Carr v Carr [2022] NSWSC 166

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Carr v Carr [2022] NSWSC 166 Hearing dates: 4 February 2022, last written submissions 16 February 2022 Decision date: 25 February 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Leeming JA Decision: Second further amended summons filed 4 February 2022 dismissed. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review of Secretary's decision not to approve exhumation – plaintiff's husband and son buried in same grave many years ago – plaintiff applied for approval to exhume remains for re-interment at different cemetery pursuant to Public Health Regulation 2012 (NSW), cl 70 – surviving children of marriage opposed exhumation applications – Secretary's delegate refused application on basis of children's opposition – whether children were "nearest surviving relatives" in respect of the deceased son – whether applications required to be determined separately – whether delegate entitled to have regard to children's objections to application in respect of the deceased son – whether remains buried in consecrated land – whether procedural fairness required delegate to give notice of aspects of the decision in advance - Secretary's decision not circumscribed as plaintiff contended – no denial of procedural fairness – summons dismissed Legislation Cited: Burial Act 1857 (UK), s 25 Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 (NSW), s 66 Crown Lands Alienation Act 1861 (NSW), s 5 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 144(1)(b), 153 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 8, 30 Parish Registry Act 1825 (6 Geo IV c 21), ss 5, 10 Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW), s 76 Public Health Act 2010 (NSW), ss 3, 134 Public Health Amendment (Exhumations) Regulation 2018 (NSW) Public Health (Funeral Industries) Regulation 1987 (NSW), Pt 4 Public Health Regulation 1991 (NSW), cll 37, Pt 5 Div 4 Public Health Regulation 2012 (NSW), cll 49, 69-72 Registration of Marriage Act 1839 (3 Vic No 23), s 2 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 31, 69 Cases Cited: Australian Communist Party v Commonwealth (1951) 83 CLR 1 Beard v Baulkham Hills Shire Council (1986) 7 NSWLR 273 Blunt v Park Lane Hotel Ld [1942] 2 KB 253 BP Australia Ltd v Brown (2003) 58 NSWLR 322; [2003] NSWCA 216 Carr v The Secretary of the NSW Ministry of Health [2021] NSWSC 1467 Chung v R [2007] NSWCCA 231; 175 A Crim R 579 Commissioner of Police v Kennedy [2007] NSWCA 328 Cooper Brookes (Wollongong) Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia (1981) 147 CLR 297; [1981] HCA 26 Ghosh v Medical Council of New South Wales (2020) 102 NSWLR 303; [2020] NSWCA 122 Haertsch v Whiteway (2020) 102 NSWLR 386; [2020] NSWCA 133 In re Cowan [1913] SALR 55 Insurance Australia Group Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v Keen [2021] NSWCA 287 Kelly v The Queen (2004) 218 CLR 216; [2004] HCA 12 Klein v Domus Pty Ltd (1963) 109 CLR 467; [1963] HCA 54 LK v Director-General, Department of Community Services (2009) 237 CLR 582; [2009] HCA 9 Manchester Corporation v Manchester Palace of Varieties [1955] P 133 Mathieson v Burton (1971) 124 CLR 1; [1971] HCA 4 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Pty Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZMTA (2019) 264 CLR 421; [2019] HCA 3 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW (2018) 264 CLR 541; [2018] HCA 30 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf (2001) 206 CLR 323; [2001] HCA 30 MZAPC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2021] HCA 17; 95 ALJR 441 New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation v Navazi [2013] NSWCA 431 Newell v The King (1936) 55 CLR; [1936] HCA 50 R v Feist (1858) Dears & B 590 at 598; 169 ER 1132 Re Blagdon Cemetery [2002] Fam 299; [2002] 4 All ER 482 Re Talbot [1901] P 1 Re Taylor; ex parte National Australia Bank Ltd (1992) 37 FCR 194 Rudewicz, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Justice [2013] QB 410; [2012] EWCA Civ 499 Smith v Tamworth City Council (1997) 41 NSWLR 680 Stamford Property Services Pty Ltd v Mulpha Australia Ltd (2019) 99 NSWLR 730; [2019] NSWCA 141 Takamore v Clarke [2013] 2 NZLR 733; [2012] NZSC 116 The Queen v Stewart (1840) 12 Ad & E 773; 113 ER 1007 Tolley v Morris [1979] 1 WLR 592 Tovir Investments Pty Ltd v Waverley Council [2014] NSWCA 379 Uelese v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2015) 256 CLR 203; [2015] HCA 15 Union Bank of Australia v Harrison, Jones and Devlin Ltd (1910) 11 CLR 492; [1910] HCA 44 Wylde v Attorney-General (NSW) (1948) 78 CLR 224; [1948] HCA 39 Texts Cited: G Dal Pont, Law of Succession (3rd ed, LexisNexis 2021) K Falconer, "Australian Burial Law 25 Years on from Smith v Tamworth City Council" (2022) 96 Australian Law Journal, forthcoming L Murray, "Cemeteries in nineteenth-century New South Wales: Landscapes of Memory and Identity" (Ph D thesis submitted to University of Sydney, August 2001) Legal Nexus, Case with Opinion, Obtained from Counsel in England and in the Commonwealth, 1912 M Aronson et al, Judicial Review of Administrative Action and Government Liability (6th ed, Thomson Reuters, 2017) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Johanna Carr (Plaintiff) Paul Carr (First Defendant) The Secretary of the New South Wales Ministry of Health (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A D Crossland (Plaintiff) E Vuu (First Defendant) M Pulsford (Second Defendant)