Ringrow Pty Ltd v BP Australia Ltd [2003] FCA 1297

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Ringrow Pty Ltd v BP Australia Ltd [2003] FCA 1297

CONTRACT – whether an option to purchase a service station exercisable upon breach of an agreement relating to the operation of the service station is void as a penalty EQUITY – relief against forfeiture – whether the exercise of the option involved an unconscionable forfeiture of property against which equity would relieve STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – whether the arrangements by which the applicants operated the service station are franchise agreements within the meaning of s 16 of the Petroleum Retail Marketing Franchise Act 1980 (Cth) WORDS & PHRASES – 'operational' and 'goodwill' Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-Vesting) Act 1987 (Cth) s 6(1) Petroleum Retail Marketing Franchise Act 1980 (Cth)s 3(1), 16, 16(2), 16(2)(f), 16(2)(j), 16(3), 16(4), 16(4)(b), 16(5), 16(6) AMEV-UDC Finance Ltd v Austin (1986) 162 CLR 170 applied BICC PLC v Burndy Corporation [1985] 1 Ch 232 cited CRA Ltd v NZ Goldfields Investments [1989] VR 873 cited Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Murry (1998) 193 CLR 605 followed Forestry Commission of NSW v Stefanetto (1976) 133 CLR 507 cited Jobson v Johnson [1989] 1 All ER 621 applied Legione v Hateley (1983) 152 CLR 406 followed O'Dea v All States Leasing System (WA) Pty Ltd (1983) 152 CLR 359 referred to Patel v Ali [1984] 1 Ch 283 referred to PC Developments Pty Ltd v Revell (1991) 22 NSWLR 615 followed Re Moore and Texaco Canada Ltd (1965) 50 DLR (2d) 300 referred to Romanos v Pentagold Investments Pty Ltd [2003] HCA 58 cited Shepherd v Felt & Textiles of Australia Ltd (1931) 45 CLR 359 cited Tanwar Enterprises Pty Ltd v Cauchi [2003] HCA 57 cited The Minister for Home & Territories v Lazarus [1919] 26 CLR 159 referred to Turner v Bladin (1951) 82 CLR 463 cited Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 cited Wollondilly Shire Council v Picton Power Lines Pty Ltd (1994) 33 NSWLR 551 applied