Elston v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] FCA 291

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Elston v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] FCA 291 Citation: Elston v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] FCA 291

Parties: DR GUY N ELSTON v COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

File number: QUD 212 of 2012

Judge: RANGIAH J

Date of judgment: 31 March 2014

Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – applicant awarded grant by Commonwealth to be administered by university – terms of grant contained in deed of agreement between the Commonwealth and the university – applicant suspended from employment at university – challenge to Commonwealth's decision to suspend payments of grant – whether s 55 of the Property Law Act 1974 (Qld) applies – whether Commonwealth obliged under statute to observe natural justice before suspending payments of the grant – whether the Commonwealth's power to suspend payments derived from the deed of agreement or under statute – whether applicant's rights or interests prejudiced by the suspension of payments – whether discretion to grant relief should be exercised CONTRACTS – consideration of whether term of natural justice can be implied into contract – whether there is an implied term of the deed of agreement that requires the Commonwealth to afford the applicant natural justice – whether applicant entitled to damages

Legislation: Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) s 16 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 39B National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992 (Cth) ss 5B(1), 5B(2), 7(1)(d), 82(1A) and 82(1C) Property Law Act 1974 (Qld) s 55

Cases cited: Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596 applied BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 266 applied Dickason v Edwards (1910) 10 CLR 243 cited Griffith University v Tang (2005) 221 CLR 99 applied Hounslow London Borough Council v Twickenham Garden Developments Ltd [1971] Ch 233 applied Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550 applied Malloch v Aberdeen Corporation [1971] 1 WLR 1578 cited McClelland v Burning Palms Surf Life Saving Club (2002) 191 ALR 759 cited Plaintiff S10/2011 v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2012) 246 CLR 636 cited Stead v State Government Insurance Commission (1986) 161 CLR 141 applied Trident General Insurance Co Ltd v McNiece Bros Pty Ltd (1997) 165 CLR 107 cited Vakauta v Kelly (1989) 167 CLR 568 at 577-579 applied 500 Burwood Highway Pty Ltd v Australian Unity Ltd [2012] VSC 596 applied