Creative Academy Group Pty Ltd v White Pointer Investments Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 133

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Creative Academy Group Pty Ltd v White Pointer Investments Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 133 Hearing dates: 21 February 2024 Decision date: 31 May 2024 Before: Meagher JA at [1]; White JA at [40]; Adamson JA at [59] Decision: (1) Allow the appeal in part. (2) Set aside the judgment in order (1) of the orders made by Rees J on 25 July 2023 and, in lieu thereof order judgment against the first defendant in the amount of $567,250, together with interest under s 100 of the Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW). (3) Otherwise dismiss the appeal. (4) Order the appellants to pay 75% of the respondents' costs of the appeal. Catchwords: CONTRACTS — formation — consideration — where new promise made in context of pre-existing contract — whether new promise is no more than promisor already bound to do — whether new promise was a bona fide compromise of a disputed claim CONTRACTS — illegality — illegal contracts — contracts contrary to public policy — whether it is incongruent with public policy to allow unlicensed agent to retain monies paid to it in breach of agency legislation RESTITUTION — ineffective transactions — unenforceable contracts — restitution of money paid — where payee in breach of obligation to be licensed under Property and Stock Agents Act 2002 (NSW) and Agents Act 2003 (ACT) — whether payor entitled to restitution of monies paid under contract despite payee's breach — where legislation expressly excludes quantum meruit claims — where legislation does not provide for recovery of amounts already paid RESTITUTION — mistake — restitution of money paid — whether payor entitled to restitution of monies paid under mistaken belief that payee could enforce claim to recover such payment — whether payment made as a result of mistaken belief STATUTORY INTERPRETATION — Agents Act 2003 (ACT) — whether respondent "carries on business as a real estate agent" — meaning of "induce" Legislation Cited: Agents Act 2003 (ACT), ss 8, 18, 23, 99, 100 Builders Licensing Act 1971 (NSW), s 45 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 100 Property and Stock Agents Act 2002 (NSW), ss 8, 9, 55 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 36.16 Cases Cited: Australian Woollen Mills Pty Ltd v The Commonwealth (1954) 92 CLR 424; [1954] HCA 20 Banque Commerciale SA (En Liqn) v Akhil Holdings Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 279; [1990] HCA 11 Beaton v McDivitt (1987) 13 NSWLR 162 Carr v Western Australia (2007) 232 CLR 138; [2007] HCA 47 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1982) 149 CLR 337; [1982] HCA 24 Colbron v St Bees Island Pty Ltd (1995) 56 FCR 303 Dare v Pulham (1982) 148 CLR 658; [1982] HCA 70 Freehold Land Investments Ltd v Queensland Estates Pty Ltd (1970) 123 CLR 418; [1970] HCA 31 Gnych v Polish Club Ltd (2015) 255 CLR 414; [2015] HCA 23 Guan v Lui [2021] NSWCA 65 Jenkins v Kedcorp Pty Ltd [2002] 1 Qd R 49; [1999] QCA 452 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 K & S Lake City Freighters Pty Ltd v Gordon & Gotch Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 309; [1985] HCA 48 Kleinwort Benson Ltd v Lincoln City Council [1999] 2 AC 349 Pavey & Matthews Pty Ltd v Paul (1987) 162 CLR 221; [1987] HCA 5 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs; Ex parte Lam (2003) 214 CLR 1; [2003] HCA 6 Registrar of Titles (WA) v Franzon (1975) 132 CLR 611; [1975] HCA 41 Scott v Commercial Hotel Merbein Pty Limited [1930] VLR 25 Wigan v Edwards (1973) 1 ALR 497 Yango Pastoral Co Pty Ltd v First Chicago Australia Ltd (1978) 139 CLR 410; [1978] HCA 42 Yorke v Lucas (1985) 158 CLR 661; [1985] HCA 65 Texts Cited: Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 13 March 2003 JD Heydon, Heydon on Contract: the General Part (2019, Lawbook Co) JW Carter, E Peden and G Tolhurst, Contract Law in Australia (5th ed, 2007, LexisNexis Butterworths) New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 9 May 2002 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Creative Academy Group Pty Ltd (First Appellant) Wonderschool (Conder) Pty Ltd (Second Appellant) Wonderschool (Dickson) Pty Ltd (Third Appellant) Wonderschool (Taylor) Pty Ltd (Fourth Appellant) Wonderschool (Throsby) Pty Ltd (Fifth Appellant) Wonderschool (Woden) Pty Ltd (Sixth Appellant) Simon Larcombe (Seventh Appellant) White Pointer Investments Pty Ltd (First Respondent) Hilton Hedley (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: B Walker SC / P Reynolds (Appellants) R G McHugh SC / C E Bannan (Respondents)