Sportodds Systems Pty Limited v State of New South Wales [2003] FCAFC 237

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Sportodds Systems Pty Limited v State of New South Wales [2003] FCAFC 237 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – Commonwealth Constitution – s 92 – freedom of interstate trade and intercourse – trade and intercourse between Western Australiaand New South Wales – licensed bookmaking – whether requirement that interstate bookmakers advertising in New South Wales stand at a licensed New South Wales racecourse breaches s 92 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth) – s 69 – freedom of trade between Australian Capital Territory and the States – trade and intercourse between Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales – licensed bookmaking – whether requirement that interstate bookmakers advertising in New South Wales stand at a licensed New South Wales racecourse breaches s 69. RELIEF – declarations – whether Court can make declarations in absence of relevant information – whether Court has obligation to inform itself STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – Acts Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) s 31 – severance – reading down

Commonwealth Constitution ss 92, 109 Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 15A Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 64 Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth) s 69 Racing Administration Act 1998 (NSW) ss 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26A, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Unlawful Gambling Act 1998 (NSW) ss 8, 9 Greyhound Racing Act 2002 (NSW) s 22 Harness Racing Act 2002 (NSW) s 25 Thoroughbred Racing Board Act 1996 (NSW) s 14A Racing Legislation Amendment (Bookmakers) Act 2002 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) s 31 Gaming and Betting (Amendment) Act 1938 (NSW) Race and Sports Bookmaking Act 2001 (ACT) Racing Administration Regulation 1999 (NSW) A. Raptis & Son v South Australia (1977) 138 CLR 346 cited Australian Railways Union v The Victorian Railways Commissioners (1930) 44 CLR 319 cited Barley Marketing Board for New South Wales v Norman (1990) 171 CLR 182 considered Bath v Alston Holdings (1988) 165 CLR 411 referred to British American Tobacco Australia Ltd v Western Australia (2003) 200 ALR 403 discussed Castlemaine Tooheys v South Australia (1990) 169 CLR 436 considered Cole v Whitfield (1988) 165 CLR 360 discussed Cunliffe v Commonwealth (1994) 182 CLR 272 considered Director Public Prosecutions v Hutchinson [1990] 2 AC 783 cited Egan v Willis (1998) 195 CLR 424 considered Fittock v The Queen (2003) 197 ALR 1 referred to Gerhardy v Brown (1985) 159 CLR 70 considered Gould v Brown (1998) 193 CLR 346 cited Harrington v Lowe (1996) 190 CLR 311 referred to Logan Downs Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1965) 112 CLR 177 cited Mansell v Beck (1956) 95 CLR 550 cited Pidoto v Victoria (1943) 68 CLR 87 cited R v Connare; Ex parte Wawn (1939) 61 CLR 596 cited R v Martin; Ex parte Wawn (1939) 62 CLR 457 cited Re Dingjan; Ex parte Wagner (1995) 183 CLR 323 cited Sportodds Systems Pty Ltd v State of New South Wales [2003] FCA 992 affirmed The Queen v The Judges of the Federal Court of Australia; Ex parte Western Australian National Football League (1979) 143 CLR 190 followed Williams v Keelty (2001) 111 FCR 175 referred to Woods v Multi-Sport Holdings Pty Ltd (2002) 208 CLR 460 considered