Eden Construction Pty Ltd v State of New South Wales (No 2) [2007] FCA 689

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Eden Construction Pty Ltd v State of New South Wales (No 2) [2007] FCA 689

CONTRACT – principles of construction applicable to a written contract – duties owed by a Superintendent's Representative to the contractor under a civil engineering contract TORT OF MISFEASANCE IN PUBLIC OFFICE – necessary elements TORT OF INDUCING BREACH OF CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE INTERFERING WITH CONTRACTUAL RELATIONS – elements of the cause of action – justification TRADE PRACTICES – application of Part IV of the Act to the respondent – misuse of market power NEGLIGENCE – misrepresentation causing economic loss – whether a duty of care should be found Held: conduct of the respondent in placing the applicant's name on Departmental Contractor Review Lists, which led to adverse advice about the applicant being provided to potential customers of the applicant, did not involve breaches of contract or breach of any tortious or statutory duty for which the applicant contended Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 2B, 2C, 4 and 46(1)(c) Federal Court Rules Order 29 rule 2 Crown Proceedings Act 1988 (NSW) Eden Construction Pty Ltd v State of New South Wales [2003] NSWSC 1098 Wigan v Edwards (1973) 47 ALJR 586 Locke v Dunlop ((1888) 39 Ch D 387 Bottomley's Case ((1880) 16 Ch D 681 Hillas and Co. Limited. v Arcos Limited. ((1932) 147 LT 503 Upper Hunter County District Council v. Australian Chilling and Freezing Co. Ltd. (1968) 118 CLR 429 Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australasian Performing Right Association Limited (1973) 129 CLR 99 Toll (FGCT) Pty Limited v Alphapharm Pty Limited (2004) 219 CLR 165 Equuscorp Pty Ltd v HGT Investments Pty Ltd (2005) 218 CLR 471 Codelfa Construction Proprietary Limited v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1982) 149 CLR 337 Timber Shipping Co. S.A. v London & Overseas Freighters Ltd [1972] AC 1 NZI Capital Corporation Pty Ltd v Child (1991) 23 NSWLR 481 Elliott v Reading [1999] WASCA 11 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 Carlton & United Breweries Ltd v Tooth & Co Ltd (unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Hodgson J, 11 June 1985) B.P. Refinery (Westernport) Pty. Limited v President, Councillors and Ratepayers of the Shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 266 Butt v M'Donald (1896) 7 QLJ 68 Secured Income Real Estate (Australia) Limited v St. Martins Investments Proprietary Limited (1979) 144 CLR 596 Fitzgerald v F J Leonhardt Pty Limited (1997) 189 CLR 215 Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ld. v Canadian Flight Equipment Ld. [1955] 2 QB 556 Wintergarden Theatre (London) Limited v Millennium Productions Limited [1948] AC 173 Llanelly Railway and Dock Company v London and North-Western Railway Company (1873) VIII LR Ch App 942 Prints for Pleasure Ltd. v Oswald-Sealy (Overseas) Ltd. (1968) 88 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 375 Peninsula Balmain Pty Ltd v Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd (2002) 18 BCL 322 Northern Territory of Australia v Mengel (1995) 185 CLR 307 Beaudesert Shire Council v Smith (1966) 120 CLR 145 Sanders v Snell (No 2) (2003) 130 FCR 149 Three Rivers District Council v Governor and Company of the Bank of England [2000] 2 WLR 1220 Rush v Commissioner of Police (2006) 150 FCR 165 Lumley v Gye (1853) 2 E&B 216; 118 ER 749 James v The Commonwealth (1939) 62 CLR 339 Zhu v Treasurer of the State of New South Wales (2004) 218 CLR 530 NT Power Generation Pty Ltd v Power and Water Authority (2004) 219 CLR 90 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd [2006] FCAFC 128 Woolcock Street Investments Pty Ltd v CDG Pty Ltd (2004) 216 CLR 515 Perre v Apand Pty Limited (1999) 198 CLR 180 Sullivan v Moody (2001) 207 CLR 562 Tepko Pty Limited v Water Board (2001) 206 CLR 1 EDEN CONSTRUCTION PTY LTD v STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES NSD 833 OF 2004