Australasian Concrete Services v Multiplex Constructions [1999] NSWSC 1140

New South Wales Supreme Court CITATION : Australasian Concrete Services v Multiplex Constructions [1999] NSWSC 1140 CURRENT JURISDICTION : Equity Division Construction List FILE NUMBER(S) : 55014/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 4.11.1999 JUDGMENT DATE : 25 November 1999

PARTIES : Australasian Concrete Services Pty Ltd v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd JUDGMENT OF : Hunter J

COUNSEL : Plaintiff: Mr G Sirtes Defendant: Mr P Biscoe QC Mr N Nicholls SOLICITORS : Plaintiff: Luchetti & Co Defendant: Minter Ellison CATCHWORDS : Building Contract; Head Contract entered into before commencement of Home Building Act 1989; Sub-contract entered into after that commencement; Construction of transitional provisions s 91, cl 39 Sched 4 of the Home Building Act; Whether s 92 of Act applied to sub-contract; Whether sub-contract unenforceable by reason of s 94 of Act; Whether head-contractor estopped from reliance upon s 94. ACTS CITED : Building Services Corporation Act 1989 Home Building Act 1989 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 Kok Hoong v Leong Cheong Kweng Mines Ltd [1964] AC 993 CASES CITED : Barilla v James (1964) 81 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 457 Beckford Nominees Pty Ltd v Shell Co of America Ltd (1987) 73 ALR 373 Clark Equipment Australia Ltd v Covcat Pty Ltd (1987) 71 ALR 367 DECISION : Sub-contractor not prohibited by s 92 of Home Building Act 1989 from entering into sub-contract : Part 6 of the Building Services Corporation Act 1989 applied to the sub-contract works.

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES EQUITY DIVISION CONSTRUCTION LIST