Commissioner for Fair Trading v Aboukalam [2024] NSWCATAP 205

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Commissioner for Fair Trading v Aboukalam [2024] NSWCATAP 205 Hearing dates: 19 July 2024 Date of orders: 16 October 2024 Decision date: 16 October 2024 Jurisdiction: Appeal Panel Before: S Westgarth, Deputy President J Ledda, Senior Member Decision: (1) Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: APPEAL - administrative review - statutory construction – s 25 of the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) - requirement to find the applicant to be a fit and proper person - adverse inferences where applicant did not give evidence - whether inferences sought were conjectures - whether finding that applicant was fit and proper was legally reasonable. Legislation Cited: Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 (NSW) Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013 (NSW) Plumbing and Drainage Act 2011 (NSW) Cases Cited: Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321 at 380; (1990) 94 ALR 11 at 65; [1990] HCA 33 Carr v Baker (1936) 36 SR (NSW) 301 CIC Insurance Ltd v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 384 at 408; [1997] HCA 2 Commissioner for Australian Capital Territory Review v Alphaone Pty Ltd (1994) 49 FCR 576 Collins v Urban [2014] NSWCATAP 17 Craig v South Australia (1995) 184 CLR 163 Djokovic v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2022] FCAFC 3; (2022) 289 FCR 21 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd (2012) 250 CLR 503; [2012] HCA 55 Ismail v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2024] HCA 2; (2024) 98 ALJR 196 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Mailau v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs (2023) FCAFC 12 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko- Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li [2013] HCA 18 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf [2001] HCA 30; (2001) 206 CLR 323 Owners – SP 76269 v Draybi Bros Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCATAP 29 Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191 Plaintiff M61/2010E v The Commonwealth [2010] HCA 41; (2010) 243 CLR 319 Seltsam Pty Ltd v McGuinness (2000) 49 NSWLR 262 Sobey v Commercial and Private Agents Board (1979) 22 SASR 70 Strahan v Taree Municipal Council [1963] NSWR 59 SZBEL v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2006) 228 CLR 152 Trombetta v Commissioner for Fair Trading [2018] 10 NSWCATOD 167 Texts Cited: Not applicable Category: Principal judgment Parties: Commissioner for Fair Trading (Appellant) Jason Aboukalam (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Francois (Appellant) T Lynch SC/M Klooster (Respondent)