Webb v GetSwift Limited (No 6) [2020] FCA 1292

Federal Court of Australia

Webb v GetSwift Limited (No 6) [2020] FCA 1292 File number: NSD 580 of 2018

Judgment of: LEE J

Date of judgment: 9 September 2020

Catchwords: COURTS AND JUDGES – principles of apprehended bias in the context of judge hearing a regulatory civil penalty proceeding and a Pt IVA class action consecutively – application for disqualification – brought for a second time after hearing of ASIC proceeding – factual issues in ASIC proceeding largely undisputed – no witnesses cross-examined as to credit – questions of law to be determined largely on the basis of contemporaneous documentary evidence – "core" bundle of documents common to both the ASIC proceeding and class action – not be required to be put out of mind for class action hearing – judgment in ASIC proceeding yet to be written or delivered – hypothetical observer would appreciate that any views formed at present are preliminary – no apparent issue as to application of the relevant standard of proof in the two proceedings – while a matter of "prudence" to disqualify in circumstances of uncertainty, not satisfied there are "substantial grounds" – broader public policy considerations as to the economies achieved by the same judge hearing a regulatory proceeding and the cognate class action – interlocutory application refused – leave to appeal granted

Legislation: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 674, 677 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 140 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) Pt IVA

Cases cited: Aurora Funds Management Limited v Australian Government Takeovers Panel [2020] FCA 496; (2020) 144 ACSR 593 Axon v Axon (1937) 59 CLR 395 Bienstein v Bienstein [2003] HCA 7; (2003) 195 ALR 225 Bolitho v Banksia Securities Limited (No 11) [2020] VSC 567 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 British American Tobacco Australia Services Limited v Laurie [2011] HCA 2; (2011) 242 CLR 283 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Jackson McDonald (a firm) [2014] WASC 301 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy [2000] HCA 63; (2000) 205 CLR 337 Hamod v New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 374 Health Care Complaints Commission v Wallach [2004] NSWSC 927 Isbester v Knox City Council [2015] HCA 20; (2015) 255 CLR 135 Johnson v Johnson [2000] HCA 48; (2000) 201 CLR 488 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kirby v Centro Properties Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 1144; (2011) 202 FCR 439 Lee v Cha [2008] NSWCA 13 Livesey v New South Wales Bar Association (1983) 151 CLR 288 McKenzie v Cash Converters International Ltd (No 3) [2019] FCA 10 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia Legeng [2001] HCA 17; (2001) 205 CLR 507 Morley v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2010] NSWCA 331; (2010) 274 ALR 205 R v Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (1969) 122 CLR 546 R v Watson; ex parte Armstrong (1976) 136 CLR 248 Webb v GetSwift Limited (No 5) [2019] FCA 1533 Wilson v Waigani Pty Ltd [2018] VSC 302