IMF (Australia) Ltd v Sons Of Gwalia Ltd (Administrator Appointed) ACN 008 994 287 [2004] FCA 1390

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA IMF (Australia) Ltd v Sons Of Gwalia Ltd (Administrator Appointed) ACN 008 994 287 [2004] FCA 1390 CORPORATIONS - Registers – Register of members – former members – right to inspect – company in administration – commercial litigation funder wishing to communicate with shareholders and former shareholders to invite participation in collective recovery action – by way of proof of debt or class action – administrators' approval withheld – declaration sought that proposed conduct lawful – whether jurisdiction to entertain application – whether a contradictor – scope of restriction on use of information from company registers – purpose of restriction – scope of exemption – position of commercial litigation funder – indistinguishable from position of providers of services relevant to status of shareholders as shareholders – proposed conduct not covered by exemption – application dismissed COURTS AND JUDGES - federal jurisdiction – judicial power – declaratory relief – whether a 'matter' – relationship between jurisdiction and discretionary considerations – whether contradictor – whether contradictor necessary to jurisdiction Corporations Act 2001(Cth) s 177, s 1337B, s 440D Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 21 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 39B(1A) O'Brien v Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Victoria) [1999] 3 VR 251 cited Australian Gaslight Company v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (No 2) (2003) ATPR 41-692 cited Telstra Corporation Ltd v Australian Telecommunications Authority (1995) 133 ALR 417 cited Westgold Resources NL v Precious Metals Australia Ltd (2003) 21 ACLC 102 Abebe v The Commonwealth (1999) 197 CLR 510 cited Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 cited Commonwealth of Australia v Sterling Nicholas Duty Free Pty Ltd (1972) 126 CLR 297 cited Re Trade Practices Act 1974 and Re an Application by Tooth & Co Ltd (1978) 19 ALR 191 cited Russian Commercial and Industrial Bank v British Bank for Foreign Trade Ltd [1921] AC 438 cited Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Ltd (1972) 127 CLR 421 cited Acs v Anderson (1974) 1 NSWLR 212 cited IMF (AUSTRALIA) LTD v SONS OF GWALIA LTD (ADMINISTRATOR APPOINTED) ACN 008 994 287 W227 OF 2004 FRENCH J 1 NOVEMBER 2004 MELBOURNE (HEARD IN PERTH)