The Wilderness Society Inc. v The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources [2007] FCA 1863

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA The Wilderness Society Inc. v The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources [2007] FCA 1863 PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Costs – discretion to award costs – public interest litigation – applicant brought proceeding in public interest – applicant wholly unsuccessful - whether public interest nature of proceeding sufficient reason to deny costs to successful respondents. Held: costs awarded to the successful respondents - public interest considerations relevant but not sufficient to alter usual rule that costs follow the event. Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) ss 5 and 6 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 39B Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 43 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) s 69(2) Judicature Act 1890 (UK) s 5

Australian Conservation Foundation v Forestry Commission (1988) 81 ALR 166 cited Buddhist Society of Western Australia (Inc) v Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale [1999] WASCA 55 referred to Donald Campbell & Co Ltd v Pollak [1927] AC 732followed Friends of Hinchinbrook Society Inc v Minister for the Environment (No. 5) (1998) 84 FCR 186 cited Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534referred to Mees v Kemp (No 2) [2004] FCA 549 cited Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72 applied R v Industrial Disputes Tribunal; ex parte American Express Co Inc [1954] 2 All ER 764 distinguished Ruddock v Vadarlis (No. 2) (2001) 115 FCR 229applied Save the Ridge Inc v Commonwealth [2006] FCAFC 51; (2007) 230 ALR 411 referred to South West Forest Defence Foundation v Department of Conservation and Land Management (No 2) [1998] HCA 35; (1998) 154 ALR 411 cited Sorell Council v State of Tasmania (No 2) [2004] TASSC 101 distinguished The Investors for the Future of Tasmania Inc. v Minister for the Environment and Water Resources [2007] FCA 1179 cited THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY INC. v THE HON. MALCOLM TURNBULL, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES AND GUNNS LIMITED TAD 15 OF 2007