Witron Australia Pty Ltd v Turnkey Innovative Engineering Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 305

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Witron Australia Pty Ltd v Turnkey Innovative Engineering Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 305 Hearing dates: 6 December 2023 Date of orders: 13 December 2023 Decision date: 13 December 2023 Before: Leeming JA at [1]; Payne JA at [2]; Kirk JA at [3] Decision: (1) Appeal dismissed. (2) Appellant to pay the respondent's costs. Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION — Payment schedule requirements — Where payment claim had two distinct and substantial components — Where statement for withholding payment failed to provide any reason directed to a distinct and substantial component of a payment claim — Whether statement was sufficient to constitute "reasons" under s 14(3) of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) — Sufficiency of reasons is to be assessed in a purposive manner Legislation Cited: Building and Construction Industry Payment Act 2004 (Qld), s 18 Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW), ss 8(c), 14, 15(2)(b), 17(3)(b), 19, 20(2B), 22(2)(d), 27 Cases Cited: Barclay Mowlem v Tesrol Walsh Bay [2004] NSWSC 1232 Ceerose Pty Ltd v A-Civil Aust Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 215 Clarence Street Pty Ltd v Isis Projects Pty Ltd (2005) 64 NSWLR 448; [2005] NSWCA 391 Façade Treatment Engineering Pty Ltd (in liq) v Brookfield Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (2016) 337 ALR 452; [2016] VSCA 247 John Holland Pty Ltd v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales (2007) 23 BCL 205; [2007] NSWCA 19 Joye Group Pty Ltd v Cemco Projects Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCA 211 Minimax Fire Fighting Systems Pty Ltd v Bremore Engineering (WA) Pty Ltd [2007] QSC 333 Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd v Luikens [2003] NSWSC 1140 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Style Timber Floor Pty Ltd v Krivosudsky (2019) 100 NSWLR 133; [2019] NSWCA 171 Vanella Pty Ltd v TFM Epping Land Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1379 Western Australian Planning Commission v Southregal Pty Ltd (2017) 259 CLR 106; [2017] HCA 7 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Witron Australia Pty Ltd (Appellant) Turnkey Innovative Engineering Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D S Weinberger (Appellant) S Robertson SC / D Hume (Respondent)