Sydney Seaplanes Pty Ltd v Page [2021] NSWCA 204

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Sydney Seaplanes Pty Ltd v Page [2021] NSWCA 204 Hearing dates: 07 June 2021 Date of orders: 07 September 2021 Decision date: 07 September 2021 Before: Bell P at [1]; Leeming JA at [85]; Emmett AJA at [151] Decision: 1. Grant leave to appeal. 2. Allow the appeal with costs. 3. Set aside the orders of Adamson J made on 28 October 2020. 4. Order that the Summons filed on 11 May 2020 be dismissed with costs. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – jurisdiction – declaration that court has no jurisdiction to decide claim – claim for death or injury – carriage by air – occurring entirely within New South Wales – where party brought claim under s 5 of the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1967 (NSW) in the Federal Court – where Federal Court lacked jurisdiction to decide claim – claimant brought claim in the Supreme Court under s 11(2) of the Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (NSW) – Supreme Court claim brought more than two years after relevant carriage by air – whether order of the Federal Court dismissing claim for want of jurisdiction was a "relevant order" within the meaning of s 11(1) of the Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (NSW) – whether claim in the Supreme Court was extinguished by s 34 of the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – Commonwealth and State relations – inconsistency of laws – Supreme Court proceedings pursuant to s 11(2) of the Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (NSW) – where those proceedings are linked to incompetent Federal Court proceedings but operate independently of them – where s 34 of the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959 (Cth) operates to extinguish any claim for damages under s 5 of the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1967 (NSW) if not brought within two years after an accident – whether order made under s 11(2) of the Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (NSW) undermined the purpose of s 34 of the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959 (Cth) – order under s 11(2) not a discretionary extension of time to bring a proceeding otherwise out of time LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – operation of bar – action for compensation for death under s 5 of the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1967 (NSW) – where s 34 of the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959 (Cth) provides that the right to damages is extinguished if a party does not bring an action within two years of an aviation accident – characterisation of statutory bar – whether s 34 is a "limitation law" within the meaning of s 11(1) of the Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (NSW) – where the law recognises a distinction between the barring of a right of action and its extinguishment STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – contextual approach – context to be considered in the first order – context understood in a broad sense – including the existing state of the law, legislative purpose, legislative history and extrinsic materials STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – departure from literal meaning – where literal reading of "relevant order" in s 11(1) of the Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (NSW) does not conform to the legislative purpose – where purpose determined by reference to immediate context and extrinsic materials STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – legislative purpose – remedial legislation – where statute passed to remedy the effect of the decision of the High Court of Australia in Re Wakim; Ex parte McNally (1999) 198 CLR 511; [1999] HCA 27 – whether "want of jurisdiction" in s 11(1) of the Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (NSW) refers to the conferral of jurisdiction held to be invalid by the High Court TRAFFIC LAW AND TRANSPORT – aviation – carriage by air – death or personal injury – intra-state carriage by air occurring entirely within New South Wales – where party brought claim under s 5 of the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1967 (NSW) in the Federal Court – where Federal Court lacked jurisdiction to decide claim – claimant brought claim in the Supreme Court under s 11(2) of the Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (NSW) – whether order of the Federal Court dismissing claim for want of jurisdiction was a "relevant order" within the meaning of s 11(1) of the Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (NSW) TRAFFIC LAW AND TRANSPORT – aviation – statutory liability – limitation of actions – characterisation of statutory bar – whether s 34 of the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959 (Cth) is a "limitation law" within the meaning of s 11(1) of the Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (NSW) WORDS AND PHRASES – "relevant order" – Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (NSW), s 11(1) WORDS AND PHRASES – "limitation law" – Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (NSW), s 11(1) Legislation Cited: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 15AA, 15AB Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) Admiralty Act 1988 (Cth) Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (New South Wales) Act 1994 (NSW) s 19(1) Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959 (Cth) ss 27(1), 28, 31, 34, 35, pts IV and IVA Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1967 (NSW) ss 4–6A, 11 Corporations (New South Wales) Act 1990 (NSW) Customs Act 1901 (Cth) s 167 Fair Trading Act 1999 (Vic) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 13.01 Federal Courts (Consequential Provisions) Act 2000 (NSW) sch 1.6 item 1 Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 1(2), 3–14, 17 Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) ss 33, 34(1) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) ss 38, 39 Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987 (NSW) s 4 Ombudsman Act 1976 (Cth) Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) Service and Execution of Process Act 1992 (Cth) Wrongs (Public Contracts) Act 1981 (Vic) Commonwealth Constitution ss 75, 76, 77, 109 Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air, signed 12 October 1929, [1929] ICAO (entered into force 13 February 1933) Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Bill 1999 (NSW) Cases Cited: Abdulla v Birmingham City Council [2012] UKSC 47; [2013] 1 All ER 649 Agtrack (NT) Pty Ltd v Hatfield (2005) 223 CLR 251; [2005] HCA 38 Air Link Pty Ltd v Paterson (2005) 223 CLR 283; [2005] HCA 39 Airlines of New South Wales Pty Ltd v New South Wales (No 2) (1965) 113 CLR 54; [1965] HCA 3 Alphapharm Pty Ltd v H Lundbeck A/S (2014) 254 CLR 247; [2014] HCA 42 Amatek Ltd v Googoorewon Pty Ltd (1993) 176 CLR 471; [1993] HCA 16 Australian Health and Nutrition Association Ltd v Hive Marketing Group Pty Ltd (2019) 99 NSWLR 419; [2019] NSWCA 61 Australian Iron & Steel Ltd v Hoogland (1962) 108 CLR 471; [1962] HCA 13 Australian Rail Track Corporation Limited v Dollisson [2020] NSWCA 58 Australian Securities & Investments Commission v Singapore Liason Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 226 AVS Group of Companies Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Police (NSW) (2010) 78 NSWLR 302; [2010] NSWCA 81 Birch v Allen (1942) 65 CLR 621; [1942] HCA 17 Blacker v National Australia Bank Ltd [2000] NSWSC 805; (2000) 158 FLR 142 Boensch v Pascoe (2019) 268 CLR 593; [2019] HCA 49 BP Australia Ltd v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd (1996) 62 FCR 451 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541; [1996] HCA 25 Cachia v Isaacs (1985) 3 NSWLR 366 CIC Insurance Ltd v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 384; [1997] HCA 2 Clunies-Ross v Commonwealth (1984) 155 CLR 193; [1984] HCA 65 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337; [1982] HCA 24 Commissioner of Taxation v Comber (1986) 10 FCR 88 Commonwealth v Genex Corporation Pty Ltd (1992) 176 CLR 277; [1992] HCA 65 Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394; [1990] HCA 39 Commonwealth v Western Australia (1999) 196 CLR 392; [1999] HCA 5 Cooper Brookes (Wollongong) Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1981) 147 CLR 297; [1981] HCA 26 Crouch v Commissioner for Railways (Queensland) (1985) 159 CLR 22; [1985] HCA 69 Duncan v Theodore (1917) 23 CLR 510; [1917] HCA 38 Fearnley v Finlay [2014] 2 Qd R 392; [2014] QCA 155 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd (2012) 250 CLR 503; [2012] HCA 55 Gibson & Howes v Lennon (1917) 24 CLR 140; [1917] HCA 74 Gould v Brown (1998) 193 CLR 346; [1998] HCA 6 Gregory v Torquay Corporation [1911] 2 KB 556 Guardian Offshore AU Pty Ltd v Saab Seaeye Leopard 1702 Remotely Operated Vehicle Lately On Board The Ship "Offshore Guardian" [2020] FCA 273 Independent Commission Against Corruption v Cunneen (2015) 256 CLR 1; [2015] HCA 14 Jackmain (a pseudonym) v R (2020) 102 NSWLR 847; [2020] NSWCCA 150 Jemena Asset Management (3) Pty Ltd v Coinvest Ltd (2011) 244 CLR 508; [2011] HCA 33 John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson (2000) 203 CLR 503; [2000] HCA 36 K & S Lake City Freighters Pty Ltd v Gordon & Gotch Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 309; [1985] HCA 48 Kelly v The Queen (2004) 219 CLR 216; [2004] HCA 12 Kent v SS "Maria Luisa" (No 1) (2002) 130 FCR 1; [2002] FCA 1207 Kent v SS "Maria Luisa" (No 2) (2003) 130 FCR 12; [2003] FCAFC 93 Lacey v Attorney-General (Qld) (2011) 242 CLR 573; [2011] HCA 10 Lipohar v The Queen (1999) 200 CLR 485; [1999] HCA 65 Maloney v The Queen (2013) 252 CLR 168; [2013] HCA 28 Maxwell v Murphy (1957) 96 CLR 261; [1957] HCA 7 McKain v RW Miller & Co (South Australia) Pty Ltd (1991) 174 CLR 1; [1991] HCA 56 Mercator Property Consultants Pty Ltd v Christmas Island Resort Pty Ltd (1999) 94 FCR 384; [1999] FCA 1572 Momcilovic v The Queen (2011) 245 CLR 1; [2011] HCA 34 Moubarak by his tutor Coorey v Holt (2019) 100 NSWLR 218; [2019] NSWCA 102 Muller v Dalgety & Co Ltd (1909) 9 CLR 693; [1909] HCA 67 Network Ten Pty Ltd v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd (2004) 218 CLR 273; [2004] HCA 14 New South Wales v Kable (2013) 252 CLR 118; [2013] HCA 26 New South Wales Aboriginal Legal Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act (2016) 260 CLR 232; [2016] HCA 50 Newcastle City Council v GIO General Ltd (1997) 191 CLR 85; [1997] HCA 53 Owners of the Ship "Shin Kobe Maru" v Empire Shipping Company Inc (1994) 181 CLR 404; [1994] HCA 54 Page v Sydney Seaplanes Pty Ltd (2020) 277 FCR 658; [2020] FCA 537 Palgo Holdings Pty Ltd v Gowans (2005) 221 CLR 249; [2005] HCA 28 Park Trent Properties Group Pty Ltd v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2016) 116 ACSR 473; [2016] NSWCA 298 Parkes Shire Council v South West Helicopters Pty Ltd (2019) 266 CLR 212; [2019] HCA 14 Proctor v Jetway Aviation Pty Ltd [1984] 1 NSWLR 166 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 PT Garuda Indonesia Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2012) 247 CLR 240; [2012] HCA 33 Randjelovic v Threlfall [2012] FCA 1331 Re Wakim; Ex parte McNally (1999) 198 CLR 511; [1999] HCA 27 Residual Assco Group Ltd v Spalvins (2000) 202 CLR 629; [2000] HCA 33 Roads and Maritime Services v Desane Properties Pty Ltd (2018) 98 NSWLR 820; [2018] NSWCA 196 Russo v Aiello (2003) 215 CLR 643; [2003] HCA 53 Saraswati v The Queen (1991) 172 CLR 1; [1991] HCA 21 Sargood Bros v The Commonwealth (1910) 11 CLR 258; [1910] HCA 45 SAS Trustee Corporation v Miles (2018) 265 CLR 137; [2018] HCA 55 Sons of Gwalia Ltd v Margaretic (2007) 231 CLR 160; [2007] HCA 1 South West Helicopters Pty Ltd v Stephenson (2017) 98 NSWLR 1; [2017] NSWCA 312 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 262 CLR 362; [2017] HCA 34 Taylor v Owners – Strata Plan No 11564 (2014) 253 CLR 531; [2014] HCA 9 Telstra Corporation Ltd v Worthing (1999) 197 CLR 1; [1999] HCA 12 Thiess v Collector of Customs (2014) 250 CLR 664; [2014] HCA 12 Thomas v New South Wales (2008) 74 NSWLR 34; [2008] NSWCA 316 Timeny v British Airways plc (1991) 56 SASR 287 Van Heerden v Hawkins [2016] WASCA 42 Victims Compensation Fund Corporation v Brown (2003) 77 ALJR 1797; [2003] HCA 54 Victoria v The Commonwealth (1937) 58 CLR 618; [1937] HCA 82 Waugh Hotel Management Pty Ltd v Marrickville Council (2009) 171 LGERA 112; [2009] NSWCA 390 Texts Cited: A M Gleeson, "Statutory Interpretation", Justice Hill Memorial Lecture, Taxation Institute of Australia, Sydney, 11 March 2009 D McClean et al, Shawcross and Beaumont: Air Law (4th rev ed, 2005, LexisNexis UK) F A R Bennion, Bennion on Statutory Interpretation (5th ed, 2008, LexisNexis Butterworths) J Campbell and R Campbell, "Why Statutory Interpretation is Done as it is Done" (2014) 39 Australian Bar Review 1 M J Leeming, Authority to Decide: The Law of Jurisdiction in Australia (2nd ed, 2020, Federation Press) P Herzfeld and T Prince, Interpretation (2nd ed, 2020, Lawbook Co) New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 24 June 1999 New South Wales Legislative Council, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 1 July 1999 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Sydney Seaplanes Pty Ltd t/as Sydney Seaplanes (Applicant) Alexander Mathew Brodie Page (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: