Ruddock and Others v. Vadarlis and Others

Abstract

Aliens — Entry — Asylum — Refugees — Non-refoulement — Preventing asylum-seekers entering Australian territorial waters and arranging for their departure — Whether executive having power to exclude or prevent entry to non-citizens — Whether executive power abrogated by Migration Act 1958 (Cth) — Whether breach of the non-refoulement obligations under the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951

Relationship of international law and municipal law — Treaties — Effect in municipal law — Whether entry into an international convention fettering executive power under Constitution

Human rights — Liberty of the person — Habeas corpus — Whether preventing departure of non-citizens from vessel amounting to a restraint on liberty — Whether restraint attributable to the Commonwealth — The law of Australia