Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust v Attorney General of New South Wales [2024] NSWCA 30

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust v Attorney General of New South Wales [2024] NSWCA 30 Hearing dates: 12 December 2023 Decision date: 16 February 2024 Before: Bell CJ at [1]; Ward P at [2]; Leeming JA at [3] Decision: The Court declares that: 1. Prior to 1 July 2018, the first plaintiff held the Catholic portions of Rookwood Cemetery (the Catholic Cemetery) subject to a charitable trust for the purpose of using the Catholic Cemetery as a burial ground for burying the dead of the Roman Catholic denomination. 2. Between 1 July 2018 and 29 February 2024, the first plaintiff, as the transitional reserve trust managing the Catholic Cemetery, has held and will continue to hold the proceeds of the Catholic Cemetery (other than trust land) subject to a charitable trust for the purpose of using the Catholic Cemetery as a burial ground for burying the dead of the Roman Catholic denomination. 3. On and from 29 February 2024, the Crown land manager of the Catholic Cemetery will continue to hold the proceeds of the Catholic Cemetery (other than trust land) subject to a charitable trust for the purpose of using the Catholic Cemetery as a burial ground for burying the dead of the Roman Catholic denomination. Catchwords: EQUITY – charitable trusts – relationship with statute – distinction between charitable trust created pursuant to statute and recognised in equity and "statutory trust" created by statute which ceased when statute repealed – Necropolis Act 1867 (NSW) authorised vesting of land in separate trustees for denominational burial grounds at Rookwood – whether charitable trust recognised in equity thereby created – Necropolis Act repealed – new provisions extinguish any charitable trust over the land – whether new provisions extinguish charitable trust over proceeds of operation of burial ground PARTIES – declaratory relief – absence of contradictor – plaintiffs join Attorney General and seek declaration over existence and nature of charitable trust – Attorney supports plaintiffs' submission that charitable trust exists, but disputes plaintiffs' submission that its purpose has changed – whether declaratory relief available and appropriate STATUTES – statutory consolidation – Necropolis Act 1867 (NSW) repealed and replaced by Necropolis Act 1901 (NSW) – whether change in wording effected a change in charitable purpose – principles of construction applicable to consolidating statutes Legislation Cited: Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 (Cth), Pt 3.2 Australian Waste Lands Act 1842 (5 & 6 Vic c 36) Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 (NSW), ss 5, 14, 73, 96, 99, 106, 107, Divs 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 of Pt 3 Charitable Trusts Act 1962 (WA), s 5 Charitable Trusts Act 1993 (NSW) Charitable Trusts Act 2022 (WA), ss 4, 5 Charities Act 2011 (UK), s 3 Charities Act 2013 (Cth), s 12 Commons Regulation Act 1898 (NSW), s 3 Conveyancing and Law of Property Act 1898 (NSW), s 64 Crown Land Management Act 2016 (NSW), ss 1.10, 2.12, 12.26, cl 3(1)(c) of Sch 1, Sch 6, cll 1, 6, 10A, 11, 17 of Sch 7, Sch 8 Crown Land Management Amendment Regulation 2018 (NSW) Crown Lands Act 1884 (NSW), ss 4, 21, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, Pt V Crown Lands Act 1989 (NSW), ss 80, 92, 95, 96, 97, 97A, 101, 112, 114, 122, Div 7 of Pt 5, Pt 5, cll 1, 4, 54 of Sch 8 Crown Lands Alienation Act 1861 (NSW), s 5 Crown Lands and Other Acts (Reserves) Amendment Act 1974 (NSW) Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 (NSW), ss 24, 37M, 37O, 37P, 37Q, 37R, 37T, 37U, Pt IIIB Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 26, 30, 33 James Hardie Former Subsidiaries (Winding up and Administration) Act 2005 (NSW), s 8 James Hardie Former Subsidiaries (Winding up and Administration) Amendment (Trust Funds) Act 2006 (NSW) Land Act 1898 (WA), s 39, Pt III Land Act 1933 (WA), ss 29, 33, 34, 36, Pt III Local Government Act 1919 (NSW), s 132 Necropolis Act 1867 (NSW), ss 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 Necropolis Act 1901 (NSW), ss 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6A, 7, 7A, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, cll 1, 7 of Sch 5 Necropolis Act Amendment Act 1884 (NSW) Necropolis (Additional Areas) Act 1893 (NSW), ss 1, 3, 4, Sch B Necropolis (Amendment) Act 1986 (NSW) Perpetuities Act 1984 (NSW), s 16 Public Parks Act 1854 (18 Vic No 33), ss 1, 5 Public Parks Act 1884 (NSW), s 6 Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) Real Property Act 1862 (NSW), s 12 Registration of Deeds Act 1843 (7 Vic No 16) Roman Catholic Church Communities' Lands Act 1942 (NSW), ss 2, 4, Sch 2 Rookwood Necropolis Amendment Act 2004 (NSW), item 2 of Sch 2 Rookwood Necropolis Repeal Act 2009 (NSW), item 6 of Sch 1 Statute of Elizabeth 1601 (43 Eliz I c 4) Statute of Mortmain 1736 (9 Geo II c 36) Sydney Necropolis Act 1847 (11 Vic No 11) The Sir Moses Montefiore Jewish Home Act 1927 (NSW), s 3 Trustee Act 1925 (NSW), ss 44, 86A Cases Cited: ACES Sogutlu Holdings Pty Ltd (in liq) v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (2014) 89 NSWLR 209; 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