Carabetta & Anor v Carlingford Bowling, Sports & Recreation Club [2023] NSWSC 1442

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Carabetta & Anor v Carlingford Bowling, Sports & Recreation Club [2023] NSWSC 1442 Hearing dates: 24 November 2023 Date of orders: 27 November 2023 Decision date: 27 November 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity - Duty List Before: Henry J Decision: Declarations made that additional by-laws made by the defendant on 25 September 2023 are inconsistent with the defendant's constitution. Catchwords: ASSOCIATIONS AND CLUBS — registered club incorporated and limited by guarantee — whether additional by-laws are inconsistent with club's constitution — where club's constitution provides power to make by-laws not inconsistent with the club's constitution — meaning of inconsistency — where additional by-laws impinge on members' right to vote and stand for election as directors — consideration of delay and other discretionary factors relevant to grant of declaratory relief Legislation Cited: Commonwealth Constitution Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Registered Clubs Act 1976 (NSW) Cases Cited: Andrews v Queensland Racing Ltd [2009] QSC 338 Bass v Permanent Trustee Co Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 334; (1999) 161 ALR 399; [1999] HCA 9 Bejawn v Sikh Association of Western Australia Inc [2023] WASC 152 Burwood Council v Ralan Burwood Pty Ltd (No 3) [2014] NSWCA 404 Cameron v Hogan (1934) 51 CLR 358; [1934] ALR 298; [1934] HCA 24 Donaldson v Natural Springs Australia Ltd [2015] FCA 498 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd (2017) 261 CLR 544; (2017) 343 ALR 58; [2017] HCA 12 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Ltd (1972) 127 CLR 421; [1972-73] ALR 1303; [1972] HCA 61 Goodwin v Vietnam Veterans Motor Cycle Club Australia NSW Chapter Inc (2008) 72 NSWLR 224; [2008] NSWSC 154 Jemena Asset Management (3) Pty Ltd v Coinvest Ltd (2011) 244 CLR 508; (2011) 280 ALR 206; [2011] HCA 33 Leonie's Travel Pty Ltd v International Air Transport Association (2009) 255 ALR 89; [2009] FCA 280 Leonie's Travel Pty Ltd v Qantas Airways Ltd (2010) 183 FCR 246; (2010) 265 ALR 727; FCAFC 37 Lion Nathan Australia Pty Ltd v Coopers Brewery Ltd (2006) 156 FCR 1; (2006) 236 ALR 561; [2006] FCAFC 144 McMillan v Coolah Home Base Pty Ltd (No 4) [2022] NSWSC 584 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104; (2015) 325 ALR 188; [2015] HCA 37 National Australia Bank Ltd v Nautilus Insurance Pte Ltd (No 2) (2019) 377 ALR 627; [2019] FCA 1543 Oil Basins Ltd v Bass Strait Oil Co (2012) 297 ALR 261; [2012] FCA 1122 Pagnan SpA v Tradax Ocean Transportation SA [1987] 3 All ER 565 Rivers v Bondi Junction-Waverley RSL Sub-Branch Ltd (1986) 5 NSWLR 362 Rush v WA Amateur Football League (Inc) (2007) 35 WAR 101; [2007] WASCA 190 Ryde Ex-Services Memorial v Community Club Ltd [2016] NSWSC 916 Scandrett v Dowling (Women's Ordination case) (1992) 27 NSWLR 483 Scentre Management Ltd v ACT Planning and Land Authority [2021] ACTSC 171 Wilcox v Kogarah Golf Club Ltd (1995) 14 ACLC 421 Texts Cited: P Herzfeld and T Prince, Interpretation (Lawbook Co., 2nd edition, 2020) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robert Carabetta (First Plaintiff) Anthony French (Second Plaintiff) Carlingford Bowling, Sports & Recreation Club (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Pigott Stinson Lawyers (Plaintiffs) McManus Lawyers (Defendant)