Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 56

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 56 Citation: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 56

Appeal from: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 382

Parties: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v MSY TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD (ACN 093 529 401), M.S.Y. TECHNOLOGY (NSW) PTY LTD (ACN 102 819 821), MSY TECHNOLOGY (QLD) PTY LTD (ACN 112 112 437), MSY TECHNOLOGY (SA) PTY LTD (ACN 123 607 198) and MSY TECHNOLOGY (WA) PTY LTD (ACN 132 230 409)

File number: NSD 578 of 2011

Judges: GREENWOOD, LOGAN AND YATES JJ

Date of judgment: 19 April 2012

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – declarations – declarations by consent – power to make declarations by consent – proper contradictor – whether party who consents is a proper contradictor – discussion of principles – party who consents is a proper contradictor – appeal allowed

Legislation: Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 (Cth) ss 65, 108 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 5, 21, 23 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52, 53 Equity Act 1901 (NSW) s 10 Judicature Acts 1873 (UK) Rules of the Supreme Court for England and Wales 1883 (UK) O 25 r 5

Cases cited: Abebe v The Commonwealth (1999) 197 CLR 510 referred to Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 cited Aussie Airlines Pty Ltd v Australian Airlines Ltd (1996) 68 FCR 406 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd (No 2) (2011) 279 ALR 609 reversed Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Sampson [2011] ATPR 42-374 cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Willesee Healthcare Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 752 considered B.M.I. Ltd v Federated Clerks' Union of Australia (N.S.W.) Branch (1983) 76 FLR 141 questioned Cox v Barker (No 1) (1876) LR 3 Ch D 359 cited Edwards v Santos Ltd (2011) 242 CLR 421 cited Ellis v Bedford (Duke of) [1899] 1 Ch 494 cited Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Ltd (1972) 127 CLR 421 followed IMF (Australia) Ltd v Sons of Gwalia Ltd (Administrator Appointed) (2004) 211 ALR 231 applied Jackson v Turnley (1853) 1 Drew 617; 61 ER 587 cited (Lady) Langdale v Briggs (1856) 8 De G.M. & G. 391; 44 ER 441 cited Oil Basins Ltd v Commonwealth of Australia (1993) 178 CLR 643 applied In re Judiciary and Navigation Acts (1921) 29 CLR 257 cited Rooke v (Lord) Kensington (1856) 2 Kay & J 753; 69 ER 986 cited Rural Press Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2003) 216 CLR 53 considered Russian Commercial and Industrial Bank v British Bank for Foreign Trade Ltd [1921] 2 AC 438 referred to Warramunda Village Inc v Pryde (2001) 105 FCR 437 considered West v (Lord) Sackville [1903] 2 Ch 378 cited Aronson M, Dyer B, Groves M, Judicial Review of Administrative Action (4th Ed, Lawbook Co, 2009) Lord Woolf and Woolf J, Zamier & Woolf The Declaratory Judgment¸ (4th Ed, Sweet & Maxwell, 2011)