# Australian Communist Party v The Commonwealth (1951, HCA)

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[1951] HCA 5; (1951) 83 CLR 1; [1951] ALR 129
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REPORTS OF CASES
DETERMINED IN THE
HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA
H. C. of A. 1950–1951. $\scriptstyle {\underbrace {\quad \quad } }$
Sydney, 1950, Nov. 14–17, 20–24, 27, 28, 30; Dec. 1, 4, 6–8, 11–15, 18, 19.
Melbourne, 1951, Mar. 9.
Latham C.J., Dixon, McTiernan, Williams, Webb, Fullagar and Kitto JJ.
[HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA.]
| THE AUSTRALIAN COMMUNIST PARTY AND OTHERS | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Plaintiffs; |
| AND |||
| THE COMMONWEALTH AND OTHERS | | Defendants. |
| THE WATERSIDE WORKERS' FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA AND HEALY | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Plaintiffs; |
| AND |||
| THE COMMONWEALTH AND OTHERS | | Defendants. |
| THE AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS UNION AND BROWN | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Plaintiffs; |
| AND |||
| THE COMMONWEALTH AND OTHERS | | Defendants. |
| BULMER AND OTHERS (SUING FOR THE BUILDING WORKERS' INDUSTRIAL UNION) AND PURSE | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Plaintiffs; |
| AND |||
| THE COMMONWEALTH AND OTHERS | | Defendants. ​ |
| THE AMALGAMATED ENGINEERING UNION OF AUSTRALIAN SECTION AND ROWE | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Plaintiffs; |
| AND |||
| THE COMMONWEALTH AND OTHERS | | Defendants. |
| THE SEAMAN'S UNION OF AUSTRALIA AND ELLIOTT | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Plaintiffs; |
| AND |||
| THE COMMONWEALTH AND OTHERS | | Defendants. |
| THE FEDERATED IRONWORKERS' ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA AND McPHILLIPS | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Plaintiffs; |
| AND |||
| THE COMMONWEALTH AND OTHERS | | Defendants. |
| THE AUSTRALIAN COAL & SHALE EMPLOYEES' FEDERATION AND WILLIAMS | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Plaintiffs; |
| AND |||
| THE COMMONWEALTH AND OTHERS | | Defendants. |
Constitutional Law (Cth.)–Powers of Commonwealth Parliament–Defence–The Constitution–Laws of the Commonwealth–Execution and maintenance–Conciliation and arbitration–Public service–Judicial–Acquisition of property–Incidental power–Defence power–Exercise–Existence of war–Requirement–Preparation against risk of war–Enemies–Actual or potential–External and internal–Overthrow or dislocation of established system of government–Alleged revolutionary party–Use of treasonable or subversive means–Dislocation in industries vital to security and defence–Dissolution of party–Bodies of persons ​or persons—Unlawful association—Declaration by Governor-General—"Satisfied"—Forfeiture to Commonwealth of property of party and declared persons—Declared persons—Ineligibility to hold office in an industrial organization relating to vital industry—Freedom of "intercourse" among the States—Statute—Preamble—Recitals—Allegations of fact—Effect—Facts—Necessity—Desirability—Proof—Validity of statute—Severability—The Constitution (63 & 64 Vict. c. 12), ss. 51 (vi.), (xxxi.), (xxxv.), (xxxix.), 52, 61, 71, 92—Judiciary Act 1903-1948 (No. 6 of 1903—No. 65 of 1948), s. 18—Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904-1949 (No. 13 of 1904—No. 86 of 1949)—Acts Interpretation Act 1901-1948 (No. 2 of 1901—No. 79 of 1948), s. 15A—Communist Party Dissolution Act 1950 (No. 16 of 1950).
The following written judgments were delivered:—
Reasons for judgment (not listed in original)
* Latham CJ
* Dixon J
* McTiernan J
* Williams J
* Webb J
* Fullagar J
* Kitto J
This work is in the public domain in Australia and possibly other jurisdictions. This is because it is a work of an Australian government (Commonwealth, State or Territory) and was published more than 50 years ago (before 1975). The copyright has therefore expired.
The government of Australia has declared that the expiration of Crown Copyrights applies worldwide. This has been confirmed by correspondence received in OTRS ticket#2017062010010417.
See also Australian Copyright Council – Government:Commonwealth, State and Territory (January 2020).
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