Australian Postal Corporation v Lux Cuttings Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCATAP 316

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Australian Postal Corporation v Lux Cuttings Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCATAP 316 Hearing dates: 11 September 2023 Date of orders: 01 December 2023 Decision date: 01 December 2023 Jurisdiction: Appeal Panel Before: A Suthers, Principal Member D Goldstein, Senior Member Decision: 1. The decision at first instance is quashed and proceedings GEN 23/13621 are dismissed as the Tribunal lacks jurisdiction. 2. The appeal is otherwise dismissed. Catchwords: APPEALS – jurisdiction of Tribunal to determine matter in exercise of judicial power where the Australian Postal Corporation is a party – authority to decide whether Australian Postal Corporation is 'the Commonwealth' for the purpose of s 75(iii) of the Constitution – whether the mere raising of that contention on a genuine basis deprives the Tribunal of jurisdiction – jurisdiction of Tribunal's Appeal Panel to make orders affecting decision at first instance in absence of ability to adjudicate on matters in federal jurisdiction Legislation Cited: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) Australian Consumer Law (NSW) Australian Postal Corporation Act 1983 (Cth) Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989 (NT) Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth) Cases Cited: Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority v Director of National Parks [2022] NTSCFC 1 Austral Pacific Group Limited v Airservices Australia (2000) 203 CLR 136; [2000] HCA 39 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd (2001) 204 CLR 559 Bale v Mills [2011] NSWCA 226 Bank Nationalisation Case (1948) 76 CLR 1 Burns v Corbett (2018) 265 CLR 304; [2018] HCA 15 Carr v Finance Corporation of Australia Ltd (No 1) [1981] HCA 20 Citta Hobart Pty Ltd v Cawthorn [2022] HCA 16 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v State Bank (NSW) (1992) 174 CLR 219; [1992] HCA 6 Eastman v Director of Public Prosecutions (ACT) [2003] HCA 28 Federated Amalgamated Government Railways and Tramways Service Association v New South Wales Railway Traffic Employees Association (1906) 4 CLR 488 Felton v Mulligan (1971) 124 CLR 367; [1971] HCA 39 Queanbeyan City Council v ACTEW Corporation Ltd (2011) 244 CLR 530 Re Residential Tenancies Tribunal of New South Wales; Re Residential Tenancies Tribunal of NSW v Henderson; Ex parte Defence Housing Authority (1997) 190 CLR 410; (1997) 146 ALR 495; (1997) 71 ALJR 1254; [1997] HCA 36 State of New South Wales v Kable (2013) 252 CLR 118; [2013] HCA 26 The Ombudsman v Moroney [1983] 1 NSWLR 317 Williams v Australian Postal Corporation t/as Australia Post [2023] NSWCATCD 79 Wilson v Chan & Naylor Parramatta Pty Ltd (2023) 103 NSWLR 140; [2020] NSWCA 213 Wilson v Chan & Naylor; Wilson v Chan & Naylor Parramatta Pty Ltd atf Chan & Naylor Parramatta Trust [2018] NSWCATAP 311 Texts Cited: None Cited Category: Principal judgment Parties: Australian Postal Corporation (Appellant) Lux Cuttings Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: