Electoral Commissioner v McQuestin [2024] FCA 685

Federal Court of Australia

Electoral Commissioner v McQuestin [2024] FCA 685 File number(s): VID 78 of 2023

Judgment of: O'BRYAN J

Date of judgment: 26 June 2024

Catchwords: COSTS – application to vary order that the respondent pay the applicant's costs of the proceeding – whether the respondent should be regarded as the successful party in the litigation – whether the applicant's refusal of a settlement offer was unreasonable – application refused

Legislation: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth)

Cases cited: Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v Universal Music Australia Pty Limited (No 2) [2002] FCA 192 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 860 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd (No 5) [2021] FCA 246 Australian Trade Commission v Disktravel [2000] FCA 62 Calderbank v Calderbank [1975] All ER 333 Electoral Commissioner of the Australian Electoral Commission v Laming (No 2) [2023] FCA 917 Electoral Commissioner v McQuestin [2024] FCA 287 Firebird Global Master Fund II Ltd v Republic of Nauru (No 2) [2015] HCA 53; 327 ALR 192 Foots v Southern Cross Mine Management Pty Ltd (2007) 234 CLR 52 Kazar v Kargarian (2011) 197 FCR Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72 Queensland North Australia Pty Ltd v Takeovers Panel (No 2) (2015) 236 FCR 370 Ruddock v Vadarlis (No 2) (2001) 115 FCR 229 The State of Victoria v Sportsbet Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] FCAFC 174