Star Entertainment Group Limited v Chubb Insurance Australia Ltd [2022] FCAFC 16

Federal Court of Australia

Star Entertainment Group Limited v Chubb Insurance Australia Ltd [2022] FCAFC 16 Appeal from: Star Entertainment Group Limited v Chubb Insurance Australia Ltd [2021] FCA 907

File number: NSD 879 of 2021

Judgment of: MOSHINSKY, DERRINGTON AND COLVIN JJ

Date of judgment: 21 February 2022

Catchwords: INSURANCE - appeal from decision refusing application by insureds for declaratory relief - whether insurers obliged under insurance policy to indemnify for loss from business interruption caused by government orders directed to restricting spread of COVID-19 - where policy includes memorandum directed to extending indemnity to loss resulting from occurrence or discovery of notifiable disease at premises - where memorandum excludes cover for diseases listed in Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth) - whether memorandum manifests or records full extent of cover for loss resulting from business interruption caused by occurrence of human infectious or contagious disease - whether business interruption loss covered by different memorandum directed to loss caused by action taken by lawfully constituted authority for purpose of retarding any conflagration or other catastrophe - whether reference to 'loss' in insurance policy confined to physical loss - whether COVID-19 pandemic considered a catastrophe for purposes of policy - appeal dismissed

Legislation: Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth)

Cases cited: Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australasian Performing Right Association [1973] HCA 36; (1973) 129 CLR 99 BMW Australia Ltd v Brewster [2019] HCA 45; (2019) 269 CLR 574 Byrnes v Kendle [2011] HCA 26; (2011) 243 CLR 253 CGU Insurance Limited v Porthouse [2008] HCA 30; (2008) 235 CLR 103 Charben Haulage Pty Ltd v Environmental & Earth Sciences Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 403 Chief Commissioner of State Revenue v Tasty Chicks Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 181 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Clark [2003] NSWCA 91; (2003) 57 NSWLR 113 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd [2017] HCA 12; (2017) 261 CLR 544 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; (2014) 251 CLR 640 Esso Australia Pty Ltd v The Australian Workers' Union [2017] HCA 54; (2017) 263 CLR 551 Findex Group Ltd v McKay [2020] FCAFC 182 Greencapital Aust Pty Ltd v Pasminco Cockle Creek Smelter Pty Ltd (Subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) [2019] NSWCA 53 HDI Global Specialty SE v Wonkana No. 3 Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 296; (2020) 104 NSWLR 634 Hume Steel Ltd v Attorney-General for Victoria (1927) 39 CLR 455 Liberty Mutual Insurance Company Australian Branch trading as Liberty Specialty Markets v Icon Co (NSW) Pty Ltd [2021] FCAFC 126 Macquarie International Health Clinic Pty Ltd v Sydney Local Health District [2020] NSWCA 161; (2020) 103 NSWLR 443 Maggbury Pty Ltd v Hafele Australia Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 70; (2001) 210 CLR 181 McCann v Switzerland Insurance Australia Ltd [2000] HCA 65; (2000) 203 CLR 579 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs v Nystrom [2006] HCA 50; (2006) 228 CLR 566 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Limited v Wright Prospecting Pty Limited [2015] HCA 37; (2015) 256 CLR 104 Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas [2004] HCA 35; (2004) 218 CLR 451 Re Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance; Ex Parte Hoyts Corporation Pty Ltd (1993) 178 CLR 379 Rinehart v Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd [2019] HCA 13; (2019) 267 CLR 514 Swiss Re International Se v LCA Marrickville Pty Limited (Second COVID-19 insurance test cases) [2021] FCA 1206 Todd v Alterra at Lloyds Ltd (on behalf of the underwriting members of Syndicate 1400) [2016] FCAFC 15; (2016) 239 FCR 12 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 52; (2004) 219 CLR 165 Zhu v Treasurer (NSW) [2004] HCA 56; (2004) 218 CLR 530