HECEC Australia Pty Ltd v Hydro-Electric Corp [1999] FCA 822

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

HECEC Australia Pty Ltd v Hydro-Electric Corp [1999] FCA 822 PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – whether the applicant's pleadings disclose a reasonable cause of action and cause or tend to cause prejudice, embarrassment or delay – circumstances where the amended application is to be dismissed on the ground that no reasonable cause of action was disclosed – whether it is reasonably arguable that the doctrine of unconscionability is only available in contractual or contract-type situations where commitment of disadvantaged party was procured by unconscionable conduct – when "may" means "must" in a statute – principles of promissory estoppel – causal nexus between damages and conduct contravening Trade Practices Act – anticipatory breaches of contract – whether damages only available after termination of contract – novation of contracts – duty of government to make decisions to accord with existing contracts and representations – presumed duty to afford procedural fairness – whether contrary to statutory intention – taking relevant considerations into account – Wednesbury unreasonableness Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 51AA, 51A, 52, 75B(1), 82, 87 Electricity Companies Act 1997 (Tas) s 10(2), (3)

Federal Court Rules O 6 r 9, O 11 r 6, O 20 r 2 Burton v Shire of Bairnsdale [1908] 7 CLR 76, applied Blomley v Ryan [1956] 99 CLR 362, applied Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners [1949] 78 CLR 62, applied General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) [1964] 112 CLR 125, applied Finance Facilities Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1971] 127 CLR 106, referred to Commercial Bank of Australia v Amadio [1983] 151 CLR 447, applied Gould v Vaggelas [1985] 157 CLR 215, referred to Commonwealth v Tasmania (The Tasmanian Dams Case) [1983] 158 CLR 1, referred to Yorke v Lucas [1985] 158 CLR 661, discussed Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] 162 CLR 24, referred to Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher [1988] 164 CLR 387, referred to/discussed Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Nelson [1990] 169 CLR 594, referred to The Commonwealth of Australia v Verwayen [1990] 170 CLR 394, discussed/followed Annetts v McCann [1990] 170 CLR 596, applied Wardley Australia Ltd v State of Western Australia [1992] 175 CLR 514, applied Commissioner of State Revenue (Vic) v Royal Insurance Australia Ltd [1994] 182 CLR 51, referred to Bevanere Pty Ltd v Lubidineuse [1985] 7 FCR 325, applied Bond Corporation Pty Ltd v Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd [1987] 14 FCR 215, referred to Argy v Blunt & Lane Cove Real Estate Pty Ltd [1990] 26 FCR 112, referred to Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd v Pfizer Pty Ltd [1992] 37 FCR 526, applied Ku-ring-gai Co-operative Building Society (No 12) Ltd [1978] 36 FLR 134, applied Yorke v Lucas [1985] 80 FLR 143, discussed H 1976 Nominees Pty Ltd v Galli & Anor [1979] 30 ALR 181, referred to Pappas v Soulac Pty Ltd [1983] 50 ALR 231, referred to Sutton v AJ Thompson Pty Ltd (in liquidation) [1987] 73 ALR 233, referred to JS McMillan Pty Ltd v Commonwealth of Australia [1997] 147 ALR 419, applied Australian Breeders Co-operative Society Ltd v Jones [1997] 150 ALR 488, applied Kabwand Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank [1989] ATPR 40-950, referred to Phoenix Court Pty Ltd & Ors v Melbourne Central Pty Ltd [1997] ATPR (Digest) 46-179, referred to Pannizutti v Trask [1987] 10 NSWLR 531, applied Wickstead v Browne [1992] 30 NSWLR 1; on appeal [1993] Leg Rep 522, applied Earl of Chesterfield v Janssen [1751] 28 ER 82, referred to Julius v Bishop of Oxford [1880] 5 App Cas, referred to