Icon Si (Aust) Pty Ltd v Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation [2024] NSWSC 324

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Icon Si (Aust) Pty Ltd v Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation [2024] NSWSC 324 Hearing dates: 21 March 2024 Decision date: 02 April 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity - Technology and Construction List Before: Ball J Decision: (1) Pursuant to s 8(1) of the Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 (NSW) the parties be referred to arbitration for the resolution of the disputes the subject of these proceedings. (2) Pursuant to s 67 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) these proceedings be stayed. (3) The plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs of the notice of motion filed on 12 February 2024. Catchwords: COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION — Court's inherent jurisdiction — Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 (NSW) ss 8(1), 16 — Whether court or tribunal should construe arbitration agreement COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION — Stay of proceedings — Whether arbitration agreement is null, void, inoperative or incapable of being performed CONTRACTS — Construction and interpretation — Principles — Literal or strict approaches — Interpretation of dispute resolution clause / arbitration agreement Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 (NSW) Cases Cited: Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd; Woodside Energy Ltd v Electricity Generation Corporation (2014) 251 CLR 640; [2014] HCA 7 Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd and Others v Rinehart and Others (2017) 257 FCR 442; [2017] FCAFC 170 Lepcanfin Pty Ltd v Lepfin Pty Ltd (2020) 102 NSWLR 627; [2020] NSWCA 155 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104; [2015] HCA 37 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Icon Si (Aust) Pty Ltd (Plaintiff | Respondent) Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (Defendant | Applicant) Representation: Counsel: J Giles SC with S Hanscomb (Plaintiff | Respondent) TJ Breakspear SC with M Sheldon (Defendant | Applicant)