Re Judiciary and Navigation Acts

High Court of Australia
Established	1903
Country	Australia
Location	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Re Judiciary & navigation Acts 1921 29 CLR 257 is a landmark Australian judgment of the High Court.

The matter related to what is a legal matter and the High Court's ability to issue opinion outside a case.^[1][2]

Background

The Attorney-General of the State of Victoria, raised an objection that section 88 of the Judiciary Act 1903 was beyond the powers of the Commonwealth Parliament.^[3]

Finding

The court found that, like in the USA, the Court could not issue legal opinion unattached to a specific case. The joint majority judgment stated:

But we can find nothing in Chapter III of the Constitution to lend colour to the view that parliament can confer power or jurisdiction upon the High Court to determine abstract questions of law without the right or duty of any body or person being involved.^[4][5]

On the issue of what constituted a matter they said:

In our opinion there can be no matter within the meaning of s 76 of the Constitution unless there is some immediate right, duty or liability to be established by the determination of the Court.^[6][7][8]

References

1. Helen Irving* Advisory Opinions, The Rule Of Law, And The Separation Of Powers, Macquarie Law Journal (2004) Vol 4 105
2. John M. Williams, "Advisory Opinions: 'A Well-Covered Harbour'", Bond Law Review volume 22 | Issue 3 Article 13 p. 169.
3. Re Judiciary Act 1903 and Navigation Act 1912 (1921) 29 CLR 257 at 1
4. Re Judiciary and Navigation Acts (1921) 29 CLR 257 at 266-267.
5. Justice RS French, Perspectives on Declaratory Relief.
6. Re Judiciary and Navigation Acts (1921) 29 CLR 257 at 265.
7. Margaret Kelly, Administrative Law, Pearson Law Briefs. P36
8. Leslie Zines, Cowen and Zines's Federal Jurisdiction in Australia p. 16.