In the Matter of Richards Contracting Co Management Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 34

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: In the Matter of Richards Contracting Co Management Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 34 Hearing dates: 12 November 2020 Decision date: 19 March 2021 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; Bell P at [122]; Meagher JA at [123]; Payne JA at [124]; Emmett AJA at [125] Decision: (1) Order pursuant to s 539(4)(d) of the Code that the time for the plaintiff to make an application under s 459(6) of the Code for the reinstatement of Richards Contracting Co Management Pty Ltd be extended up to and including 5 May 2020. (2) Order pursuant to s 459(6) of the Code that the registration of Richards Contracting Co Management Pty Ltd be reinstated. (3) Order that Richards Contracting Co Management Pty Ltd be wound-up pursuant to the provisions of s 461(1)(k) of the Corporations Act and that Mr Christopher Darin be appointed liquidator. (4) Orders (2) and (3) are to be taken to have been made nunc pro tunc and be effective from 18 December 2014. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – parties – proper party – whether the Authority of the Insurers' Guarantee Fund a proper party to the proceedings STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – amendment and repeal – references to repealed statute – deregistered company – where legislation providing power to reinstate company repealed – Companies (New South Wales) Code (NSW), s 459(6) – whether court has power to reinstate company STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – amendment and repeal – references to repealed statute – Corporations (New South Wales) Act 1990 (NSW), s 85 – whether section of its own force can render applicable repealed co-operative scheme law – where section is not a deeming provision STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – amendment and repeal – references to repealed statute – accrued statutory rights – Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 30(1)(c) – nature of the rights – Companies (New South Wales) Code 1981 (NSW), s 459(6) – right to seek reinstatement – more than mere locus standi – where person aggrieved – where interests affected by the exercise of the right STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – literal meaning – natural and ordinary meaning – Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 236 – entitlement to payment WORKERS COMPENSATION – insurance – Insurers' Guarantee Fund – liability – Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 236(2) – whether plaintiff entitled to proceed directly against the Authority – Workers' Compensation Act 1926 (NSW), s 18(3) – precondition to liability Legislation Cited: Civil Liability (Third Party Claims Against Insurers) Act 2017 (NSW) Companies Act 1961 (NSW) Companies (Application of Laws) Act 1981 (Cth) Companies (Application of Laws) Act 1981 (NSW) Companies (New South Wales) Code 1981 (NSW) Companies (South Australia) Code 1981 (SA) Company Law Review Act 1998 (Cth) Corporations Act 1989 (Cth) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Corporations (New South Wales) Act 1990 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Local Government Act 1936 (Qld) Managed Investments Act 1998 (Cth) Patents Act 1949 (UK) Patents Act 1977 (UK) Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) Workers' Compensation Act 1926 (NSW) Workers' Compensation (Amendment) Act 1985 (NSW) Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 1981 (WA) Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Amendment Act 1999 (WA) Workers' Compensation (Dust Diseases) Act 1942 (NSW) Workers' Compensation Regulations 1926 (NSW) Cases Cited: Abbott v Minister for Lands [1895] AC 425 Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 AMP General Insurance Ltd v Victoria WorkCover Authority (2006) 15 VR 175; [2006] VSCA 236 Australand Corporation (Qld) Pty Ltd v Johnson [2008] 1 Qd R 203; [2007] QCA 302 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2000] NSWSC 316; (2000) 174 ALR 688 Baird v WJT Howes Investments Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 1232; (2008) 68 ACSR 485 Barminco Investments Pty Ltd v O'Brien [2006] WASCA 88 Boyce v Hughes (1970) 72 SR (NSW) 54; [1970] 1 NSWR 75 Bradley v Eagle Star Insurance Co Ltd [1989] AC 957 Brakespeare v The Northern Assurance Co Ltd (1959) 101 CLR 661; [1959] HCA 31 CGU Insurance Ltd v Blakeley (2016) 259 CLR 339; [2016] HCA 2 Chief Adjudication Officer v Maguire [1999] 1 WLR 1778 City West Water Ltd v Mr D Investments Pty Ltd [2002] VSC 553; (2002) 43 ACSR 622 Colley v Futurebrand FHA Pty Ltd (2005) 63 NSWLR 291; [2005] NSWCA 223 Commissioner of State Revenue v Bulzomi (2009) 24 VR 643; [2009] VSCA 99 Devine v Devine (1928) 28 SR (NSW) 503 Esber v Commonwealth (1992) 174 CLR 430; [1992] HCA 20 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd (2012) 250 CLR 503; [2012] HCA 55 ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd (now known as Orica Australia Pty Ltd) v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (2004) 60 NSWLR 18; [2004] NSWCA 55 ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd v Workcover Authority of New South Wales [2002] NSWDDT 9 In the matter of Austral Bronze Pty Ltd; In the matter of John Darlington Pty Ltd; In the matter of John Darlington Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] NSWSC 1633 In the matter of Convex Ltd's Patent [1980] RPC 423 In the matter of Jury & Spiers Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 900; (2016) 114 ACSR 336 In the matter of Likehart Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 884 In the matter of Rocha Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 899; (2016) 114 ACSR 89 In the matter of Rocha Pty Ltd (No 2) [2016] NSWSC 1172; (2016) 312 FLR 309 Kraljevich v Lake View and Star Limited (1945) 70 CLR 647; [1945] HCA 29 Lunn v Cardiff Coal Co (No 3) [2003] NSWSC 789; (2003) 47 ACSR 79 Mathieson v Burton (1971) 124 CLR 1; [1971] HCA 4 Maxwell v Murphy (1957) 96 CLR 261; [1957] HCA 7 McNellee v Co-operative Insurance Co of Australia Ltd (1964) 64 SR (NSW) 295 National Australia Bank Ltd v Australian Securities Commission (1991) 9 ACLC 1093 Orica Ltd v CGU Insurance Ltd (2003) 59 NSWLR 14; [2003] NSWCA 331 Parker v Australian Asbestos Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 520; (2000) 42 ACSR 138 Resort Management Services Ltd v Noosa Shire Council [1997] 2 Qd R 291 Shaw v Goodsmith Industries Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 406; (2002) 41 ACSR 556 Spain v Metropolitan Meat Industry Board [1971] 1 NSWLR 91 Sutton v Bradshaw [1988] VR 920 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 262 CLR 362; [2017] HCA 34 Tan v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2011] NSWSC 58 Teal Assurance Co Ltd v WR Berkley Insurance (Europe) Ltd [2013] UKSC 57 Thiess v Collector of Customer (2014) 250 CLR 664; [2014] HCA 12 University of New South Wales v AAI Ltd (2014) 87 NSWLR 214; [2014] NSWCA 153 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales v Picton Truck and Trailer Repairs Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 371; (2004) 51 ACSR 102 Texts Cited: Explanatory Note, Workers' Compensation (Amendment) Bill 1985 (NSW) New South Wales, Parliamentary Debates, Legislative Assembly, 23 April 1985, 6769 (Patrick Hills, Minister for Industrial Relations) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Petar Zeko (Plaintiff) Richards Contracting Co Management Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Second Defendant) State Insurance Regulatory Authority (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Condon SC with C Rogers (Plaintiff) No Appearance (First Defendant) No Appearance (Second Defendant) D Toomey SC (Third Defendant) J Redwood SC with R Jameson (Amicus Curiae)