The Owners – Strata Plan No 4159 v Wolff [2021] NSWCATAP 135

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: The Owners – Strata Plan No 4159 v Wolff [2021] NSWCATAP 135 Hearing dates: 20 April 2021 Date of orders: 14 May 2021 Decision date: 14 May 2021 Jurisdiction: Appeal Panel Before: M Harrowell, Deputy President A Bell SC, Senior Member Decision: (1) Leave to appeal is granted. (2) The appeal is dismissed. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Bias – apprehended bias – interest or association bias – Member of Tribunal providing lay and expert evidence in support of a claim brought by his domestic partner in proceedings in the Tribunal – application to transfer proceedings to a court pursuant to Sch 4 cl 6 of the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 – appeal against refusal – whether all Members of the Tribunal affected by apprehended bias so as to necessitate the transfer of the proceedings to a court – challenge to exercise of discretion – principles applicable in claim for apprehended bias Cases Cited: Attorney General for New South Wales v Gatsby [2018] NSWCA 254 Chamoun v District Court of NSW [2018] NSWCA 187 Champion Homes Pty Ltd v Guirgis [2018] NSWCATAP 54 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy [2000] HCA 63; (2000) 205 CLR 337 Fingleton v Christian Ivanoff Pty Ltd (1976) 14 SASR 530 Hot Holdings Pty Ltd v Creasy [2002] HCA 51; 210 CLR 438 Johnson v Johnson [2000] HCA 48; 201 CLR 488 Laws v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal [1990] HCA 31; (1990) 170 CLR 70 Lunn v The Commissioner for Public Employment [2009] NSWSC 19 McGovern v Ku-ring-gai Council [2008] NSWCA 209; (2008) 72 NSW LR 504 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia Legeng [2001] HCA 17; (2001) 205 CLR 507 McLean v Nicholson [2002] VSC 446; (2002] 172 FLR 90 New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation v Orr [2019] NSWCA 231 O'Connor v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (1995) 128 FLR 61 Rouvinetis v Knoll [2013] NSWCA 24 Rouvinetis v Knoll [2009] NSWSC 1212 Tarrant v R [2018] NSWCCA 21 Trustees of Christian Bros v Cardone (1995) 57 FCR 327 Vakauta v Kelly (1988) 13 NSWLR 502 at 527 Vakauta v Kelly [1989] HCA 44; (1989) 167 CLR 568 Webb v The Queen [1994] HCA 30; (1993) 181 CLR 41 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: The Owners – Strata Plan No 4159 (Appellant) Dianne Wolff (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: N Li (Appellant)