Hunter New England Local Health District v C [2024] NSWSC 929

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hunter New England Local Health District v C [2024] NSWSC 929 Hearing dates: 15 March; 12, 22 April 2024 Date of orders: 15 March; 31 July 2024 Decision date: 31 July 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity - Duty List Before: Parker J Decision: See [96]-[97] Catchwords: CHILD WELFARE — jurisdiction — Supreme Court of New South Wales — parens patriae — child requiring surgical procedures where blood transfusion may become necessary — parents consent to surgical procedures but refuse consent to possible blood transfusion on religious grounds — order authorising potential transfusion made — further consideration of whether application was necessary given provisions of s 174 of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) — whether to make suppression orders under the Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) given existing protections parties have – closure of Court and file – pseudonym orders — equitable obligations of confidence — Court confidentiality — statutory suppression order made Legislation Cited: Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act 2010 Cases Cited: Bourne v Raychem Corporation [No 3] [1999] 1 All ER 908 Breen v Williams (1996) 186 CLR 71 Central Queensland Cement Pty Ltd v Hardy [1989] 2 Qd R 509 Commonwealth v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1980) 147 CLR 39 Crest Homes Plc v Marks [1987] 1 AC 829 Earl v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 839 Harman v Secretary of State for the Home Department [1983] 1 AC 280 Hearne v Street (2008) 235 CLR 125 Hunter New England Local Health District v JI [2023] NSWSC 1245 Optus Networks Pty Ltd v Telstra Corporation Ltd [2010] FCAFC 21 Re Bernard [2009] NSWSC 11 Scott v Scott [1913] AC 417 Springfield Nominees Pty Ltd v Bridgelands Securities Ltd (1992) 38 FCR 217 Unicomb v Blais [2024] NSWSC 903 X v The Sydney Children's Hospital Network (2013) 85 NSWLR 294 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, MJ Leeming and PG Turner, Meagher, Gummow and Lehane's Equity: Doctrines and Remedies (LexisNexis Butterworths, 5th ed, 2015) P Herzfeld and T Prince, Interpretation (2nd ed, 2020, Thomson Reuters) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Hunter New England Health District (Plaintiff) C (First Defendant) M (Second Defendant) F (Third Defendant) Representation: Advocates: J Wong (solicitor) (Plaintiff) E Engwirda (counsel) (Second and Third Defendants)