Meriton Apartments Pty Limited v Industrial Court of New South Wales [2008] FCAFC 172

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Meriton Apartments Pty Limited v Industrial Court of New South Wales [2008] FCAFC 172

BANKRUPTCY – jurisdiction "in bankruptcy" – jurisdiction exclusive of jurisdiction of State courts –– determination by State court of whether action in a State court abandoned by trustee – determination by State court of validity of assignment of right to prosecute to the bankrupt before discharge – whether jurisdiction exercised by State court "under or by virtue" of the Bankruptcy Act 1996 (Cth)

BANKRUPTCY – power of trustee in bankruptcy – whether implied prohibition against sale of right to prosecute a proceeding to the bankrupt before discharge – whether relief should be refused on discretionary grounds

COURTS AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM – jurisdiction in bankruptcy – jurisdiction exclusive of jurisdiction of State courts – whether appropriate for Federal Court to set aside or vary orders of a superior court of a State – other avenues of relief – discretionary grounds for refusing relief Constitution ss 71, 73(ii), 75, 76(ii), 77, 118 Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, 63 & 64 Vict, c 12, cl 5 Bankruptcy Act 1924 (Cth) ss 4, 18, 21(d) Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) ss 5, 27, 30, 30(1), 31(1), 31(1)(f), 33, 51, 58, 60, 60(2), 60(3), 116, 120, 121, 122, 123, 128, 129AA, 134, 134(1)(a), 139K, 139L, 139M, 139N, 139P, 139Q, 139U, 149, 153(5), 177, 178, 179 Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment Act (1996)(Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 20(1A), 21, 23 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) ss 30, 30(a), 39, 39(2), 39B, 39B(1A), 79 Constitution Act 1902 (NSW) Pt 9 Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) s 12 Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) ss 105, 106, 108, 145, 151, 152, 153, 179 Bankruptcy Act 1825, 6 Geo 4, c 16, ss 11, 12 Bankruptcy Act 1831, 1 & 2 Wm 4, c 56, s 1 Bankruptcy Act 1841, 5 Vict, c 17, s 104 Bankruptcy Act 1849, 12 & 13 Vict, c 106 Bankruptcy Act 1861, 24 & 25 Vict, c 134 Bankruptcy Act 1869, 32 & 33 Vict, c 71, ss 59, 69, 72 Bankruptcy Act 1887, 51 Vict, c 19, s 127 Bankruptcy Act 1914, 4 & 5 Geo 5, c 59, s 96 Insolvency Act 1813, 53 Geo 3, c 102 Insolvency Act 1897, 61 Vict, c 1513, s 87 Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 cited Attorney-General (NSW) v 2UE Sydney Pty Ltd (2007) 236 ALR 385 referred to Baker v Sheridan [2005] NSWCA 408 referred to Baral v Official Trustee (1999) 89 FCR 422 questioned Bennett v Gamgee (1887) 36 LT 38 cited Bowen Investments Pty Ltd v Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (2008) 166 FCR 494 applied Brien v P & E Phontos (1999) 91 FCR 209 cited Campbells Cash & Carry Pty Ltd v Fostif Pty Ltd (2006) 229 CLR 386 cited Claflin v Houseman (1876) 93 US 130 not followed Craig v The State of South Australia (1995) 184 CLR 163 cited CTM v The Queen (2008) 247 ALR 1 cited Daemar v Industrial Commission of New South Wales (1988) 12 NSWLR 45 considered Ellis v Silber (1872) LR 8 Ch 83 considered F Hoffmann-La Roche & Co AG v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry [1975] AC 295 considered Farrow Mortgage Services v Aberratne (1993) 47 FCR 208 referred to Felton v Mulligan (1971) 124 CLR 367 cited Foots v Southern Cross Mine Management Pty Ltd (2007) 241 ALR 32 cited Forshaw v Thompson (1992) 35 FCR 329considered, cited and quoted Fuller v Beach Petroleum NL (1993) 43 FCR 60 cited and applied Geia v Palm Island Aboriginal Council [2001] 1 Qd R 245; (1999) 152 FLR 135 questioned, cited and quoted Green v Schneller [2001] NSWSC 897 cited and quoted Greener v Schneller (2001) 189 ALR 464 cited Guy v Churchill (1889) 40 Ch D 481 cited Howden v Cock (1915) 20 CLR 201 cited and considered Hunter v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police [1982] AC 529 cited Jarrett v Seymour (1993) 46 FCR 521 cited Kartinyeri v Commonwealth (1998) 195 CLR 337 applied Kitson v Hardwick [1872] LR CP 473 considered and cited LNC Industries Ltd v BMW (Australia) Ltd (1983) 151 CLR 575 applied Lorenzo v Carey (1921) 29 CLR 243 referred to Majik Markets Pty Ltd v Brake and Service Centre Drummoyne Pty Ltd (1992) 28 NSWLR 443 applied Morris v Maroudas (1986) 12 FCR 346 followed, cited and quoted Network Ten Pty Ltd v TCN Channel Nine (2004) 218 CLR 273 applied Porteous v Donnelly (2003) 200 ALR 274 cited R v Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration; Ex parte Barrett (1945) 70 CLR 141 applied R v Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration; Ex parte Ozone Theatres (Aust) Ltd (1949) 78 CLR 389 considered Ramsey v Hartley [1977] 1 WLR 686 cited and referred to Re Bankrupt Estate of Cirillo; Ex parte Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (1996) 65 FCR 576 cited Re Cirillo; Ex parte Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (1996) 65 FCR 576 considered Re Dingle; Westpac v Worrell (1993) 47 FCR 478 cited and referred to Re Gillies; Ex parte Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (1993) 42 FCR 571 considered Re Harrison; Ex parte Butters (1880) 14 Ch D 265 referred to Re Hawkesford (1937) 10 ABC 26 followed, cited and quoted Re Horder [1936] 1 Ch 744 considered Re Judiciary and Navigation Acts (1921) 29 CLR 257 applied Re Lamb; Ex parte Melsom (1980) 29 ALR 157 referred to Re Lamb; Ex parte Melsom; Re Duncan (1980) 29 ALR 157 cited and quoted Re Nguyen; Ex parte Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (1992) 35 FCR 320 overruled and cited Re Pollard; Ex parte Dickin (1878) 8 Ch D 377 referred to Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82 considered Re Shanks; Ex parte Swinbanks (1879) 11 Ch D 525 referred to Rose v Meriton & Anor [2007] NSWIRComm 264 cited and referred to Scott v Bagshaw (2000) 99 FCR 573 applied, cited and quoted Second Life Décor Pty Limited v Comptroller-General of Customs (1994) 53 FCR 78 cited Seear v Lawson (1880) 15 Ch D 426 applied Siminton v Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (2006) 152 FCR 129cited Spalla v St George Motor Finance Ltd [2004] FCA 1699 cited Stack v Coast Securities (No 9) Pty Ltd (1983) 154 CLR 261 considered Stein v Blake [1996] AC 243 cited and referred to Sutherland v Brien (1999) 149 FLR 321; [1999] NSWSC 155 overruled, cited and quoted Temsign Pty Ltd v Biscen Pty Ltd (1998) 157 ALR 83 cited and referred to The Queen v Ross-Jones; Ex parte Green (1984) 156 CLR 185 considered The Queen v Ward (1978) 140 CLR 584 referred to Walton v Gardiner (1992) 177 CLR 378 cited Want v Moss (1889) 10 NSWLR 274 cited and followed