McDermott, Graham James & Anor v BP Australia Ltd [1997] FCA 108

CATCHWORDS INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTIONS - application for mandatory interlocutory injunction requiring supply of petroleum products - whether arguable case that refusal to supply infringed s 46 or s 47 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth). INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTIONS - balance of convenience - whether applicant lacks ready source of supply of fuel - whether applicant likely to suffer irreparable harm if injunction is refused - whether sufficient evidence to establish likelihood of such harm where applicant's case leaves it in doubt whether he might have an alternative source of supply of the fuel. Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) - ss 46, 47, 80 Cases Considered American Cyanamid Co v Ethicon Ltd [1975] AC 396 Business World Computers Pty Ltd v Australian Telecommunications Commission (1988) 82 ALR 499 Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v South Australia (1986) 161 CLR 148 Films Rover International Ltd v Cannon Film Sales Ltd [1986] 3 All ER 772 O'Keeffe Nominees Pty Ltd v BP Australia Ltd (1990) ATPR 41-057 at 51,741 Queensland Wire Industries Pty Ltd v Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd (1988) 167 CLR 177 Racecourse Totalisators Pty Ltd v The Totalisator Administration Board of Queensland (1995) ATPR 41-426 at 40,804 Taylor v Johnson (1983) 151 CLR 422 Thomas Bates & Son Ltd v Wyndham's (Lingerie) Ltd [1981] 1 All ER 1077 World Series Cricket Pty Ltd v Parish (1977) 16 ALR 181 GRAHAM JAMES McDERMOTT & ANOR v BP AUSTRALIA LIMITED QG 178 OF 1996 DRUMMOND J BRISBANE 7 FEBRUARY 1997

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA No QG 178 of 1996 QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY GENERAL DIVISION BETWEEN: GRAHAM JAMES McDERMOTT First Applicant AND: GO FLEET (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD ACN 075 206 496 Second Applicant AND: BP AUSTRALIA LIMITED ACN 004 085 616 Respondent MINUTES OF ORDERS CORAM: Drummond J DATE OF ORDER: 7 February 1997 WHERE MADE: Brisbane THE COURT ORDERS THAT: