Novelly v Tamqia Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 167

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Novelly v Tamqia Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 167 Hearing dates: 21 May 2024 Date of orders: 12 July 2024 Decision date: 12 July 2024 Before: Meagher JA at [1] Gleeson JA at [2] Kirk JA at [66] Decision: (1) Appeal allowed. (2) Set aside orders (1) and (2) made by the primary judge on 8 September 2023, including the variation to order (2) made on 18 October 2023. (3) Remit the contempt proceedings to the primary judge to be determined in accordance with law. (4) The respondents to pay the appellant's costs in this Court. (5) The costs of the hearing below be determined by the primary judge on the remitter when determining the issue of penalty. Catchwords: APPEALS – competency of appeal – where dismissal of contempt proceedings – whether proceedings for civil or criminal contempt – where criminal contempt not established – where finding of civil contempt but proceedings dismissed – whether appeal incompetent – characterisation of contempt proceedings – whether remedial or coercive, not punitive – time at which character of proceedings assessed CONTEMPT – breach of undertakings given to Court – whether civil or criminal contempt – whether error in characterising proceedings as criminal only – where statements of charge particularised breaches of undertakings as contumacious – whether allegation of contumacy determinative – where double aspect of contempt proceedings – whether procedurally unfair to find civil contempt Legislation Cited: Administration of Justice Act 1960 (UK), s 13 Courts Legislation Amendment Act 1996 (NSW) Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW), s 107 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 42.1 Cases Cited: Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union v Mudginberri (1986) 161 CLR 98; [1986] HCA 46 Australian Building Construction Employees' & Builders Labourers' Federation v David Syme & Co (1982) 40 ALR 518 Australian Consolidated Press Ltd v Morgan (1965) 112 CLR 483; [1965] HCA 21 Bellerive Homes Pty Ltd v FW Projects Pty Ltd (2019) 106 NSWLR 479; [2019] NSWSC 193 Chief Executive Officer of Customs v Labrador Liquor Wholesale Pty Ltd (2003) 216 CLR 161; [2003] HCA 49 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Boral Resources (Vic) Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 375; [2015] HCA 21 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Grocon Constructors (Victoria) Pty Limited (2014) 47 VR 527; [2014] VSCA 261 Davern v Messel (1984) 155 CLR 21; [1984] HCA 34 Director of Public Prosecutions v Chidiac (1991) 25 NSWLR 372 Hearne v Street (2008) 235 CLR 125; [2008] HCA 36 Hinch v Attorney-General (Vic) (1987) 164 CLR 15; [1987] HCA 56 Jendell Australia Pty Ltd v Kesby [1983] 1 NSWLR 127 The Law Society of New South Wales v Kinsella (Court of Appeal, 2 July 1980, unreported) Microsoft Corporation v Marks (No 1) (1996) 69 FCR 117 Novelly v Tamqia Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 1607 Novelly v Tamqia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 1091 Novelly v Tamqia Pty Ltd (No 3) [2023] NSWSC 1235 O'Shea v O'Shea; Ex parte Tuohy (1890) 15 PD 59 Pang v Bydand Holdings Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 69 R v Metal Trades Employers' Association; Ex parte Amalgamated Engineering Union (Australian Section) (1951) 82 CLR 208; [1951] HCA 3 Street v Hearne (2007) 70 NSWLR 231; [2007] NSWCA 113 Street v Luna Park Sydney Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 624 Thompson v Mastertouch TV Service Pty Ltd (1978) 19 ALR 547 Wentworth v Rares (unreported, 13 December 1990) Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525; [1995] HCA 3 Texts Cited: Borrie and Lowe's Law of Contempt (1983, 2nd edn, Butterworths) Prof David Rolph, Contempt (2023, The Federation Press) New South Wales Legislative Council, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 17 October 1996 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Jared Novelly (Appellant) Tamqia Pty Ltd (First respondent) Marie Bolton (Second respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Alexis SC / P M Barham (Appellant) D A Lloyd SC / L Y Moussa (Respondents)