Farrell v Super Retail Group Limited (Specific Performance Claim) [2024] FCA 1515

Federal Court of Australia Farrell v Super Retail Group Limited (Specific Performance Claim) [2024] FCA 1515 File number:

Judgment of: LEE J

Date of judgment: 23 December 2024

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – where applicant was employed by Super Retail Group as Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary – where applicant alleges that SRG dismissed her following complaints concerning corporate governance issues and health and safety – where applicant seeks specific performance of alleged settlement agreement – Masters v Cameron (1953) 91 CLR 353 – relevant principles – where post-contractual conduct admissible as to whether an agreement was formed – where alleged agreement "subject to deed" – where parties commercially sophisticated – where negotiations and post-contractual conduct inconsistent with existence of binding agreement – no equity established and application dismissed

Allen v Carbone (1975) 132 CLR 528 Australian Broadcasting Corp v XIVth Commonwealth Games Ltd (1988) 18 NSWLR 540 Barrier Wharfs Ltd v W Scott Fell & Co Ltd (1908) 5 CLR 647 Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd v G R Securities Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 622 Cardtronics Australasia Pty Ltd v FX Investments Australia Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 218 Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc [2002] HCA 8; (2002) 209 CLR 95 Farrell v Super Retail Group Limited (Confidentiality Applications) [2024] FCA 954 Farrell v Super Retail Group Limited (Cross-claim) [2024] FCA 1189 Film Bars Pty Ltd v Pacific Film Laboratories Pty Ltd (1979) 1 BPR 9251 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 G R Securities Pty Ltd v Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 631 Cases cited: Geebung Investments Pty Ltd v Varga Group Investments No 8 Pty Ltd (1995) 7 BPR 14,551 Gestmin SGPS SA v Credit Suisse (UK) Limited [2013] EWHC 3560 Masters v Cameron (1953) 91 CLR 353 McNickle v Huntsman Chemical Company Australia Pty Ltd (Initial Trial) [2024] FCA 807 Pavlovic v Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 313; (2015) 90 NSWLR 605 Radovanovic v Stekovic [2024] NSWCA 129 Russell v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (No 3) [2023] FCA 1223 Sagacious Procurement Pty Ltd v Symbion Health Ltd (formerly Mayne Group Ltd) [2008] NSWCA 149 Sinclair, Scott & Company Ltd v Naughton (1929) 43 CLR 310 Super Retail Group Limited v Farrell [2024] FCA 1214 Transport Workers' Union of Australia v Qantas Airways Limited [2021] FCA 873; (2021) 308 IR 244 Uranium Equities Ltd v Fewster [2008] WASCA 33; (2008) 36 WAR 97 Webb v GetSwift Limited (No 5) [2019] FCA 1533