List of High Court of Australia cases
This is a chronological list of significant cases decided by the High Court of Australia.
The Griffith Court: 1903–1919
- Dalgarno v Hannah (1903): the first case decided by the Court
- Peterswald v Bartley (1904): Dealt with s90 of the Australian Constitution, which prohibits States from levying excise.
- D'Emden v Pedder (1904): Concerned the question of whether salary receipts of federal government employees were subject to state stamp duty
- Jumbunna Coalmine (1908): Registration of Trade Unions incidental to pl.(xxxv)
- R v Barger (1908): High Court appeal which overruled the Harvester Judgement
- Attorney-General for NSW v Brewery Employees Union of NSW (1908) (Union Label case) 6 CLR 469: Established that pro-Union demands are capable of creating an industrial dispute under pl.(xxxv)
The Knox Court: 1919–1930
- Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd. (1920): Overturned the notion of reserved state powers and determined that each head of federal power should be interpreted simply on the words of the grant. aka the Engineers' Case
- R v Licensing Court of Brisbane; Ex parte Daniell (1920): Inconsistency between Commonwealth and State legislation, which is dealt with by s109 of the Australian Constitution.
- Roche v Kronheimer (1921): Concluded that Federal Parliament had the power to implement the Treaty of Versailles under the defence power. One view was also under the external affair power.
- Melbourne Corporation v Barry (1922): early civil liberties case, striking down a municipal attempt to regulate street marches.
- Clyde Engineering Co Ltd v Cowburn (1926): Inconsistency between a Commonwealth and a State law
- R v. Clarke (1927): law of contract.
The Duffy Court 1931–1935
- R v Carter; ex parte Kisch (1934) / R v Wilson; ex parte Kisch (1934): a long round of litigation arising from the Lyons' government's attempts to exclude left-wing journalist Egon Kisch from Australia. Also known as Kisch's case. Found that Scottish Gaelic was not a European language within the meaning of the Immigration Restriction Act 1901.
- Attorney-General (New South Wales) v Trethowan (1931): which considered Premier of New South Wales Jack Lang's attempt to abolish the New South Wales Legislative Council.
- First State Garnishee case (1932)
The Latham Court: 1935–1952
The Dixon Court: 1952–1964
The Barwick Court: 1964–1981
The Gibbs Court: 1981–1987
- Attorney-General (Vic); Ex Rel Black v Commonwealth (1981) DOGS case: confirmed the wide interpretation of s 96 of the Constitution.
- Shaddock & Associates Pty Ltd v Parramatta City Council (No 1) (1981): the court decided to adopt the High Court ruling in Mutual Life & Citizens' Assurance Co. Ltd. v. Evatt (1968) over the Privy Council decision which overruled the High Court. This re-affirmed the broad approach taken to statements of negligent misrepresentation.
- Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen (1982): the constitutional validity of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975
- Actors and Announcers Equity Association v. Fontana Films Pty Ltd (1982): extent of corporations power
- R v Pearson; Ex parte Sipka (1983): found that there is no constitutional right to vote in Australia
- Commonwealth v Tasmania (1983): examined the extent of the Commonwealth's External affairs power and the corporations power, aka the Tasmanian Dams Case
- Fencott v Muller (1983): extent of corporations power
- CYSS case (1983): extent of the conciliation and arbitration power
- Hematite Petroleum Pty Ltd v Victoria (1983): deals with s90 of the Constitution.
- Chamberlain v The Queen (1984): unsuccessful challenge by Lindy Chamberlain to her conviction for murder of her daughter Azaria
- A v Hayden (1984)
- Kioa v West (1985): extended the application of the doctrine of natural justice in administrative decision making.
- Kirmani v Captain Cook Cruises Pty Ltd (No 2) (1985): application for certificate to appeal to Privy Council
- He Kaw Teh v R (1985): Strict liability / Moral culpability issues in importing prohibited imports.
- Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union v Mudginberri Station (1986)
- Williams v The Queen (1986): Admission of evidence.
The Mason Court: 1987–1995
The Brennan Court: 1995–1998
- Grollo v Palmer (1995)
- Kable v Director of Public Prosecutions for NSW (1996): Nature of the judicial power of the Commonwealth, as exercised by State supreme courts; indefinite detention repugnant to judicial power
- Wik Peoples v Queensland (1996): native title case
- Industrial Relations Act case (1996): examination of various constitutional bases for 1993 amendments to Industrial Relations Act 1998
- Leask v Commonwealth (1996) discussed the role of proportionality in the Constitution
- Lange v ABC (1997): implied rights to freedom of political communications
- Levy v Victoria (1997): implied rights to freedom of political communications
- Ha v New South Wales (1997): the court invalidated a New South Wales tobacco licensing scheme, reining in the licensing scheme exception to the prohibition states levying excise duties, contained in section 90 of the Australian Constitution.
- Kruger v Commonwealth (1997): the stolen generations case.
- CSR v Cigna Insurance (1997): rules for granting of anti-suit injunctions
- Esanda Finance Corporation Ltd v Peat Marwick Hungerfords (1997): liability of auditors to third parties
- Kartinyeri v The Commonwealth [1998] HCA 22: Hindmarsh Island Bridge Case Dispute regarding the Hindmarsh Island Bridge. Issue regarding the scope of the race power.
- Patrick Stevedores v MUA (1998): waterfront dispute case
- Wilson v Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (1998)
- Gould v Brown (1998): unsuccessful challenge to cross-vesting scheme (precursor to Re Wakim)
- Garcia v National Australia Bank (1998): Determined the circumstances under which it is unconscionable for a lender to enforce a transaction against a wife
- Bathurst City Council v PWC Properties Pty Ltd (1998): involved Council-owned land that was being used as a public car park.
The Gleeson Court: 1998 – 2008
The French Court: 2008 – present
- Cesan v The Queen (2008): Whether there was a miscarriage of justice in the conviction of two men for drug trafficking where the trial judge was asleep during parts of the trial.
- Pape v The Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia (2009): Whether the Rudd government's tax bonuses are constitutionally valid.
- Plaintiff M70/2011 & Plantiff M106 of 2011 by his Litigation Guardian v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2011)
See also