Fed: Attorney General appears before the High Court

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2000
Fed: Attorney General appears before the High Court

CANBERRA, Dec 5 AAP - Federal Attorney-General Daryl Williams today donned his silk
robe and horsehair wig for a rare appearance before the High Court.

It was only the third time Mr Williams, QC, has argued a case before a court since
he was appointed to the government's top legal position in 1996.

He was arguing the right of immigration parliamentary secretary Kay Patterson to cancel
the visa of a long-term Australian resident who had been convicted of a series of child
sex offences.

"The High Court will be asked to consider, among other things, whether a Commonwealth
parliamentary secretary is able to make legally binding a decision in the same way that
a minister is able to," he said in a statement.

"The Commonwealth will argue that the constitution permits the appointment of more
than one minister to administer a department.

"A decision on this issue could have major ramifications for the way that the Commonwealth
government operates."

He appeared alongside Solicitor-General David Bennett, QC.

AAP jb/daw/was/de

KEYWORD: WILLIAMS (WITH PIX)

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