Left Bank Investments Pty Ltd v Ngunya Jarjum Aboriginal Corporation [2020] NSWCA 144

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Left Bank Investments Pty Ltd v Ngunya Jarjum Aboriginal Corporation [2020] NSWCA 144 Hearing dates: 12 May 2020 Decision date: 13 July 2020 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1] Bell P at [2] Gleeson JA at [3] Decision: (1) Appeal dismissed. (2) Appellant to pay the respondent's costs. Catchwords: CORPORATIONS – Aboriginal corporation – implied actual authority – where CEO of corporation not director – where CEO instructed solicitor to accept offer of new lease – where Board of Aboriginal corporation had not in fact accepted offer of new lease – where Board had not delegated authority to CEO to bind it to new lease – whether CEO had implied actual authority to bind Aboriginal corporation CORPORATIONS – Aboriginal corporation – ostensible authority – whether CEO held out by Aboriginal corporation as having authority to accept offer of new lease – distinction between agent's authority to communicate Board's decision and authority to make decision – whether CEO had ostensible authority to bind Aboriginal corporation Legislation Cited: Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth), ss 99-1, 99-5 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 126, 127 Cases Cited: Armagas Ltd v Mundogas SA (The Ocean Frost) [1986] AC 717 Boensch v Pascoe [2019] HCA 49; (2019) 94 ALJR 112 Brick & Pipe Industries Ltd v Occidental Life Nominees Pty Ltd [1992] 2 VR 279; 6 ACSR 464 Crabtree-Vickers Pty Ltd v Australian Direct Mail Advertising & Addressing Co Pty Ltd (1975) 133 CLR 72; [1975] HCA 49 Dovuro Pty Ltd v Wilkins (2003) 215 CLR 317; [2003] HCA 51 Equiticorp Finance Ltd (in liq) v Bank of New Zealand (1993) 32 NSWLR 50 First Energy (UK) Ltd v Hungarian International Bank Ltd [1993] 2 Lloyd's Rep 194 Freeman & Lockyer v Buckhurst Park Properties (Mangal) Ltd [1964] 2 QB 480 Gerard Cassegrain & Co Pty Ltd v Cassegrain (2013) 87 NSWLR 284; [2013] NSWCA 453 Greater Pacific Investments Pty Ltd (in liq) v Australian National Industries Ltd (1996) 39 NSWLR 143 Hely-Hutchinson v Brayhead Ltd [1968] 1 QB 549 Jackson v Lithgow City Council [2008] NSWCA 312 Jiwunda v Trustees of the Travel Compe nsation Fund [2006] NSWSC 741 Kelly v Fraser [2013] 1 AC 450; [2012] 3 WLR 1008 Kilcran, In the matter of Allco Finance Group Limited (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (in liq) v Gothard [2014] FCAFC 6 Kuru v New South Wales (2008) 236 CLR 1; [2008] HCA 26 Multicon Engineering Pty Ltd v Federal Airports Corporation (1997) 47 NSWLR 631 Northside Developments Pty Ltd v Registrar-General (1990) 170 CLR 146; [1990] HCA 32 Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas (2004) 218 CLR 451; [2004] HCA 35 Sargent v ASL Developments Ltd (1974) 131 CLR 634; [1974] HCA 40 University of Wollongong v Metwally (No 2) [1985] HCA 28; (1985) 59 ALR 68 Wilh.Wilhelmsen Investments Pty Ltd v SSS Holdings Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 32 Texts Cited: Bowstead & Reynolds on Agency (19th ed, Sweet & Maxwell, 2010) J D Heydon, Cross on Evidence (Online version, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Left Bank Investments Pty Ltd (Appellant) Ngunya Jarjum Aboriginal Corporation (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M S Henry SC (Appellant) A C Harding / J Braithwaite (Respondent)