dispute that although the applicant was an adult at the time of sentence he
was a child within the meaning of s 227. There is no dispute that s 227(1) would have
applied to him, but for s 138 of the YJA.
[24] Thus, according to s 138(7), the applicant should have been released on parole on 9
October 2014.
-- 5 of 12 --
6
[25] Subsection 138(7) of the YJA does not expressly provide that the chief executive
(under the CSA) or a parole board is to issue or make a parole order. Instead, it
operates as a positive statutory command that the offender must be released on parole
on the day they would have been released under a supervised release order. Taken
together with the definition of “parole” in Sch 4 of the YJA, the subsection
contemplates that a supervised release order will not in fact be made and provides
instead that a release on parole will occur by means of a parole order under the CSA.
Parole under the CSA
[26] Under the CSA, a release on parole order is made by the “issue”2 of a court ordered
parole order or “by”3 a parole order. There are three main pathways.
[27] The first pathway is that a prisoner may apply for an “exceptional circumstances
parole order” under s 176 of the CSA. The application is made to the parole board
that may hear and decide the application under s 187. The applicant did not apply for
an exceptional circumstances parole order.
[28] The second pathway is for the chief executive to issue a court ordered parole order
under s 199(1) of the CSA. Section 199 provides:
“199 Court ordered parole order
(1) The chief executive must issue a court ordered parole order for a
prisoner in accordance with the date fixed for the prisoner’s release
on parole under the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, part 9,
division 3.
(2) However, if the prisoner is being detained on remand for an
offence, the chief executive can not issue the court ordered parole
order unless—
(a) the prisoner is granted bail in relation to the offence under
the Bail Act 1980; or
(b) the charge for the offence is withdrawn.
(3) The chief executive must give a copy of the court ordered parole
order to the prisoner.
(4) The prisoner must—
(a) keep the copy of the court ordered parole order in the
prisoner’s possession while released on parole; and
(b) if asked by a police officer or corrective services officer,
produce the copy for the officer’s inspection.
(5) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a prisoner to whom
section 185A applies.”
[29] Under s 199(1), the chief executive must issue a “court ordered parole order” for a
prisoner in accordance with the date fixed for the prisoner’s release on parole under
the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, Pt 9, Div 3. A “court ordered parole order” is
defined in Sch 4 of the CSA to mean an order issued by the chief executive under s
199 in accordance with a court order made under the Penalties and Sentences Act
1992, s 160B(3) fixing the date for the prisoner to be released on parole. That is, an
2 Corrective Services Act 2006 (Qld), s 199(1).
3 Corrective Services Act 2006 (Qld), s 194(1).
-- 6 of 12 --
7
order where a court fixes a parole release date, when imposing a sentence for a period
of imprisonment of three years or less.
[30] The power and duty under s 199(1) are conferred on the chief executive. But it is a
power confined to issuing a “court ordered parole order”. The release of an offender
under s 138(7) of the YJA is not the issue of a “court ordered parole order”. No date
for the applicant’s release was fixed under the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992
(Qld), Pt 9 Div 3.
[31] The third pathway applies when the sentencing court determines or fixes a “parole
eligibility date”. A “parole eligibility date” is defined in Sch 4 of the CSA to mean,
for a prisoner, the parole eligibility date applying to the prisoner under Ch 5 Pt 1 Div
1 Subdiv 2 of the CSA. In that case, under s 180(1) of the CSA, a prisoner may apply
for a parole order if the prisoner has reached the prisoner’s parole eligibility date.
[32] Section 180 of the CSA provides:
“180 Applying for parole order etc.
(1) A prisoner may apply for a parole order if the prisoner has reached
the prisoner’s parole eligibility date in relation to the prisoner’s
period of imprisonment.
(2) However, a prisoner can not apply for a parole order—
(a) if a previous application for a parole order made in relation
to the period of imprisonment was refused—
(i) until the end of the period decided by the parole
board that refused the previous application; or
(ii) unless a parole board consents; or
(b) if an appeal has been made to a court against the conviction
or sentence to which the period of imprisonment relates—
until the appeal is decided; or
(c) otherwise—more than 180 days before the prisoner’s parole
eligibility date.
(3) The application must be made—
(a) in the approved form; and
(b) to the parole board that may, under section 187, hear and
decide the application.
(4) A parole order for a prisoner may start on or after the prisoner’s
parole eligibility date.”
[33] When an application for parole is made under s 180, a parole board, which is either
the Queensland board or a regional board such as the second respondent, must hear
and decide the application for parole under s 187 of the CSA. Under s 193(1), the
parole board required to consider a prisoner’s application for a parole order must
decide either to grant the application or to refuse to grant the application. When it
decides to grant an application for parole, under s 194(1) of the CSA, a parole board
may release a prisoner on parole by a parole order.
[34] Section 194 provides:
“194 Types of parole orders granted by parole board
(1) A parole board may, by a parole order—
-- 7 of 12 --
8
(a) release any prisoner on parole, if the board is satisfied that
exceptional circumstances exist in relation to the prisoner;
or
(b) release an eligible prisoner on parole.
(2) If the prisoner is to be released on parole as mentioned in
subsection (1)(a), the board must note on the order that it is an
exceptional circumstances parole order.
(3) The board must give a copy of the parole order to the prisoner.
(4) The prisoner must—
(a) keep the copy of the parole order in the prisoner’s
possession while released on parole; and
(b) if asked by a police officer or corrective services officer,
produce the copy for the officer’s inspection.
(5) In this section—
eligible prisoner means a prisoner, who—
(a) may apply for the parole order under section 180(1); and
(b) is eligible for the parole order under section 181, 181A, 182,
182A, 183, 184, 185 or 185B.”
Chapter 5 Part 1 Division 5 of the CSA
[35] Chapter 5 Part 1 Division 5 of the CSA confers powers to amend, suspend or cancel
a parole order. Under s 201(2) the chief executive may, by written order, suspend a
parole order if the chief executive reasonably believes the prisoner, inter alia, poses a
serious and immediate risk of harm to someone else or poses an unacceptable risk of
committing an offence.
[36] Further, under s 205(2)(a) of the CSA, a parole board may by written order suspend
or cancel a parole order if the board reasonably believes the prisoner subject to the
parole order, inter alia, poses a serious risk of harm to someone else or poses an
unacceptable risk of committing an offence.
[37] In the present case, the suspension decision and the cancellation decision were both
purportedly made under s 205(2)(a) of the CSA by the second respondent.
No power to make a parole order under s 194
[38] The applicant’s principal contention is that the second respondent had no power to
make a parole order under s 194 of the CSA because there was no relevant application
before it and no power otherwise to make a parole order. The applicant was simply
a person entitled to release under s 138(7) of the YJA on the day that he would have
been released under a supervised release order.
[39] In my view, the second respondent had no power to make a parole order under s 194
of the CSA in relation to the applicant. The applicant was not an “eligible prisoner”
within the meaning of s 194(1)(b). He did not make an application under s 180. He
was not a person who had reached a “parole eligibility date”. An “eligible prisoner”
under s 194(1)(b) is at least someone who has reached the prisoner’s parole eligibility
date in relation to the prisoner’s period of imprisonment under s 180(1). It may also
be required that the prisoner makes an application for parole under s 180. Either way,
the applicant was not an “eligible prisoner”.
-- 8 of 12 --
9
[40] It follows that the parole decision was not authorised by s 194. Unless some other
section of the YJA or CSA authorised the second respondent to make the parole
decision and to grant the parole order, it was made without power granted or provided
for under that Act.
[41] The respondent relied on s 138(7) of the YJA. No other section was identified by the
parties.
[42] The surprising outcome of the examination of the CSA set out above is that it does
not expressly provide for either the chief executive or a parole board to make a parole
order in respect of a person entitled to release on parole under s 138(7) of the YJA.
Nevertheless, the clear meaning of s 138(7) is that a release on parole is to be made
if the subsection applies.
[43] It is a well established principle of construction that where a statute provides that
something is to be done but makes no machinery provision as to how it is to be done,
the power of the appropriate officer to do the thing will be implied.4 As French CJ
recently put it in Plaintiff M47/2012 v Director-General of Security,5
“Where a statute expressly confers upon a person or a body a power
or function or a duty, any unexpressed ancillary power necessary to
the exercise of the primary power or function, or discharge of the
duty, may be implied.”
[44] The question that arises in the present case is whether the necessary power to issue or
make a parole order is to be exercised by the chief executive or a parole board.
[45] In my view, the proper construction of s 138(7) of the YJA is that the chief executive
under the CSA is commanded to make a release of the offender or relevant individual
on parole. That construction is to be preferred because there is no discretion to be
exercised in complying with the statutory command that the offender is to be released.
There is no reason, therefore, for the question whether a parole order should be made
to go before a parole board.
[46] The respondent submits that s 199 of the CSA is the only power of the first respondent
to make a parole order under the CSA. I reject that submission because, in my view,
s 138(7) of the YJA operates impliedly to confer the power upon the first respondent.
[47] It follows that the parole decision was made without power because the second
respondent had no power to make a parole order. The power and duty to make a
release on parole by making a parole order was that of the chief executive.
[48] It also follows that the suspension decision and the cancellation decision were made
invalidly, because those decisions were conditioned on the existence of a parole order
made by the second respondent as a result of the parole decision.
[49] All three decisions must be set aside.
4 Fenton v Hampton (1858) 11 Moo PCC 347; 14 ER 727, 732; Trolly, Draymen and Carters Union of
Sydney and Suburbs v Master Carriers Association of New South Wales (1905) 2 CLR 509, 523;
Attorney-General v Great Eastern Railway Co [1880] 5 App Cas 473, 478, 481; Egan v Willis (1998)
195 CLR 424, [83].
5 (2012) 251 CLR 1, [48].
-- 9 of 12 --
10
Order in the nature of mandamus
[50] It follows, in my view, from the combined operation of s 227 and s 138(3) of the YJA
that the applicant is entitled to have the first respondent make a parole order.
[51] I infer that the first respondent has not done so or refused to do so to date because of
the contention of the respondents that the second respondent had the power to do so.
As a matter of discretion, the court may decline to grant an order in the nature of
mandamus in circumstances where it appears that a repository of power under a duty
to exercise the power has declined to do so because of a mistaken construction of the
statute granting the power. Once disabused of the erroneous construction of s 138(7),
there is no reason to think that the first respondent will not comply with his legal duty.
[52] In my view, it would be more appropriate, in these circumstances, to declare the
applicant’s right than to make an order in the nature of mandamus.
Injunction against a further suspension order or cancellation order
[53] The applicant also applies for an injunction to prevent the respondents from making
another decision that would result in the applicant physically not being released on
parole, whether by way of a decision by the first respondent under s 201(1) of the
CSA to suspend the operation of a parole order, or a decision by the second defendant
under s 205(1) of the CSA to suspend or cancel a parole order.
[54] To obtain such a final order, the applicant must prove that the respondents threaten to
make such a decision or decisions in circumstances where they will not have any
power to make another order to suspend a parole order made by the first respondent
or an order to cancel the parole order.
[55] Subsection s 138(6) has the purpose of applying the provisions of the CSA to an
offender being held in custody in a corrective services facility.
[56] Before any decision to suspend or cancel a parole order might be made under s 201(2)
or s 205(2) of the CSA, the applicant must be released on parole by the first
respondent under s 138(7), by making a parole order under the implied power to do
so. When that occurs, the question will arise whether the first respondent’s power
under s 201(2) or the second respondent’s powers under s 205(2) are available.
[57] Those sections provide, in part:
“201 Amendment or suspension
(1) The chief executive may, by written order, amend a parole order if
the chief executive reasonably believes the prisoner—
(a) has failed to comply with the parole order; or
(b) poses a serious and immediate risk of harm to himself or
herself.
Example of an amendment—
the addition of a condition imposing a curfew for the prisoner
(2) The chief executive may, by written order, suspend a parole order if
the chief executive reasonably believes the prisoner—
(a) has failed to comply with the parole order; or
-- 10 of 12 --
11
(b) poses a serious and immediate risk of harm to someone else;
or
(c) poses an unacceptable risk of committing an offence; or
(d) is preparing to leave Queensland, other than under a written
order granting the prisoner leave to travel interstate or
overseas.
(3) A written order amending a parole order has effect for the
period of not more than 28 days, stated in the written order,
starting on the day the written order is given to the prisoner.
(4) A written order suspending a parole order has effect for the
period of not more than 28 days, stated in the written order,
starting on the day the order is made.
…
205 Amendment, suspension or cancellation
(1) A parole board may, by written order, amend a parole order—
(a) by amending or removing a condition imposed under section
200(2) if the board reasonably believes—
(i) the condition, as amended, is necessary for a purpose
mentioned in the subsection; or
(ii) the condition is no longer necessary for a purpose
mentioned in the subsection; or
(b) by inserting a condition mentioned in section 200(2) if the
board reasonably believes the condition is necessary for a
purpose mentioned in the subsection; or
(c) if the board reasonably believes the prisoner poses a serious
risk of harm to himself or herself.
(2) A parole board may, by written order—
(a) amend, suspend or cancel a parole order if the board
reasonably believes the prisoner subject to the parole
order—
(i) has failed to comply with the parole order; or
(ii) poses a serious risk of harm to someone else;
or
(iii) poses an unacceptable risk of committing an
offence; or
(iv) is preparing to leave Queensland, other than
under a written order granting the prisoner
leave to travel interstate or overseas; or
(b) amend, suspend or cancel a parole order, other than a court
ordered parole order, if the board receives information that,
had it been received before the parole order was made,
would have resulted in the parole board that made the order
making a different parole order or not making a parole
order; or
(c) amend or suspend a parole order if the prisoner
subject to the parole order is charged with committing an
offence.
(3) If practicable, a parole board must, before amending a
prisoner’s parole order, give the prisoner an information
notice and a reasonable opportunity to be heard on the
proposed amendment.
-- 11 of 12 --
12
(4) A parole board is not required to give the prisoner an
information notice or a reasonable opportunity to be heard if
the parole board suspends or cancels the prisoner’s parole
order.
(5) A written order amending, suspending or cancelling a parole
order has effect from when it is made by the parole
board…”
[58] The expression “parole order” is defined in Sch 4 of the CSA to mean, inter alia,
either a parole order mentioned in s 194 or a court ordered parole order (one made
under s 199). Neither of those categories of parole order is the basis of the parole
order to which the applicant is entitled. The other categories within the definition of
“parole order” do not apply either.
[59] That is, there is no express provision of the definition of “parole order” that
encompasses a parole order of the kind that might be made under the implied power
to grant one in s 138(7) of the YJA.
[60] Therefore, there is a question whether the powers under s 201(2) or s 205(2) of the
CSA are available if a parole order is made by the first respondent in respect of the
applicant. However, that point was not argued by the applicant or made a ground of
the application for an injunction.
[61] In these circumstances, it would not be appropriate to finally decide whether a parole
order made by the first respondent under s 138(7) is a “parole order” within the
meaning of ss 201(2) and 205(2) of the CSA because, properly construed, a “contrary
intention” sufficiently appears in those subsections or that the definition of “parole
order” in Sch 4 of the CSA, by reason of “the context or subject matter”, is not to be
treated as exhaustive and to that extent does not apply.6
[62] The applicant’s point was a different one, namely that the power in s 201(2) or the
powers in s 205(2) are not engaged until a prisoner has been physically released on
parole. That is, there is no power to make a decision to suspend a parole order or a
decision to cancel a parole order until the applicant is physically released into the
community.
[63] In my view, that argument must be rejected. There is no textual support for it in the
language of the sections or their statutory context. The powers in ss 201(2) and 205(2)
of the CSA apply to a court ordered parole order made under s 199 of the CSA. In
Foster v Shaddock7 Daubney J held, in my view rightly, that a court ordered parole
order made under s 199 may be suspended under s 201(2) before the prisoner has
been physically released.8
[64] It is not clear that any order to suspend or to cancel a parole order made by the first
respondent in respect of the applicant before his physical release would be invalid.
Accordingly, I decline to grant the injunction applied for by the applicant.
[65] I will hear the parties on the question of costs.
6 Acts Interpretation Act 1954 (Qld), ss 4, 32A and 32AA; Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v
Commissioner of Territory Revenue (2009) 239 CLR 27.
7 [2015] QSC 36.
8 [2015] QSC 36, [11]-[16].
-- 12 of 12 --
Official source: https://www.sclqld.org.au/caselaw/QSC/2015/213