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Some Aspects of the Acquisition Power of the Commonwealth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 January 2025

R. L. Hamilton
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Abstract

Mr Hamilton's examination' of the Australian Government's power under s. 51 (xxxi.) of the Constitution begins with an analysis of judicial interpretation of the conceptsof “property” and “acquisition”. After drawing comparisons with the law relating to compulsory acquisition in the United States and Britain, he proceeds to suggest certain extensions of the definitions arrived at and to propose a test for “acquisition”, viz, whetherthe taking is for the “use and service of the Crown”. He concludes with awarning that some development of the law is required to combat any possible tendency toward “back door” acquisition by regulation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Federal Law Review , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , June 1973 , pp. 265 - 293
Copyright
Copyright © 1973 The Australian National University

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References

1 Cooley's Constitutional Limitations (8th ed. 1927) ii, 1110.

2 Note, however, the provisions of s. 85(ii) relating to property of State departments transferred to the Common-wealth.

3 (1943) 67 C.L.R. 314.

4 Id., 318.

5 Id., 325.

6 E.g. W. H. Blakeley and Co. Pty Ltd v. The Common-wealth (1953) 87 C.L.R. 501, 521 (by the Full Court).

7 (1606) 12 Co. Rep. 12 (77 E.R. 1294).

8 [1920] A.C. 508.

9 (1943) 67 C.L.R. 314, 318 and 325.

10 (4th ed. 1970) 324.

11 R. W. Baker, “The Compulsory Acquisition Powers of the Commonwealth”, in Else-Mitchell (ed.) Essays on the Australian Constitution (2nd ed. 1961) 193, 194-196.

12 Conv. Deb., Adel., 1199.

13 Conv. Deb., Melb., i, 151.

14 Ibid.

15 Id., 152.

16 Ibid.

17 Id., 153.

18 Conv. Deb., Melb., ii, 1874.

19 (1953) 87 C.L.R. 501, 521.

20 Art. 1, para. 8, ch. 18.

21 Blakeley's case (1953) 87 C.L.R. 501, 521 and Quick and Garran, The Annotated Constitution of the Australian Commonwealth (1901) 641.

22 (1946) 72 C.L.R. 269,290.

23 (1943-1944) 68 C.L.R. 261.

24 Id., 265.

25 Rich, Starke, Williams and McTiernan JJ., Latham C.J. dissenting.

26 (1943-1944) 68 C.L.R. 261,290.

27 Id., 295.

28 Id., 276.

29 Id., 284-285.

30 Id., 287.

31 (1946) 72 C.L.R. 269, 280.

32 R. W. Baker, “The Compulsory Acquisition Powers of the Common-wealth”,supra n. 11, 204.

33 Bank of New South Wales v. The Common-wealth (1948) 76 C.L.R. 1, 349.

34 Supra n.11,204.

35 (1943-1944) 68 C.L.R.261.

36 Id., 267.

37 Id., 277.

38 Id., 286.

39 Id., 290.

40 [1960] 1 All E.R.65.

41 Bank of New South Wales v. The Common-wealth (1948) 76 C.L.R. 1.

42 Id., 110.

43 Id., 214.

44 Id., 215.

45 Id., 299.

46 Id., 269-271.

47 (1943-1944) 68 C.L.R. 261.

48 Id., 290.

49 Id., 278.

50 (1947) 75 C.L.R. 1.

51 Id., 12-14.

52 Id., 24.

53 Id., 27.

54 Id., 28.

55 Id., 29.

56 Id., 29-30.

57 Id., 36.

58 Ibid.

59 (1947) 74 C.L.R. 400.

60 Id., 404-406.

61 (1946) 73 C.L.R. 213.

62 Id., 223.

63 Id., 236.

64 Ibid.

65 ( 1943) 67 C.L.R. 314.

66 (1949) 79 C.L.R. 201.

67 Id., 211.

68 Id., 270-271.

69 Strickland v. Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd (1972] A.L.R. 3.

70 Bank of New South Wales v. The Common-wealth (1948) 76 C.L.R. 1.

71 Jd., 4 (footnotes).

72 Id., 217-218.

73 Id., 349.

74 Ibid.

75 (1952) 86 C.L.R. 169.

76 (1943-1944) 68 C.L.R. 261.

77 (1945) 71 C.L.R. 508.

78 Id., 515.

79 (1943-1944) 68 C.L.R. 261.

80 Fenton v. City of Dublin Steam Packet Co. (1838) 112 E.R. 1054, 1057.

81 A.U.S.N. v. The Shipping Control Board (1945) 71 C.L.R. 508, 522-523.

82 Id., 525-526.

83 Elliott Steam Tug Co. Ltd v. The Admiralty [1921] 1 A.C. 137, 141.

84 (1961) 105 C.L.R. 361 sub. nom. Attorney-General of the Commonwealth v. Schmidt.

85 Id., 363-364.

86 Id., 371-372.

87 Per Dixon C.J., id., 372-373.

88 (1949)79 C.L.R.201.

89 (1961)105 C.L.R.361,372.

90 (1948)76 C.L.R.1.

91 (1947)75 C.L.R.1.

92 The existence of an unexpressed “general welfare” power was argued and rejected in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Case (Attorney-General for Victoria (ex. rel. Dale) v. UThe Common-wealth) (1946) 71 C.L.R. 237.

93 (1958)357 U.S.155;2 L.Ed.2d 1228.

94 (1928)276 U.S.272;72 L.Ed.568.

95 Dunham, “Griggs v. Allegheny County in Perspective: Thirty Years of Supreme Court Expropriation Law” 1962 Supreme Court Review 63.

96 See J.L.Sax “Taking and the Police Power” (1964) 74 Yale L.J. 36.

97 (1962)369 U.S.590;8 L.Ed.2d 130.

98 (1946)328 U.S.256;90 L.Ed.1206.

99 Id., 262;90 L. Ed. 1206,1211.

1 (1922) 260 U.S.393;67 L.Ed.322.

2 Id., 415-416;67 L. Ed.322,326.

3 Grace Brothers Pty Ltd v. The Common-wealth (1946) 72 C.L.R. 269.

4 [1960] 1 All E.R.65 (House of Lords).

5 Id., 69-70.

6 F. H. Newark, (1960) 23 Mod. L.R. 302.

7 A contrary view was expressed in (1960) 76 L.Q.R.200 and satisfaction with the decision was recorded by the author.The author was,presumably,R.E.Megarry of property law fame who considers it “indisputable”that rights of user of property are not in themselves property.This opinion adds to the authority of the O.D. Cars Ltd case.

8 (1960) 23 Mod.L.R.302,306.

9 (1945) 70 C.L.R.293,326.

10 (1943-1944) 68 C.L.R.261,295.

11 (1946) 328 U.S.256;90 L.Ed.1206.

12 R. W. Baker, Essays, supra n.11, 204.

13 Pennsylvania Coal Co. v. Mahon (1922)260 U.S.393, 415;67 L. Ed.322,326.

14 (1961)105 C.L.R.361,372.

15 (1943)67 C.L.R.314.

16 Statutory Rules 1966, No. 6.

17 U.S. v. Causby (1946) 328 U.S. 256,262; 90 L. Ed. 1206, 1211.

18 Twenty-First Report from the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances [1964-65-66] Parliamentary Papers, x, 675 (reproduced in[1969]Parliamentary Paper No. 188, 191).

19 Twenty-Eighth Report, para. 43, [1969] Parliamentary Paper No. 188, 234.

20 Thirty-Eighth Report, para. 10, [1971] Parliamentary Paper No. 100, 2.

21 (1964) 74 Yale L.J. 36.

22 Id., 69 n.154.

23 (1943-1944) 68 C.L.R.261.

24 (1961)105 C.L.R. 361.

25 (1948)76 C.L.R.1.