Techfuel Pty Limited v Coulson Aviation (Australia) Pty Ltd [2025] NSWDC 34

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Techfuel Pty Limited v Coulson Aviation (Australia) Pty Ltd [2025] NSWDC 34 Hearing dates: 17, 18, 19 February 2025 Date of orders: 27 February 2025 Decision date: 27 February 2025 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: See [198]. Catchwords: CONTRACTS – interpretation – supply of aviation fuel and services to acquirer's aviation aircraft – aircraft utilised for firefighting – termination for convenience provision conferring entitlement in supplier to liquidated fee – interpretation of the termination for convenience provision – relevance of acquirer's contractual arrangements with third party to construction CONTRACTS – whether termination for convenience provision partially void for uncertainty – penalties – whether same provision unenforceable, to the extent it confers entitlement in the supplier to a fee that is unenforceable as a penalty CONTRACTS – whether implied term to give business efficacy that the supplier must not supply services when it is 'insolvent' CORPORATIONS – assertion that the supplier was 'insolvent' – effect of a contractual provision dealing with acquirer's right to terminate upon supplier's insolvency or entry into external administration – Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 451E EVIDENCE – admissibility of administrator's report prepared for company's creditors – whether falls within 'business records' exception to the hearsay rule – whether contents constitute admissions – whether contents of report infringe opinion rule – whether report admissible under s 1305 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) – whether discretion to exclude or limit evidence should be exercised Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 95A, 439A, 451E, 588G, 1305 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 50, 55, 69, 79, 81, 87, 135, 136, 192A Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 31.28 Rural Fires Act 1997 (NSW), s 81, Dictionary Country Fire Authority Act 1958 (Vic) ss 3, 4 Cases Cited: Andrews v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (2012) 247 CLR 205 Arab Bank Australia Ltd v Sayde Developments Pty Ltd (2016) 93 NSWLR 231 ASIC v Rich (2005) 191 FLR 385; [2005] NSWSC 417 Australian Capital Financial Management Pty Ltd v Linfield Developments Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 99 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 266 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Bathurst City Council (2001) 53 NSWLR 153 Clydebank Engineering and Shipbuilding Company v Don Jose Ramos Yzquierdo y Castaneda [1905] AC 6 Codelfa Constructions Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of NSW (1982) 149 CLR 337 Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co v New Garage & Motor Co Ltd [1915] AC 79 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd (2014) 251 CLR 640 Lithgow City Council v Jackson (2011) 244 CLR 352 Mount Bruce Mining v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104 MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA v Cottonex Anstalt [2015] EWHC 283 (Comm) Paciocco v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (2016) 258 CLR 525 QBE Insurance Australia Ltd v Vasic (2010) 109 NSWLR 184 Rathner, in the matter of Citius Property Pty Ltd (Administrator appointed) [2023] FCA 26 Simic v New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation (2016) 260 CLR 85 Westgem Investments Pty Ltd v Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd [2022] WASCA 132 Texts Cited: N Seddon & R Bigwood (ed), Cheshire & Fifoot Law of Contract (12th Australian ed), LexisNexis, 2023 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Techfuel Pty Limited (Plaintiff) Coulson Aviation (Australia) Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr M Jaireth (Plaintiff) Mr D Stanton and Mr A Flick (Defendant)