Williams v The Minister, Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 & Anor [1999] NSWSC 843

Reported Decision : (1999) Aust Torts Reports 81-526

New South Wales Supreme Court CITATION : Williams v The Minister, Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 & Anor [1999] NSWSC 843 CURRENT JURISDICTION : Common Law FILE NUMBER(S) : 10257/93 HEARING DATE(S) : 19/04/99, 20/04/99, 21/04/99, 22/04/99, 23/04/99, 27/04/99, 28/04/99, 29/04/99, 30/04/99, 03/05/99, 06/05/99, 07/05/99, 10/05/99, 11/05/99; 14/05/99. JUDGMENT DATE : 26 August 1999

Joy Williams - Plaintiff PARTIES : The Minister, Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 - 1st Defendant State of New South Wales - 2nd Defendant JUDGMENT OF : Abadee J at 1

COUNSEL : Mr N. Hutley SC; Ms C. Adamson - Plaintiff Mr C. Barry QC; Mr D. Cowan - 1st and 2nd Defendants SOLICITORS : Kingsford Legal Aid Centre - Plaintiff State Crown Solicitor - Defendants CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE - Duty of care to whom - Aborigines Welfare Board - Common Law duty of care to protect promote and maintain child placed in its control by mother - Whether a duty of care owed to plaintiff - Novel case - Test for recognition of duty - Whether such should be recognised - No duty of care - No breach of duty - No causation;; STATUTE - Aborigines Protection Act 1909-1943 - Whether giving rise to a private right of action - Private right of action not created; EQUITY - Fiduciary relationship - Whether fiduciary relationship between child ("ward") and the Aborigines Welfare Board under the Aborigines Protection Act - Nature of relationship scope and content of duty assuming a fiduciary relationship - Whether duty of care to prevent personal injury - Whether breach of fiduciary duty - Causation - Laches, prejudice and delay as "bars" to equitable relief if entitlement established; DAMAGES - No entitlement to damages - Difficulties in any compulation - Damages highly speculative - Assessment only done contingently to assist in event of Appeal and having regard to age and general ill health of plaintiff - No entitlement to aggravatory or exemplary damages; EXPERT EVIDENCE -Nature of such - Assessment and acceptance of such - Qualifications; EVIDENCE - State of Knowledge; LAW REFORM - Whether a claim for breach of fiduciary duty (if available) arising from the same facts and circumstances relied upon to support a common law cause of action should be subject to the provisions of the Limitation Act. Aborigines Protection Act Adoption Act Child Welfare Act (NSW) Child Welfare Act (WA) Limitation Act ACTS CITED : Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 Crown Proceedings Act 1988 Evidence Act (NSW) Public Service Act 1902 Aborigines Protection (Amendment) Act No 12 1940 Neglected Children and Juvenile Offenders Act Children and Young Persons Act 1974 Cubillo v The Commonwealth of Australia [1999] FCA 518; Ronnoc Finance v Spectrum Network Systems (1998) 45 NSWLR 624; Williams v Minister, Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (1994) 35 NSWLR 497; Maguire v Makaronis (1997) 188 CLR 449; Tito v Waddell (No 2) [1977] Ch 106; Orr v Ford (1989) 167 CLR 316; Fitzgerald v Masters (1956) 95 CLR 420; Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541; Toohey v Metropolitan Police Commissioner [1965] AC 595; Longman v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 79; Kruger v Commonwealth of Australia (1997) 190 CLR 1; Tucker v U. S. Department of Commerce (1992) 958 F 2d 1411 at 1413; Breen v Williams (1996) 186 CLR 71; Breen v Williams (1994) 35 NSWLR 522; State Government Insurance Commission v Trigwell (1979) 142 CLR 617; Maloney v The Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1978) 52 ALJR 292; Quigley v The Commonwealth of Australia (1981) 55 ALJR 579; Commissioner for Railways v Anderson (1961) 105 CLR 42; Giannarelli v Wraith (1988) 165 CLR 543; Public Trustee v The Commonwealth of Australia (NSWCA 20 December 1995, unreported); Barrett v Enfield London Borough Council [1999] 3 WLR 79; Romeo v Conservation Commission (NT) (1998) 192 CLR 431; Hahn v Conley (1971) 126 CLR 276; Attorney-General v Prince & Gardner [1998] 1 NZLR 262; Smith v NSW Bar Association (1992) 176 CLR 256; Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1990) 171 CLR 167; State Rail Authority v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (In Liq) (1999) 73 ALJR 306; R v Turner (1974) 60 Crim App R 80; HG v The Queen (1999) 73 ALJR 281; Ahmedi v Ahmedi (1991) 23 NSWLR 288; X (Minors) v Bedfordshire County Council [1995] 2 AC 633; Gower v State of South Australia & Perriam (1985) 39 SASR 543; Aborigines Welfare Board v Saunders [1961] NSWR 917; Wedd v Wedd [1948] SASR 104; Fountain v Alexander (1982) 150 CLR 615; Lawson v Youngman [1980] 2 NSWLR 457; Ex parte Vorhauer; Re Steep (1968) 88 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 135; Coe v Gordon [1983] 1 NSWLR 419; O'Connor v S. P. Bray Pty Ltd (1937) 56 CLR 464; Stovin v Wise [1996] AC 923; Northern Territory v Mengel (1995) 185 CLR 307; Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1985) 157 CLR 424; Leask Timber Hardware pty Ltd v Thorne (1961) 106 CLR 33; Pyrenees Shire Council v Day (1998) 192 CLR 330; Newcastle City Council v GIO General Limited (1997) 72 ALJR 97; E v K [1995] 2 NZLR 239 at 245; O'Rourke v Camden London Borough Council [1998] AC 188; Norberg v Wynrib (1992) 92 DLR (4th) at 499; M (K) v M (H) (1992) 96 DLR (4th) 289; Re Coomber, Coomber v Coomber (1911) 1 Ch 723; SEC v Chenery Corporation (1943) 318 US 80; Warman International Ltd v Dwyer (1995) 182 CLR 554; Paramasivam v Flynn (1998) 160 ALR 203 at 218; Hospital Products Ltd v United States Surgical Corporation (1984) 156 CLR 41; Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (1992) 175 CLR 1; Green & Anor v Minister for Child Welfare [1972] 1 NSWLR 314; Minister for Interior v Neyens (1964) 113 CLR 411; Quinn v Minister for Youth and Community Services (1986) 5 NSWLR 716; Youngman v Lawson [1981] 1 NSWLR 439; Duke of Beaufort v Berty [1721] 24 ER 579; Bennett v Minister for Community Welfare (1988) Aust Torts Reports (80-210); AMS v AIF (1999) 73 ALJR 927; Brunninghauser v Glavanic (NSWCA, 23 June 1999, unreported); CASES CITED : Bristol and West Building Society v Mothew [1997] 2 WLR 436; O'Halloran v R. T. Thomas and Family Pty Ltd (1998) 45 NSWLR 262; Prince v Attorney-General [1996] 3 NZLR 733; Stubbings v Webb [1993] AC 498; Henderson v Merett Syndicates [1995] 2 AC 145; Permanent Building Society v Wheeler (1994) 14 ACSR 109; Target Holdings Ltd v Redferns [1996] AC 421; Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; Barnes v Hay (1988) 12 NSWLR 337; Havenaar v Havenaar [1982] 1 NSWLR 626; Todorovic v Waller (1981) 150 CLR 402; MBP (SA) Pty Ltd v Gogic (1991) 171 CLR 657; Lamb v Cotogno (1987) 164 CLR 1 at 8; Trend Management Ltd v Borg (1996) 40 NSWLR 500; Gray v Motor Accident Commission (1998) 73 ALJR 45; Nominal Defendant v Gardikiots (1996) 186 CLR 45; Kars v Kars (1996) 187 CLR 354; Griffiths v Kerkemeyer (1977) 139 CLR 161; Metropolitan Meat Industry Board v Williams (1991) 24 NSWLR 54; Chapman v Hearse (1961) 106 CLR 112; Wilson v Peisley (1975) 50 ALJR 207; Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission (1995) 182 CLR 1; R v Falconer (1990) 171 CLR 30; Royall v The Queen (1991) 172 CLR 378; R v Engert (1995) 84 A Crim R 67; Malec v J. C. Hutton Pty Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 638; CES & Anor v Superclinics (1995) 38 NSWLR 47; Nader v Urban Transit Authority (1985) 2 NSWLR 501; Mount Isa Mines ltd v Pusey (1970) 125 CLR 383; Naxakis v Western General Hospital [1999] HCA 22; Leotta v Public Transport Commission (1976) 50 ALJR 666; Smith v The Queen (1990) 64 ALJR 588; Re Dawson [1966] 2 NSWLR 211; Hourigan v Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd (1934) 51 CLR 619; Hughes v Schofield [1975] 1 NSWLR 8; Crago v McIntyre [1976] 1 NSWLR 729; Neylon v Dickens [1987] 1 NZLR 402; Nocton v Lord Ashburton [1914] AC 932; Frank Perre v Apand Pty Ltd [199] HCA 36; Caparo Industries PLC v Dickman [1990] 2 AC 605; Osman v United Kingdom (ECtHR 28 October 1998, unreported); Anns v Merton London Borough Council [1978] AC 728; Jaensch v Coffey (1984) 155 CLR 549; Hill v Van Erp (1997) 188 CLR 159; Gala v Preston (1991) 172 CLR 243; Esanda Finance Corporation Ltd v Peat Marwick Hungerfords (Reg) (1997) 188 CLR 241; Bayley v Forde [1863] LR 2 QB 539; McCallion v Dodd [1966] NZLR 710; Rogers v Rawlings [1969] QdR 262; Burnie Port Authority v General Jones Pty Ltd (1994) 179 CLR 520; Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 672; Ramsay v Larsen (1964) 111 CLR 16; Northern Sandblasting Pty Ltd v Harris (1997) 188 CLR 313; Cekan v Haines (1990) 21 NSWLR 296; Cook v Cook (1986) 162 CLR 376; Bankstown Foundry pty Ltd v Braistina (1980) 160 CLR 301; Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40; March v E & M H Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506; Chappel v Hart (1998) 72 ALJR 1344; Environment Agency v Empress Car Co Ltd [1998] 2 WLR 350; St George Club v Hines (1961) 35 ALJR 106; Duyvelshaff v Cathcart & Ritchie Ltd (1973) 47 ALJR 410; State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Howell (NSWCA, 19 December 1996, unreported); Kavanagh v Akhtar (1998) 45 NSWLR 588; State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Wiegold (1991) 25 NSWLR 500; DECISION : Verdict and judgment for the Defendants