Hunger Strike Farmer Wins at High Court

By Michele Muscillo, Partner and Ben Ricketts, Solicitor

Earlier this month, the High Court ruled in favour of Peter Spencer, the New South Wales farmer who came to fame last summer after he undertook a 52 day hunger strike to protest limitations on his right to clear his own land.

Mr Spencer sued the Federal Government for compensation, claiming that the Federal Government and the NSW Government acted together to prevent him from clearing land on his property, and more importantly, avoided paying him compensation in the process. The Federal Court had dismissed Mr Spencer's claim in March 2010, on the basis that he had no reasonable prospects of success. The High Court has now overruled that decision and returned the case to the Federal Court.