List of High Court of Australia cases

This article contains a list of notable cases decided by the High Court of Australia.

Citation numbers for the decisions are as tracked by LawCite, a citation tracker managed by the Free Access to Law Movement. Note: LawCite citation statistics track the written judgements of courts, journal articles, and tribunals. (both in Australia and overseas). List is .

+LawCite RankNote: this rank is for all LawCite cases, not only the ones listed on this pageCase NameDecision DateCase citation (CLR & HCA only) Chief Justice# LawCite citationsArea(s) of LawNotable holdings1.Chan Yee Kin v Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs1989169 CLR 379; HCA 62Mason34143RefugeeUnder the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Status of Refugees protocol, a finding that a person has a 'well founded fear' of persecution; is satisfied by there being a 'real chance' the relevant harm will occur., McHugh para. 42.2.House v R193655 CLR 499; HCA 40Latham11949Criminal AdministrativeSet out the five grounds by which an exercise of discretion can be appealed. (1) Misapplication of law, (2) Applied irrelevant facts, (3) Mistook the facts, (4) Overlooked a material consideration, (5) Outcome of discretion was manifestly unreasonable, or plainly unjust.3.Chen Shi Hai v MIMA2000201 CLR 293; HCA 19Gleeson10777RefugeeWhen laws of general application may be relevant to protection claims4.MIMA v Haji Ibrahim2000204 CLR 1; HCA 55Gleeson9896Refugee/MigrationThe Convention definition of ‘refugee’ does not encompass those fleeing generalised violence, internal turmoil, or civil war5.Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang1996185 CLR 259; HCA 6Brennan9889Refugee/Migration Administrative 'beneficial construction' when reviewing written reasons of the executive Merits review versus Judicial review6.Briginshaw v Briginshaw193860 CLR 336; HCA 34Latham9538Civil procedure(1) The strength of evidence necessary to establish facts on the balance of probabilities, may depend on the nature of what is sought to be proven.. (2) Subject to statute, the standard of proof in all civil proceedings is the balance of probabilities. – via Austlii.7.MIMA v Khawar2002210 CLR 1; HCA 14Gleeson9104Refugee/MigrationOn the meaning of 'persecution' and 'particular social group' under the refugee convention8.MIEA v Guo1997191 CLR 559; HCA 22Brennan8778RefugeeOn the 'rational basis' test for determining whether a refugee applicant has a well founded fear of persecution9.Jones v Dunkel1959101 CLR 298; HCA 8Dixon7390Civil procedure On inferences that may be drawn when a party fails to lead evidence without explanation (2005) 68 Precedent Australian Lawyers Alliance 41 – via Austlii.10.Applicant S v MIMA2004217 CLR 387; HCA 25Gleeson6830Refugee/Migration Meaning of 'particular social group' under the Refugee Convention When a law of general application may be considered to give rise to discriminatory treatment11.Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority1998194 CLR 355; HCA 28Gleeson6756Administrative12.Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd1986162 CLR 24; HCA 40Gibbs5256AdministrativeKnown for its statements elaborating upon various Administrative Law doctrines13.Fox v Percy2003214 CLR 118; HCA 22Gleeson4515AppealsOn the role of appellate courts, trial judge findings, and assessments of witness demeanor.14.Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth of Australia2003211 CLR 476; HCA 2Gleeson4394Administrative ConstitutionalParliament cannot restrict the availability of constitutional writs.15.General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW)1964112 CLR 125; HCA 69Mason4302Civil procedureOn the summary termination of actions16.Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf2001206 CLR 323; HCA 30Gleeson3994Refugee/Migration On the need to provide reasons under s430 of the Migration Act Jurisdictional error17.Craig v South Australia1995184 CLR 163; HCA 58Brennan3908AdministrativeDifference between court & tribunal context for jurisdictional error18.Kioa v West1985159 CLR 550; HCA 81Gibbs3754Administrativeextended the application of the doctrine of natural justice in administrative decision making.19.Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of New South Wales1982149 CLR 337; HCA 24Gibbs3748ContractConstruction of contracts20.Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University2009258 ALR 14; HCA 27French372621.Abebe v Commonwealth1999197 CLR 510; HCA 14Gleeson3425Refugee/MigrationParliament is entitled to limit the jurisdiction of Commonwealth courts, even to the point where a case may only be able to be heard within the High Court's original jurisdiction22.Oshlack v Richmond River Council1998193 CLR 72; HCA 11Gleeson3352Cost ordersOn the award of costs in public interest litigations23.M v R1994181 CLR 487; HCA 63Mason3117Criminal Lawsetting aside a jury verdict on the basis that it was unsafe and unsatisfactory.24.Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZMDS2010240 CLR 611; HCA 16French3112AdministrativeA matter on which reasonable minds might differ was not unreasonable or illogical25.Appellant S395/2002 v MIMA2003216 CLR 473; HCA 71Gleeson3055Refugee/MigrationThe expectation that a person to take reasonable steps to avoid persecutory harm does not include a need to be discreet about sexuality26.SZBEL v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs2006228 CLR 152; HCA 63GleesonRefugee/MigrationNatural justice requires that adverse information which may be determinative of a decision, must be disclosed to applicants27.Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy2000205 CLR 337; HCA 63Gleeson2858Administrative LawThe test for apprehension of bias in Australia is: whether “a fair-minded lay observer might reasonably apprehend that the judge might not bring an impartial mind to the resolution of the question the judge is required to decide"28.Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Durairajasingham2000168 ALR 407; HCA 1Gleeson2647Refugee/Migration29.Pearce v R1998194 CLR 152; HCA 57Gleeson2517CriminalDouble jeopardy30.Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor1996186 CLR 541; HCA 25Brennan249431.Norbis v Norbis1986161 CLR 513; HCA 17Gibbs2484FamilyOn the correct way to divide assets after the conclusion of a relationship32.Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond1990170 CLR 321; HCA 33MasonAdministrative On the meaning of a 'decision' under the ADJR act33.Veen v R (No 2)1988164 CLR 465; HCA 14MasonCriminalPrinciples that apply when a sentence is imposed by a court34.MIMA v Respondents S152/20032004222 CLR 1; HCA 18GleesonRefugee/MigrationOf precedential value in situations where a refugee visa applicant faces a real fear of harm from a non-state actor. In S152 the applicant's aversion to seeking the protection of Ukraine was held unreasonable35.Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd1981147 CLR 589; HCA 45Gibbs2130Civil procedure'Anshun estoppel' doctrine in Australian civil proceedings. The rule estops parties from making novel legal claims, when those claims should have been pursued in an earlier legal proceeding.36.Mabo v Queensland (No 2)1992175 CLR 1; HCA 23Mason2075Native titleOverturned the doctrine that Australia was terra nullius and recognised the native title of the Meriam people from the Murray islands in the Torres Strait.37.Dinsdale v R2000202 CLR 321; HCA 54Gleeson2051Criminal - Crown criminal appeals - Relevant factors for suspension of sentence

- The meaning of 'manifestly inadequate' or 'manifestly excessive' sentences38.March v E & MH Stramare Pty Ltd1991171 CLR 506; HCA 12Mason2008Tort lawThe conditions required for causation to be established in tort law, the limitations of the "but for" test and the significance of an intervening act by a third party in determining causation39.Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners194978 CLR 62; HCA 1Latham2005When an action can be thrown out for being frivolous or vexatious40.SZBYR v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship2007235 ALR 609; HCA 26Gleeson1992Refugee/Migration41.SZATV v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship2007233 CLR 18; HCA 40Gleeson1986Refugee/Migration42.Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd2004219 CLR 165; HCA 52Gleeson1967Contract43.Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd v Australian Industrial Relations Commission2000203 CLR 194; HCA 47Gleeson194744.Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu1999197 CLR 611; HCA 21Gleeson1847Refugee/Migration45.Postiglione v R1997189 CLR 295; HCA 26Brennan1776Criminal43.Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala2000204 CLR 82; HCA 57Gleeson1766Refugee/Migration44.Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin1990170 CLR 1; HCA 21Mason1741AdministrativeLegitimate expectation in Natural Justice and the extent a court can stop government policy45.Latoudis v Casey1990170 CLR 534; HCA 59Mason169546.Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Teoh1995183 CLR 273; HCA 20Mason1676Administrative