JKC Australia LNG Pty Ltd v AkzoNobel NV (No 5) [2023] FCA 1248

Federal Court of Australia

JKC Australia LNG Pty Ltd v AkzoNobel NV (No 5) [2023] FCA 1248 File numbers: WAD 448 of 2017 WAD 162 of 2021

Judgment of: BANKS-SMITH J

Date of judgment: 10 October 2023

Date of publication of reasons: 18 October 2023

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - cross-vesting - application to cross-vest Federal Court of Australia proceedings alleging misleading or deceptive conduct to the Supreme Court of Western Australia - proceedings relate to Ichthys LNG Project - extant proceedings in the Supreme Court relating to same project against insurers - parties to proceedings not common - proceedings at different stages - proceedings in Federal Court listed for trial - proceedings in Supreme Court in early stages - whether real risk of inconsistent findings of a nature that might undermine the due administration of justice - where on current pleadings there is some overlap of issues but many discrete matters relevant only to Supreme Court proceedings - where different causes of action and different inquiries as to damages - delay in bringing transfer application - resources and costs deployed in preparation for trial in this Court - whether more appropriate and in the interests of justice to transfer proceedings to Supreme Court - application dismissed

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) s 138C, Schedule 2 (Australian Consumer Law) s 18 Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987 (Cth) s 5

Cases cited: Amalia Investments Ltd v Virgtel Global Networks NV (No 2) [2011] FCA 1270; (2011) 198 FCR 248 Australian Health and Nutrition Association Ltd v Hive Marketing Group Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 61; (2019) 99 NSWLR 419 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Australian Property Custodian Holdings Limited (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (in liquidation) (Controllers Appointed) [2012] FCA 1051 Bell Group Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation [2000] FCA 439; (2000) 104 FCR 305 BHP Billiton Limited v Schultz [2004] HCA 61; (2004) 221 CLR 400 Commissioner of Taxation v Residence Riverside Proprietary Limited as Trustee for the D&J Discretionary Trust and as Trustee for the D&J Investment Trust [2013] FCA 720 Donohue v Armoco Inc [2001] UKHL 64; [2002] 1 All ER 749 Incitec Ltd v Alkimos Shipping Corporation [2004] FCA 698; (2004) 138 FCR 496 Inpex Operations Australia Pty Ltd v AIG Australia Ltd [No 2] [2023] WASC 61 Inpex Operations Australia Pty Ltd v AIG Australia Ltd [No 3] [2023] WASC 332 Inpex Operations Australia Pty Ltd v AIG Australia Ltd [No 3] [2023] WASC 332 (S) INPEX Operations Australia Pty Ltd v AkzoNobel NV [2023] FCA 382 JKC Australia LNG Pty Ltd v AIG Australia Ltd [2021] WASC 471 JKC Australia LNG Pty Ltd v AkzoNobel NV [2019] FCA 1032 JKC Australia LNG Pty Ltd v AkzoNobel NV (No 2) [2020] FCA 1789 JKC Australia LNG Pty Ltd v AkzoNobel NV (No 3) [2021] FCA 1217 JKC Australia LNG Pty Ltd v AkzoNobel NV (No 4) [2023] FCA 456 Lin v One Funds Management Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1450 Porteous v Donnelly (Trustee), in the matter of Hancock (Bankrupt) [2003] FCA 783 Protec Pacific Pty Ltd v Steuler Services GmbH & Co KG [2014] VSCA 338 Resource Equities Ltd (subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) v Carr [2007] WASC 246 Sino Iron Pty Ltd v Mineralogy Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 675 Slater & Gordon Pty Ltd v Porteous [2005] VSC 398 Trade Practices Commission v Port Adelaide Wool Company Pty Ltd (1995) ATPR 41-441 Winpar Holdings Ltd v National Consolidated Ltd [2001] FCA 1663 Yara Pilbara Fertilisers Pty Ltd (formerly known as Burrup Fertilisers Pty Ltd) v Oswal (No 8) [2015] FCA 49 York Civil Pty Ltd v BHP Billiton Mitsui Coal Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 1422