FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

 

Sharples v Australian Electoral Commission (No 2) [2007] FCA 2103



 


 


 


 


TERRY PATRICK SHARPLES AND THE FISHING PARTY v AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN FISHING & LIFESTYLE PARTY, KEVIN COLLINS, WAYNE BAYNE, ALEX WHITTEN, MALCOLM BAIRSTOW AND COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA

 

ACD 53 OF 2007

 

FLICK J

11 DECEMBER 2007

CANBERRA


IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

 

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY DISTRICT REGISTRY

ACD 53 OF 2007

 

BETWEEN:

TERRY PATRICK SHARPLES

First Applicant

 

THE FISHING PARTY

Second Applicant

 

AND:

AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION

First Respondent

 

AUSTRALIAN FISHING & LIFESTYLE PARTY

Second Respondent

 

KEVIN COLLINS

Third Respondent

 

WAYNE BAYNE

Fourth Respondent

 

ALEX WHITTEN

Fifth Respondent

 

MALCOLM BAIRSTOW

Sixth Respondent

 

COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA

Seventh Respondent

 

 

JUDGE:

FLICK J

DATE OF ORDER:

11 DECEMBER 2007

WHERE MADE:

CANBERRA

 

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

 

  1. Leave to appeal the orders made on 11 December 2007 in respect to Order 1 of the Notice of Motion dated 29 November 2007 be refused.

Note:    Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.



IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

 

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY DISTRICT REGISTRY

ACD 53 OF 2007

 

BETWEEN:

TERRY PATRICK SHARPLES

First Applicant

 

THE FISHING PARTY

Second Applicant

 

AND:

AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION

First Respondent

 

AUSTRALIAN FISHING & LIFESTYLE PARTY

Second Respondent

 

KEVIN COLLINS

Third Respondent

 

WAYNE BAYNE

Fourth Respondent

 

ALEX WHITTEN

Fifth Respondent

 

MALCOLM BAIRSTOW

Sixth Respondent

 

COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA

Seventh Respondent

 

 

JUDGE:

FLICK J

DATE:

11 DECEMBER 2007

PLACE:

CANBERRA


REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

1                     An Application is made by Mr Robert Smith, ostensibly on behalf of the Second Applicant, for leave to appeal the orders as made this afternoon in respect to the Notice of Motion dated 29 November 2007.  Those orders refused to grant leave to Mr Smith to commence or carry on proceedings on behalf of the Second Applicant.

2                     Leave to appeal is refused.

3                     In considering whether leave should or should not be granted, consideration has been given to whether the orders are attendant with sufficient doubt as to warrant the granting of leave or whether any injustice would be incurred if leave is refused.

4                     Spender J has previously directed attention to O 4 r 14 of the Federal Court Rules 1979 (Cth) and has made his orders.  The Second Applicant has again been given the benefit this afternoon of adducing evidence in effect to revisit the orders made by Spender J and to again seek a favourable exercise of the discretion conferred by that rule.

5                     It is not considered that there is any error in principle or any injustice suffered by refusing leave.  Accordingly, leave to appeal is refused.

ORDERS

6                     The orders of the Court are:

1.      Leave to appeal the orders made on 11 December 2007 in respect to Order 1 of the Notice of Motion dated 29 November 2007 be refused.


I certify that the preceding six (6) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Flick.


Associate:


Dated:         22 January 2008


The First Applicant:

Self-represented

 

 

Party seeking leave to appear on behalf of the Second Applicant:

Mr R Smith

 

 

Counsel for the Respondent:

Ms C Dowsett

 

 

Date of Hearing:

11 December 2007

 

 

Date of Judgment:

11 December 2007