Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission v Grech [2023] NSWSC 1603

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission v Grech [2023] NSWSC 1603 Hearing dates: 4 May 2023 Date of orders: 18 December 2023 Decision date: 18 December 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: (1) Dismiss the application for judicial review and the summons. (2) The plaintiff to pay the first defendant's costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW — judicial review — review of tribunal decision — Greyhound Racing Act 2017 (NSW) — regulation of greyhound racing — power to register greyhound racing participants — greyhound racing registrations — statutory interpretation — consideration of surplusage — whether tribunal fell into error of law in exercising registration power — consideration of jurisdictional fact — fit and proper person test — whether failure to take into account relevant considerations — whether decision unreasonable Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 530 Greyhound Racing Act 2017 (NSW) ss 3A, 40, 44, 47-50, 58 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) s 34(2)(a) Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (NSW) s 21(1)(d) Racing Appeals Tribunal Act 1983 (NSW) ss 15A, 16, 17A Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 69 Cases Cited: AB v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2014] NSWCA 122 Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Kerr (2012) 83 NSWLR 302; [2012] NSWCA 13 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321; [1990] HCA 33 Attorney General (NSW) v Quin (1990) 170 CLR 1; [1990] HCA 33 Ballantyne v Workcover Authority of NSW [2007] NSWCA 239 Bay Simmer Investments Pty Ltd v New South Wales [2017] NSWCA 135; (2017) 222 LGERA 286 CIC Insurance Limited v Bankstown Football Club Limited (1997) 187 CLR 384; [1997] HCA 2 CN17 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2019) 268 CLR 76; (2019) 94 ALJR 140; [2019] HCA 50 Commonwealth v Baume (1905) 2 CLR 405 Craig v State of South Australia (1995) 184 CLR 163; [1995] HCA 58 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472; [1993] HCA 78 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Hockey v Yelland (1984) 157 CLR 124; [1984] HCA 72 Hossain v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2018) 264 CLR 123; [2018] HCA 34 Malaysian Declaration Case (2011) 244 CLR 144; [2011] HCA 32 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986)162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW (2018) 264 CLR 541; [2018] HCA 30 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZMDS (2010) 240 CLR 611; [2010] HCA 16 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf (2001) 206 CLR 323; [2001] HCA 30 Mordaunt v Director of Public Prosecutions [2007] NSWCA 121; (2007) 171 A Crim R 510 MZAPC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2021) 273 CLR 506; [2021] HCA 17 Nathanson v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] HCA 26; (2022) 96 ALJR 737 Plaintiff M1/2021 v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] HCA 17; (2022) 96 ALJR 497 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Purcell v Director of Public Prosecutions [2021] NSWCA 269 R v Berchet (1688) 1 Show KB 106 Ramskogler v Director of Public Prosecutions (1995) 82 A Crim R 128 Saeed v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2010) 241 CLR 252; [2010] HCA 23 Timbarra Protection Coalition Inc v Ross Mining NL (1999) 46 NSWLR 55; [1998] NSWCA 8 Trives v Hornsby Shire Council (2015) 89 NSWLR 268; [2015] NSWCA 158 Warkworth Mining Ltd v Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc (2014) 86 NSWLR 527; [2014] NSWCA 105 Wattie v Industrial Relations Secretary on behalf of the Secretary of the Department of Justice (No 2) [2018] NSWCA 124 Texts Cited: M Aronson, M Groves, G Weeks, Judicial Review of Administrative Action and Government Liability (7th ed, Lawbook Co, 2022) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (Plaintiff) Donna Grech (First Defendant) Racing Appeals Tribunal (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Watts (Plaintiff) A Hourigan (First Defendant)