Street v State of Western Australia [2024] FCA 1368

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA Street v State of Western Australia [2024] FCA 1368 File number(s):

Judgment of: MURPHY J

Date of judgment: 29 October 2024

Catchwords: REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDINGS – application for court approval of settlement under s 33V of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) – claim by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers in respect of wages earned but not paid between 1936 and 1972 – relevant principles in relation to settlement approval – key terms of proposed settlement – whether the settlement amount is fair and reasonable – whether proposed deductions are fair and reasonable – consideration of objections to the settlement – deductions from legal costs and funding commission necessary – common fund order made – settlement approved

Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 33V, 33ZB, 33ZF Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) s 9 Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) Div 9.2, r 26.12 Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) s 174 Legislation: Limitation Act 1935 (WA) ss 38, 47 Native Administration Act 1905-1936 (WA) Native Welfare Act 1905-1954 (WA) Native Welfare Act 1963 (WA) Slave Trade Act 1843 (Imp)

Allen & Anor v G8 Education Ltd (No 4) [2024] VSC 487 Augusta Pool 1 UK Ltd v Williamson [2023] NSWCA 93; 111 NSWLR 378 Baltic Shipping Co v Dillon [1991] NSWCA 19; 22 NSWLR 1 Blairgowrie Trading Ltd v Allco Finance Group Ltd (Recs & Mgrs Apptd) (In Liq) (No 3) [2017] FCA 330; 343 ALR 476 BMW Australia Ltd v Brewster [2019] HCA 45; 269 CLR 574 Bolitho v Banksia Securities Ltd (No 18) (remitter) [2021] VSC 666; 69 VR 28 Bradshaw v BSA Limited (No 2) [2022] FCA 1440 Caason Investments Pty Limited v Cao (No 2) [2018] FCA 527 Camilleri v The Trust Company (Nominees) Ltd [2015] FCA 1468 Carkeek v Aubrey F Crawley & Co [2024] NSWSC 86 Carnie v Esanda Finance Corporation Ltd [1995] HCA 9; 182 CLR 398 Chocolate Factory Apartments v Westpoint Finance [2005] NSWSC 784 Collard v State of Western Australia (No 4) [2013] WASC 455; 47 WAR 1 Court v Spotless Group Holdings Ltd [2020] FCA 1730 Darwalla Milling Co Ltd v F Hoffman-La Roche (No 2) [2006] FCA 1388; 236 ALR 322 Downie v Spiral Foods Pty Ltd [2015] VSC 190 Dyczynski v Gibson [2020] FCAFC 120; 280 FCR 583 Earglow Pty Ltd v Newcrest Mining Limited [2016] FCA 1433 Cases cited: Elliott-Carde v McDonald's Australia Ltd [2023] FCAFC 162; 301 FCR 1 Endeavour River Pty Ltd v MG Responsible Entity Ltd [2019] FCA 1719 Galactic Seven Eleven Litigation Holdings LLC v Davaria [2024] FCAFC 54; 302 FCR 493 Ghee v BT Funds Management Ltd [2023] FCA 1553 Greentree v Jaguar Land Rover Australia Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 1209 HFPS Pty Ltd (Trustee) v Tamaya Resources Ltd (In Liq) (No 3) [2017] FCA 650 In re General Motors Corp Pick-Up Truck Fuel Tank Products Liability Litigation, 55 F.3d 768 (3rd Cir. 1995) Kuterba v Sirtex Medical Limited (No 3) [2019] FCA 1374 Mango Boulevard Pty Ltd v Whitton [2019] FCA 490 Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd v State of Victoria [2002] HCA 27; 211 CLR 1 Money Max Int Pty Ltd v QBE Insurance Group Ltd [2016] FCAFC 148; 245 FCR 191 O'Donnell v Commonwealth of Australia [2023] FCA 1227 Paroz v Clifford Gouldson Lawyers [2012] QDC 151 Pearson v State of Queensland (No 2) [2020] FCA 619 Petersen Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd v Bank of Queensland Limited (No 3) [2018] FCA 1842; 132 ACSR 258 Sister Marie Brigid Arthur (Litigation Representative) v Northern Territory of Australia (No 2) [2020] FCA 215 Timbercorp Finance Pty Ltd (in liquidation) v Collins; Timbercorp Finance Pty Ltd (in liquidation) v Tomes [2016] HCA 44; 259 CLR 212 Trevorrow v State of South Australia (No 5) [2007] SASC 285; 98 SASR 136 Webb v GetSwift Limited (No 7) [2023] FCA 90; 414 ALR 500 Williams v FAI Home Security Pty Ltd (No 4) [2000] FCA 1925; 180 ALR 459