Australian Postal Corporation v Williams [2024] NSWCATAP 168

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Australian Postal Corporation v Williams [2024] NSWCATAP 168 Hearing dates: 31 May 2024 (further written submissions 12 July 2024) Date of orders: 29 August 2024 Decision date: 29 August 2024 Jurisdiction: Appeal Panel Before: Armstrong J, President T Simon, Principal Member Decision: 1. The appeal is allowed. 2. The proceedings GEN 23/05351 at first instance are dismissed for want of jurisdiction. Catchwords: APPEALS – jurisdiction of NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) to determine matter in exercise of judicial power where the Australian Postal Corporation (trading as Australia Post) is a party – authority to decide whether Australian Postal Corporation is "the Commonwealth" for the purposes of s 75(iii) of the Constitution – whether mere raising of that contention on a genuine basis deprives NCAT of jurisdiction – jurisdiction of NCAT's Appeal Panel to make orders affecting decision at first instance in absence of ability to adjudicate on matters in federal jurisdiction CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – Chapter III – "matter" – justiciable controversy –– question of fact – where one party is the Commonwealth and where common ground that NCAT not a "court of a State" – where NCAT exercising State judicial power in hearing and determining consumer claim DOCTRINE OF PRECEDENT – NCAT Appeal Panel determination on question of law not binding on differently constituted NCAT Appeal Panel – consistency in NCAT decision-making as statutory objective Legislation Cited: Air Services Act 1995 (Cth) Anti-Discrimination Act 1988 (Tas) Auditor-General Act 1997 (Cth) Australian Consumer Law (NSW) Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 (Vic) Australian Consumer Law (Vic) Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 (Cth) Australian Postal Corporation Amendment Act 1994 (Cth) Australian Postal Corporation (Performance Standards) Regulation 2019 (Cth) Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 1989 (Cth) (repealed) Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) Commonwealth Constitution Debits Tax Act 1982 (Cth) (repealed) Defence Housing Australia Act 1987 (Cth) Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) Fringe Benefits Tax Act 1986 (Cth) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth) Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Cases Cited: AQO v Minister for Finance and Services (2016) 93 NSWLR 46; [2016] NSWCA 248 Austral Pacific Group Limited v Airservices Australia (2000) 203 CLR 136; [2000] HCA 39 Australian Postal Corporation v Lux Cuttings Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCATAP 316 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd (2001) 204 CLR 559; [2001] HCA 1 Bank of New South Wales v The Commonwealth (Bank Nationalisation case) (1948) 76 CLR 1; [1948] HCA 7 Bir v Secretary, Ministry of Health [2024] NSWCATAD 178 Burns v Corbett (2018) 265 CLR 304; [2018] HCA 15 Citta Hobart Pty Ltd v Cawthorn (2022) 276 CLR 216; [2022] HCA 16 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v State Bank of New South Wales (1992) 174 CLR 219; [1992] HCA 6 Felton v Mulligan (1971) 124 CLR 367; [1971] HCA 39 Inglis v Commonwealth Trading Bank of Australia (1969) 119 CLR 334; [1969] HCA 44 J S McMillan Pty Ltd v Commonwealth of Australia (1977) 77 FCR 337; [1997] FCA 619 Maguire v Simpson (1977) 139 CLR 362; [1977] HCA 63 Murphy v State of Victoria & Anor [2014] VSCA 238 Mustac v Medical Board of Western Australia [2007] WASCA 128 Re Residential Tenancies Tribunal of New South Wales and Henderson; Ex parte Defence Housing Authority (1997) 190 CLR 410; [1997] HCA 36 SGH Limited v Commissioner of Taxation (2002) 210 CLR 51; [2002] HCA 18 Rizeq v Western Australia (2017) 262 CLR 1; [2017] HCA 23 State Bank of New South Wales v Commonwealth Savings Bank of Australia (1986) 161 CLR 639; [1986] HCA 62 The Owners – Strata Plan No 80412 v Vickery (Costs) [2020] NSWCATAP 48 Townsville Hospitals Board v Townsville City Council (1982) 149 CLR 282; [1982] HCA 48 Williams v Australian Postal Corporation t/as Australia Post [2023] NSWCATCD 79 Wilson v Chan & Naylor Parramatta Pty Ltd (2020) 103 NSWLR 140; [2020] NSWCA 213 Texts Cited: D Barnett, "The Commonwealth: A multitude of manifestations – Federal jurisdiction under s 75(iii) of the Constitution" (2007) 81 ALJ 195 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Australian Postal Corporation (Appellant) Michael Williams (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Wherrett (Appellant)