Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1833

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1833

APPEAL – nature of and approach to appeal in Federal Court – appeal to Full Court of Federal Court of Australia is by way of rehearing not appeal stricto sensu – task of appellate court is correction of error in trial judge – need for demonstration of error – advantages of trial judge APPEAL – limitations on raising of fresh points upon appeal and to departure from approach adopted at first instance CONTRACT – formation – alleged lack of consensus and of intention to create legal relations – no formal or final record of actual consensus – findings of trial judge as to consensus on basis of conversations, drafts, letters – no error demonstrated CONTRACT – pre contractual communications – parol evidence rule and "entire agreement" clauses – effect of on leading evidence to show existence of equitable estoppel MORTGAGE – equitable mortgage – mortgage over shares existed – effect – error in judge's decision Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 s 27 Trade Practices Act 1974 Crown Lands Act 1931 (NT) Pastoral Lands Act 1992 (NT) Duralla Pty Ltd v Plant (1984) 2 FCR 342 not followed in part Petreski v Cargill (1987) 18 FCR 68 referred to Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Hamsher(1992) 35 FCR 359 considered Dynasty Pty Ltd v Coombs (1995) 59 FCR 122 referred to Hornet Aviation Pty Ltd v Ansett Australia (1995) 16 ACSR 445 referred to White v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2000) 96 FCR 511 referred to Foyster v ANZ Banking Group Ltd [2000] FCA 1254 referred to Sidhu v Holmes [2000] FCA 1653 referred to H v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2000) 63 ALD 43 referred to News Limited v ARL (1996) 64 FCR 410 referred to Montgomery v FCT (1998) 152 ALR 241 referred to Jia v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (1999) 93 FCR 556 referred to ACT Schools Authority v El Sheik (2000) ATR 81-557; [2000] FCA 931 referred to Hanleyv AFMEP & KIU (2000) 100 FCR 530 referred to Heslehurst v Government of New Zealand (2001) 109 FCR 226 referred to Williams v The Minister [2000] NSWCA 255 referred to Stirling Harbour Services Pty Ltd & Anor v Bunbury Port Authority [2000] FCA 1381 referred to Re Coldham; Ex parte Brideson [No 2] (1990) 170 CLR 267 referred to CDJ v VAJ (1998) 197 CLR 172 referred to Coal & Allied Operations P/L v Australian Industrial Relations Commission (2000) 74 ALJR 1348 referred to Allesch v Maunz (2000) 173 ALR 648 referred to Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia (2001) 178 ALR 421 followed Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531 referred to Cabal v United Mexican States [2001] FCA 427 followed The Owners of the Ship 'Shin Kobe Maru' v Empire Shipping Company Inc (1994) 181 CLR 404 referred to PMT Partners P/L (In Liq) v Australian National Parks and Wildlife Services (1995) 184 CLR 301 referred to Knight v FP Special Assets (1992) 174 CLR 178 referred to FAI General Insurance v Southern Cross Exploration NL (1988) 165 CLR 268 referred to David Grant & Co v Westpac (1995) 184 CLR 265 referred to Emanuelev ASC (1997) 188 CLR 114 referred to Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72 referred to Patrick Stevedores v MUA (1998) 195 CLR 1 referred to Abebe v Commonwealth (1999) 197 CLR 510 referred to Re JJT; Ex parte Victoria Legal Aid (1998) 195 CLR 184 referred to Commonwealth v SCI Operations (1998) 192 CLR 285 referred to Eastman v R (2000) 203 CLR 1 referred to Australian Memory Pty Ltd v Brien (2000) 200 CLR 270 referred to Crampton v R (2000) 176 ALR 369 referred to State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (In Liq) (1999) 160 ALR 588 referred to Moneywood v Salamon Nominees (2001) 202 CLR 351 referred to Members of the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Community v State of Victoria (2001) 180 ALR 655 referred to Khoo Sit Hoh v Lim Than Tong [1912] AC 323 referred to Paterson v Paterson (1953) 89 CLR 212 referred to Powell v Streatham Manor Nursing Home [1935] AC 243 referred to Zuvela v Cosmarnan Concrete Pty Ltd (1996) 140 ALR 227 referred to Corporation of the City of Enfield v Development Assessment Commission (2000) 199 CLR 153 referred to Fenton Nominees Pty Ltd v Valuer General (1981) 47 LGRA 71 referred to Biogen Inc v Medeva Pty Ltd [1997] RPC 1 referred to Whiteley Muir & Zwanenberg Ltd v Kerr (1966) 39 ALJR 505 referred to Da Costa v Cockburn Salvage and Trading Pty Ltd (1970) 124 CLR 192 referred to Edwards v Noble (1971) 125 CLR 296 referred to Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1988) 171 CLR 167 referred to Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 referred to S W Hart & Co Pty Ltd v Edwards Hot Water Systems (1985) 159 CLR 466 referred to Turbo Tek Enterprises Inc v Sperling Enterprises Pty Ltd (1989) 23 FCR 331 referred to Pacific Dunlop Ltd v Hogan (1989) 23 FCR 553 referred to Allsop Inc v Bintang Ltd (1989) 15 IPR 686 referred to Dart Industries v Decor Corporation Pty Ltd (1989) 15 IPR 403 referred to Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV v Remington 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180 CLR 491 referred to Connecticut Fire Insurance v Kavanagh [1892] AC 473 referred to Liftronic Pty Ltd v Unver (2001) 179 ALR 321 referred to Kweifio-Okai v RMIT University [1999] FCA 1686 referred to Davison v Vickery's Motors Ltd (In Liquidation) (1925) 37 CLR 1 referred to JB Chandler Investment Co Ltd (In voluntary liquidation) v Comm of Taxation (1993) 47 FCR 588 referred to Jones v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1995) 63 FCR 32 referred to Gordon v McGregor (1909) 8 CLR 316 referred to Major v Bretherton (1928) 41 CLR 62 referred to Nemeth v Bayswater Road Pty Ltd [1988] 2 Qd R 406 referred to State Rail Authority of NSW v Heath Outdoor Pty Ltd (1986) 7 NSWLR 170 considered NSW Cancer Council v Sarfaty (1992) 28 NSWLR 68referred to Secured Income Real Estate (Australia) v St Martins Investments Pty Ltd (1979) 144 CLR 596 referred to Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of NSW (1982) 149 CLR 337 referred to Bahr v Nicolay (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 604 referred to Trawl Industries of Australia Pty Ltd v Effem Foods Pty Ltd (1992) 27 NSWLR 326 referred to Saad v TWT Limited [1998] NSWSC 282 referred to Norwest Beef Industries Limited v Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co (1987) 8 NSWLR 568 referred to Bell v Queensland Design Pty Limited [1994] QSC 9 referred to MacDonald v Shinko Australia Pty Limited [1999] 2 Qd R 152 referred to Agseed Pty Limited v Broad [1991] SASC 2880 referred to Bruce v AWB Limited [2000] FCA 594 referred to Major v Bretherton (1928) 41 CLR 62 referred to Hoyt's Proprietary Ltd v Spencer (1919) 27 CLR 133 referred to B Seppelt and Sons Ltd v Commissioner for Main Roads (1975) 1 BPR 9147 referred to Air Great Lakes Pty Ltd v K S Easter (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1985) 2 NSWLR 309 referred to Twynam Pastoral Company Pty Ltd v Anburn Pty Ltd (1989) 6 BPR 13 referred to Harold v Plenty [1901] 2 Ch 314 referred to UTC Ltd v NZI Securities (1991) 4 WAR 349 referred to Wise v Lansdell [1921] 1 Ch 420 referred to Eccles v Bryant [1948] Ch 93 referred to Allen v Carbone (1975) 132 CLR 528 referred to Summit Properties v Comserv (No 784) Pty Ltd (1981) 2 BPR 9173 referred to Sindel v Georgiou (1984) 154 CLR 661 referred to Baulkham Hills Hospital v G R Securities (1996) 40 NSWLR 622 referred to Meates v A-G [1983] NZLR 308 referred to Integrated Computer Services Pty Ltd v Digital Equipment Corp Pty Ltd (1988) 5 BPR [97,326] referred to Vroon BV v Fosters Brewing Group [1994] 2 VR 32 referred to Empirnall Holdings Pty Ltd v Machon Paull Partners Pty Ltd (1988) 14 NSWLR 523 referred to Pagnan SpA v Feed Products [1987] 2 Lloyd's Rep 601 referred to Pobjie Agencies v Vinidex Tubemakers [2000] NSWCA 105 referred to Brambles Holdings Limited v Bathurst City Council [2001] NSWCA 61 referred to Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Ltd v Ken Morgan [1994] 2 VR 106 referred to Electrical Enterprises Retail Pty Ltd v Rodgers (1989) 5 NSWLR 473 referred to Manzi v Smith (1975) 132 CLR 671 referred to Film 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NSW, 26 June 1991) referred to Skywest Aviation Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1995) 126 FLR 61 referred to Public Trustee for the ACT v Megic (1995) 59 FCR 165 referred to New Holland Mining v Weaver Oil and Gas Corp Aust Ltd (unreported, Supreme Court of WA, 12 March 1998) referred to Seabridge Australia Pty Ltd v JLW (1991) 29 FCR 415 referred to Cafdawn Pty Limited v Waltons Stores Ltd (unreported, Federal Court of Australia, 28 March 1991) referred to Byers v Dorotea (1986) 69 ALR 715 referred to Grundt v Great Boulder Pty Gold Mines Limited (1937) 59 CLR 641 referred to Bank Negara Indonesia v Philip Hoalim [1973] 2 MLJ 3 referred to Lezam Pty Ltd v Seabridge Australia Pty Ltd (1992) 35 FCR 535 referred to Whittet v State Bank of NSW (1991) 24 NSWLR 146 referred to Liangis Investments Pty Ltd v Daplyn Pty Limited (1994) 117 FLR 28 referred to Grace v Peter Harrison Designs & Signs Pty Ltd [1998] QSC 27 referred to Riches v Hogben [1995] 2 Qd R 292 referred to Giumelli v Giumelli (1999) 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