Camenzuli v Hawke [2022] NSWSC 168

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Camenzuli v Hawke [2022] NSWSC 168 Hearing dates: 24 February 2022 Date of orders: 25 February 2022 Decision date: 25 February 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: 1. Declare that, if an AGM of the State Council of the Liberal Party of Australia, New South Wales Division does not occur by 30 November in an odd year or such other date as the State Executive may determine within three months of 30 November in that odd year, no member of the State Executive ceases to hold office as such by reason only of that circumstance. 2. No order as to costs. Catchwords: VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS – Construction of written constitution – Where annual general meeting (AGM) was to be held by, at latest, the end of February 2022 – Where term of office to end at "next AGM" – Where no AGM was held – Whether term of office expired Legislation Cited: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Cth) Electoral Act 2017 (NSW), ss 66, 68, 83, 199 Cases Cited: Asmar v Albanese (No 4) [2021] VSC 672 Baldwin v Everingham [1993] 1 Qd R 10 Barker v Australian Labor Party [2018] VSC 596 Coleman v Liberal Party of New South Wales Division (No 2) (Palmer J) Bay Marine v Clayton Properties (1984) 9 ACLR 780 (NSWSC) Butler v Mulholland (No 2) [2013] VSC 662 Cameron v Hogan (1934) 51 CLR 358; [1934] HCA 24 Cane v Jones [1980] 1 WLR 1451 Clarke v Australian Labor Party (SA Branch) (1999) 74 SASR 109; Sharples v O'Shea (unreported, 18 August 1999, Supreme Court of Queensland, Atkinson J) Club Flotilla (Pacific Palms) Ltd v Isherwood (1987) 12 ACLR 387 (NSWSC) Coleman v Liberal Party of New South Wales Division (No 2) [2007] NSWSC 736 Echunga Football Club Inc v Hills Football League Inc (2014) 121 SASR 449; [2014] SASC 201 Fennell v Brough [2008] QSC 166; Butler v Mulholland (No 2) [2013] VSC 662 Fitzgerald v Masters (1956) 95 CLR 420; [1956] HCA 53 Franklins Pty Ltd v Metcash Trading Ltd (2009) 76 NSWLR 603; [2009] NSWCA 407 Gosford Christian School Ltd v Totonjian (2006) 201 FLR 424 Grey v Pearson (1857) 6 HLC 61; (1857) 10 ER 1216 Grunwick Processing Laboratories Ltd v Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service [1978] AC 655 HNA Irish Nominee Limited v Kinghorn [2010] FCAFC 57 In re Zinotty Properties [1984] 1 WLR 1249 In the matter of New South Wales Leagues' Club Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1610 In the matter of Order of AHEPA NSW Inc [2019] NSWSC 1329 Johnston v Greens NSW [2019] NSWSC 215 Lion Nathan Australia Pty Ltd v Coopers Brewery Ltd (2006) 156 FCR 1; [2006] FCAFC 144 Luen Fook Tong Incorporated v Lowe [2011] NSWSC 1004 Metropolitan Gas Co v Federated Gas Employees' Industrial Union (1925) 35 CLR 449; [1925] HCA 5 Morris v Kanssen [1946] AC 459 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104; [2015] HCA 37 Pedlar v Road Block Gold Mines of India Ltd [1905] 2 Ch 427 Re Consolidated Nickel Mines Ltd [1914] 1 Ch 883 Setka v Carroll (2019) 58 VR 657 Simon v HPM Industries Pty Ltd (1989) 15 ACLR 427 Singh v Singh; Flora t/as Flora Constructions v Budget Demolition & Excavation Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 386 Thornley v Heffernan (unreported, 25 July 1995, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Brownie J) Tucker v Macdonald [2001] QSC 296; Galt v Flegg [2003] QSC 290 Texts Cited: Herzfeld and Prince, Interpretation (2nd ed, Lawbook Co, 2020) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Matthew Louis Camenzuli (Plaintiff) Hon Alexander Hawke MP (First Defendant) Hon Philip Ruddock AO (Second Defendant) Hon John Olson AO (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: S Robertson and A Langshaw (Plaintiff) NM Bender (Amicus Curiae)