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Justice Windeyer and the Constitution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 January 2025

H Burmester
H Burmester*
Affiliation:
General Counsel Division, Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department
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Extract

The proper approach to constitutional interpretation, and the role of the High Court in that interpretation, have recently begun to be widely debated, not just in legal circles but also in the wider community. This debate has been stimulated in part by significant decisions like the Franklin Dam case, and proposals to give judges jurisdiction to interpret a Bill of Rights. In the United States a never ending debate continues on the question of judicial review of the Constitution without any consensus being apparent on what is the proper role of the Supreme Court. Nor should one expect any similar debate in Australia necessarily to lead to agreement on what is a proper approach to constitutional interpretation.

As part of the debate, a study of the approach taken by individual judges can, it is suggested, help to illuminate recurring issues, illustrate an approach that has in fact been followed and provide a contrast with the approach of other present or past judges.

Type
Research Article
Information
Federal Law Review , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , June 1987 , pp. 65 - 84
Copyright
Copyright © 1987 The Australian National University

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Footnotes

The views expressed in this article are personal to the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Commonwealth or the Department.

References

1 (1983) 158 CLR 1.

2 See, for instance, Galligan, DJ, “Judicial Review and Democratic Principles: Two Theories” (1983) 57 ALJ 69.Google Scholar

3 Thomson, JA, “Principles and Theories of Constitutional Interpretation and Adjudication: Some Preliminary Notes” (1982) 13 MULR 597.Google Scholar

4 See for general background, Neumann, E, The High Court of Australia, (1971) 27-28, 36-37Google Scholar, 121. See also Transcript, Ceremonial Sitting, High Court, 1 December 1987; Sydney Morning Herald, 24 November 1987, 8.

5 D Marr, Barwick, (1980) 108.

6 Ibid 222.

7 Ibid Ch 17, Ch 18.

8 See, for instance, in the last judgment by Murphy J, Miller v TCN Channel Nine (1986), 161 CLR 556,579, his support for an implied freedom of communication; Kingswell v R (1985) 159 CLR 264, 296 per Deane J.

9 V Windeyer, “Peden”, Blackacre, v.xx (1946); Evatt, HY, “Professor Peden as a Teacher of Constitutional Law” in Bavin (ed), The Jubilee Book of the Law School of the University of Sydney 1890-1940 (1940) 34-37.Google Scholar

10 Personal interview with author, May 1985.

11 Legal History, (1st ed 1938).

12 Neumann, , supra n 4, 77.Google Scholar

13 Vindeyer, Some Aspects of Australian Constitutional Law (1972) 4.

14 Supra n II. at 3.

15 Windeyer, V, “Learning the Law” (1961) 35 AU 102, 108.Google Scholar

16 Supra n 13, 36-37.

17 See for instance Windeyer, V, “History in law and Law in history” (1973) 11 Alberta L Rev 123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

18 Legal History (1938) xiv.

19 Summers, RS, Instrumentalism and American Legal Theory (1982)Google Scholar.

20 Pohlman, HL, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes and Utilitarian Jurisprudence (1984).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

21 Holmes, OW, The Common Law (1968) 168Google Scholar; White, GE, The American Judicial Tradition (1976) 175.Google Scholar

22 See White, , supra n 21, 175Google Scholar for the conflict between Holmes and liberal ideals.

23 See, for instance, the respective judgments of Gibbs CJ and Dawson J in the Franklin Dam case (1983) 158 CLR 1.

24 Strickland v Rocla Concrete pipes Ltd (1971) 124 CLR 468,512. See also Tasmanian Breweries case (1970) 123 CLR 361, 394.

25 Spratt v Hermes (1965) 114 CLR 226, 272.

26 Western Australia v Chamberlain Industries (1970) 121 CLR 1, 26.

27 Victoria v Commonwealth (1971) 122 CLR 353, 394-395.

28 For example Bonser v La Macchia (1969) 122 CLR 177.

29 See argument in Strickland v Roela Concrete Pipes (1971) 124 CLR 468 reproduced in (1972) 5 FL Rev 159-160.

30 Attorney-General (Vic) v Commonwealth (1962) 107 CLR 529, 582.

31 (1970) 123 CLR 89.

32 (1970) 125 CLR 93.

33 (1970) 123 CLR 89, Ibid 132.

34 Ibid 132.

35 (1970) 125 CLR 93.

36 Ibid 114-115.

37 Ibid, quoting from Gompers v United States 233 US 604, 610 (1914). This passage was also quoted in Chapman v Suttie (1963) 110 CLR 321, 345.

38 (1968) 117 CLR 390.

39 Ibid 408.

40 Ibid 409.

41 Ibid 407-408.

42 Quoted in Missouri v Holland 252 US 4I6, 433 (1920), referred to in Damjanovic & Sons Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1968) 117 CLR 390, 407.

43 Australian Social Welfare Union case (1983) 153 CLR 297, 314, endorsing Jumbunna v Victorian Coal Miners' Association (1908) 6 CLR 309, 367-368.

44 Fishwick v Cleland (1960) 106 CLR 186, 197 (the whole court).

45 Lane, PH, “High Court Techniques” (1969) 43 ALJ 172.Google Scholar

46 (1959) 107 CLR 208, 275.

47 Ibid, referred to by Mason Jin Queensland Electricity Commission v Commonwealth (1985) 159 CLR 192.

48 (1970) 123 CLR 361.

49 Ibid 389-390.

50 Ibid 390.

51 Ibid 403.

52 (1959) 103 CLR 256.

53 Ibid 308.

54 Australian Coastal Shipping Commission v O'Reilly (1962) 107 CLR 46, 71.

55 (1971) 122 CLR 353.

56 Ibid 404.

57 See, for instance, his judgment in Western Australia v Hamersley Iron pty Ltd (No 2) (1969) 120 CLR 74, 87 ff.

58 In correspondence with the author in July 1985, Sir Victor Windeyer rejected any role for a presumption of constitutionality and rejected the idea that the High Court should defer to the Legislature.

59 For example, Northeastern Dairy case (1975) 134 CLR 559. See now Cole v Whitfield (1988) 78 ALR 42.

60 Attorney-General (Vic) v Commonwealth (1962) 107 CLR 529.

61 Ibid 576.

62 Ibid 580.

63 Ibid 581.

64 Ibid 582.

65 For example, Gazzo v Comptroller of Stamps (Vic) (1981) 149 CLR 227.

66 (1965) 112 CLR 206.

67 Ibid 237.

68 Ibid.

69 (1959) 101 CLR 467, 502.

70 Airlines of New South Wales v New South Wales (No 1) (1964) 113 CLR 1 and (No 2) (1965) 113 CLR 54.

71 Airlines of New South Wales v New South Wales (No 1) (1964) 113 CLR 1, 50.

72 Ibid 51.

73 See his judgments in both Airlines cases, supra n 70.

74 Airlines of New South Wales v New South Wales (No 2) (1965) 113 CLR 54.

75 See Franklin Dam Case (1983) 158 CLR 1 per Mason, Murphy, Brennan and Deane JJ. See also Richardson v Forestry Commission (1988) 77 ALR 237.

76 Ibid n 258.

77 (1965) 113 CLR 54.

78 Ibid 151.

79 Supra

80 (1962) 107 CLR 529.

81 (1969) 122 CLR 177.

82 Ibid 221-222.

83 (1975) 135 CLR 337.

84 (1965) 113 CLR 54.

85 Western Australia v Chamberlain Industries (1970) 121 CLR 1

86 (1920) 28 CLR 129.

81 Ibid.

88 Ibid.

89 (1971) 122 CLR 353, 396. Compare the approach by Mason Jin Wacando v Commonwealth (1981) 148 CLR 1, 21 to a change in attitude to the power of legislatures to pass extra-territorial laws.

90 See his 1972 lectures, supra n 13.

91 See Commonwealth v Colonial Combing, Spinning and Weaving Co Ltd (1922) 31 CLR 421, 438-439, quoted in Z Cowen, Isaac Isaacs (1967) 126.

92 See Detmold, MJ, The Australian Commonwealth (1985)Google Scholar for recent academic support for this view.

93 Victoria v Commonwealth (1971) 122 CLR 353, 394.

94 Ibid.

95 Ibid 395.

96 Ibid.

97 Victoria v Commonwealth (1971) 122 CLR 353.

98 Ibid

99 (1983) 158 CLR 1 139, 212-214, 281.

100 Queensland Electricity Commission v Commonwealth (1985) 159 CLR 192.

101 Victoria v Commonwealth (1971) 122 CLR 353, 401.

102 Ibid 402, quoting Starke J in Melbourne Corporation v Commonwealth (1947) 74 CLR 30, 70.

103 (1962) 107 CLR 529.

104 Damjanovic & Sons Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1968) 117 CLR 390, 406. See Brennan J quoting Windeyer J on this point in TCN Channel Nine case (1986) 161 CLR 556, 599.

105 Damjanovic & Sons Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1968) 117 CLR 390, 406.

106 Ibid 410.

107 See the similar views of Mason j in Northeastern Dairy Co Ltd v Dairy Industry Authority of NSW (1975) 134 CLR 559, 615.

108 (1968) 117 CLR 390.

109 Associated Steamships Pty Ltd v Western Australia (1969) 120 CLR 92; Chapman v Suttie (1963) 110 CLR 321.

110 For example, Taylor, Menzies and Owen JJ in Chapman v Suttie (1963) 110 CLR 321.

111 Cole v Whitfield (1988) 78 ALR 42.

112 (1959) 103 CLR 452.

113 Western Interstate v Madsen (1961) 107 CLR 102, 117 and Egg Marketing Board v Bonnie Doone Trading Company (1962) 107 CLR 27, 44.

114 Deacon v Mitchell (1965) 112 CLR 353.

115 SOS (Mowbray) v Mead (1972) 124 CLR 529.

116 Damjanovic & Sons Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1968) 117 CLR 390, 411. See a similar view of Mason J in relation to s 116 of the Constituion: the DOGS case (1981) 146 CLR 559, 615. See also Cole v Whitfield (1988) 78 ALR 42.

117 Deacon v Mitchell (1965) 112 CLR 353, 372.

118 Chapman v Suttie (1963) 110 CLR 321.

119 (1968) 117 CLR 390.

120 Coper, M, Freedom of Interstate Trade Under the Australian Constitution (1983) 200.Google Scholar

121 SOS (Mowbray) v Mead (1972) 124 CLR 529, 574-575; see also Damjanovic & Sons Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1968) 117 CLR 390, 411.

122 O'Sullivan v Miracle Foods (SA) Pty Ltd (1966) 115 CLR 177, 196.

123 Cantarella v Egg Marketing Board of NSW (1972) 124 CLR 605.

124 SOS Mowbray v Mead (1972) 124 CLR 529, 578.

125 O'Sullivan v Miracle Foods (SA) Pty Ltd (1966) 115 CLR 177, 196.

126 Greutner v Everard (1960) 103 CLR 177.

127 Breen v Sneddon (1961) 106 CLR 406.

128 O'Sullivan v Miracle Foods (SA) Pty Ltd (1966) 115 CLR 177, 196.

129 Coper, , supra n 119, 232.Google Scholar

130 Ibid 269-272. See also Cole v Whitfield (1988) 78 ALR 42.

131 See generally Summers, , supra n 19.Google Scholar

132 Dennis Hotels Pty Ltd v Victoria (1960) 104 CLR 529, 592 ff; cf Western Australia v Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd (1969) 120 CLR 42, 68.

133 Western Australia v Chamberlain Industries (1970) 121 CLR l, 26.

134 (1960) 104 CLR 529.

135 Hematite Petroleum Pty ltd v Victoria (1983) 47 ALR 641.

136 Zines, L, “Mr Justice Evatt and the Constitution” (1969) 3 FL Rev 153.Google Scholar

137 Cowen, , supra n 91, 126, 145.Google Scholar

138 See Deane, J quoting Sir Henry Parkes in the Franklin Dam Case (1983) 158 CLR 1, 255.Google Scholar

139 For example Kingswell v R (1985) 159 CLR 264, 296; University of Wollongong v Metwally (1984) 158 CLR 447.

140 See especially statements in Franklin Dam case (1983) 158 CLR 1, 99-102, 197, 302-303 and Koowarta v Bjelke-Petersen (1982) 153 CLR 168, 198-200, 248-252.

141 See Brennan and Deane JJ in University of Wollongong v Metwally (1984) 158 CLR 447.

142 See his judgment in Miller v TCN Channel Nine (1986) 161 CLR 556, 579, which refers to other cases in which he has developed his ideas on this.

143 See North Eastern Dairy Co v Dairy Industry Authority (1975) 134 CLR 599, 614-615.

144 For an example of this see Re Cook; ex parte C (1985) 156 CLR 249.

145 Windeyer J, while expansive in his reasons, nevertheless, as shown by the Marriage case (1962) 167 CLR 529, was cautious in his approach. Mason J has no similar inhibitions; see his comments in the Franklin Dam case (1983) 158 CLR 1, 126-129.