CCPR/C/120/D/2798/2016
6.2
The State party reiterates that the author has failed to exhaust the domestic remedies
available to her with respect to any guardianship orders that may have been made. With
regard to the author’s argument that the lack of credibility afforded to her evidence led her
to choose not to exhaust domestic remedies, the State party submits that, if a party to a
proceeding is not satisfied with the decision, the appropriate avenue of review is through
the appeal process. It explains that the appeal process enables a person involved in legal
proceedings to challenge the decision of a court. It also notes that it is a fundamental part of
its legal system that all persons with standing are afforded the right to challenge decisions
that affect their legal rights.
6.3
Regarding the reference made by the author to the Royal Commission into
Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the State party submits that, on 10 May
2017, it was advised by the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Commission that, owing
to privacy reasons, it was unable to disclose any information on any dealings it may have
had in relation to the complainant or her daughter.
6.4
Concerning the author’s argument that she did not appeal the decision in her
proceeding before a single family court judge to the Full Bench of the Family Court of
Australia but instead attempted to proceed on appeal directly to the High Court of Australia,
the State party submits that the two decisions mentioned by the author (High Court decision
of Duff v. Duff, 1977; and Family Court of Australia case Re, Z (No. 2), 1996) in support of
her argument are not relevant to her case and do not give her the authority not to pursue the
appropriate appeals process to the Full Bench of the Family Court before proceeding to
apply for leave to appeal in the High Court.
Issues and proceedings before the Committee
Consideration of admissibility
7.1
Before considering any claims contained in a communication, the Human Rights
Committee must decide, in accordance with rule 93 of its rules of procedure, whether it is
admissible under the Optional Protocol to the Covenant.
7.2
The Committee has ascertained, as required by article 5 (2) (a) of the Optional
Protocol, that the same matter is not being examined under any other international
procedure of investigation or settlement.
7.3
The Committee notes the State party’s contention that the author’s allegations are
inadmissible because the author has not demonstrated that she has exhausted all available
domestic remedies; she lacks authority to bring the communication on behalf of her
daughter; a number of the author’s claims are inadmissible ratione materiae; and her
allegations under articles 2, 7, 9, 12, 14, 17, 23, 24 and 26 of the Covenant are
insufficiently substantiated.
7.4
The Committee takes note of the State party’s argument that a number of domestic
remedies would appear to remain available to the author, particularly: (a) the Full Bench of
the Family Court; (b) the Guardianship Division of the New South Wales Civil and
Administrative Tribunal (if a guardianship order is in place); (c) the Supreme Court of New
South Wales; (d) the Court of Appeal of New South Wales; and (e) the High Court of
Australia. The Committee notes the author’s explanation that she could not exhaust all
available domestic remedies owing to a lack of financial resources and to the fact that her
requests for legal aid had been refused. In that connection, the Committee notes the State
party’s submission that the author does not provide any evidence to support her claims that
she lacks financial resources to exhaust domestic remedies. The Committee further notes
that the author does not provide any information as to the reasons why her requests for legal
aid were rejected.
7.5
The Committee also notes the author’s concern about the effectiveness of the
remedies available considering that, in all the court proceedings in which she was involved,
she and her witnesses were not given credibility. In that regard, the Committee observes
that the author does not make any reference to previous jurisprudence or otherwise
substantiate her allegations that the domestic remedies available would be ineffective in her
case. The Committee recalls that, according to its jurisprudence, the author’s doubts about
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