Ings v Racing New South Wales [2022] NSWSC 1127

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ings v Racing New South Wales [2022] NSWSC 1127 Hearing dates: 12 August 2022 Date of orders: 25 August 2022 Decision date: 25 August 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Basten AJ Decision: (1) Dismiss the amended summons for judicial review of the decision of the Racing Appeals Tribunal of 2 May 2022. (2) Order that the plaintiff pay the first defendant's costs in this Court. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – procedural fairness – disciplinary proceeding – appeal by way of fresh hearing – penalty increased on appeal –– whether Parker warning required – sufficient notice that prosecutor sought penalty increase ANIMALS – racing – Australian Rules of Racing – administration of stomach tubing – procedure not permitted within 24 hours of beginning of race day OCCUPATIONS – thoroughbred horse racing – Australian Rules of Racing – AR 255, AR 283 – penalty for breach – mandatory minimum period of disqualification – special circumstances – early guilty plea – impaired mental function – whether special circumstances caused breach – common sense test of causation OCCUPATIONS – thoroughbred horse racing – construing Rules of Racing – special circumstances permitting lesser period of disqualification – reduction determined by reference only to special circumstance – authority as to earlier version of rules – McDonald v Racing New South Wales [2017] NSWSC 1511 applied – statutory interpretation principles – Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Shade Systems Pty Ltd (2018) 264 CLR 1; [2018] HCA 4 applied Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 5D Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 99 Racing Appeals Tribunal Act 1983 (NSW), ss 5, 15, 16, 17 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Australian Rules of Racing (7 January 2019), AR 196 Australian Rules of Racing (1 August 2021), AR 255, 283 Local Rules of Racing NSW (1 July 2021), LR 108 Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321 at 356; [1990] HCA 33 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 Day v Harness Racing New South Wales (2014) 88 NSWLR 594; [2014] NSWCA 423 Fitzgerald v Penn (1954) 91 CLR 268 at 277; [1954] HCA 74 Heatons Transport (St Helens) Ltd v Transport and General Workers Union [1973] AC 15 Insurance Australia Ltd t/a NRMA Insurance v Milton [2016] NSWCA 156 Jacques v Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers (Engineering Section) [1987] 1 All ER 621 March v E & MH Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506; [1991] HCA 12 McDonald v Racing New South Wales [2017] NSWSC 1511 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW (2018) 264 CLR 541; [2018] HCA 30 Parker v Director of Public Prosecutions (1992) 28 NSWLR 282 Plaintiff M1/2021 v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] HCA 17; 96 ALJR 497 Porter v The National Union of Journalists [1980] IRLR 404 Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Shade Systems Pty Ltd (2018) 264 CLR 1; [2018] HCA 4 Reg v District Court; Ex parte White (1966) 116 CLR 644; [1966] HCA 69 Vasili v Racing New South Wales [2018] NSWSC 451 Waterford v The Commonwealth (1987) 163 CLR 54 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Wanda Ings (Plaintiff) Racing New South Wales (First Defendant) Racing Appeals Tribunal of New South Wales (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms V M Heath (Plaintiff) Mr O R Jones / Ms H Ryan (First Defendant)