Gunning v State of Queensland (Pleadings Dispute) [2025] FCA 83

Federal Court of Australia

Gunning v State of Queensland (Pleadings Dispute) [2025] FCA 83 File number(s): VID 943 of 2023 VID 944 of 2023

Judgment of: DOWLING J

Date of judgment: 14 February 2025

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application to strike out pleadings – application to amend pleadings – application for non-standard discovery – amendments in the interests of justice – leave granted to amend pleadings subject to further clarifying amendments – discovery in the interests of justice – discovery granted in part

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 37M Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) s 9(1) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 8.21, 16.02, 16.21, 16.53, 20.11, 20.15

Cases cited: Allstate Life Insurance Co v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd [1994] FCA 636; 217 ALR 226 Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University [2009] HCA 27; 239 CLR 175 Austal Ships Pty Ltd v Incat Australia Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 368 Banque Commerciale S.A. En Liquidation v Akhil Holdings Ltd [1990] HCA 11; 169 CLR 279 Caason Investments Pty Ltd v Cao [2015] FCAFC 94; 236 FCR 322 Iliafi v The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Australia [2014] FCAFC 26; 221 FCR 86 KTC v David [2022] FCAFC 60 Philip Morris (Australia) Ltd v Nixon (2000) 170 ALR 487 Simpson v Thorn Australia Pty Ltd trading as Radio Rentals [2018] FCA 1219 Sitzler Pty Ltd v GPT RE Limited as Responsible Entity of the General Property Trust [2018] FCA 1496 Williams v Australian Telecommunications Commission (1988) 52 SASR 215