Holloway v Chairperson of The Residential Tribunal [2001] NSWCA 209

Reported Decision : 51 NSWLR 716

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Holloway v Chairperson of The Residential Tribunal [2001] NSWCA 209 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40777/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 24/05/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 July 2001

Holloway & Anor PARTIES : v Chairperson of The Residential Tribunal & 2 ors JUDGMENT OF : Meagher JA at 1; Beazley JA at 18; Giles JA at 19

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court - Common Law Division LOWER COURT 30015/00 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Harrison M JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : A: J Needham R: N/A SOLICITORS : A: Legal Aid Commission of NSW R: Crown Solicitor's Office CATCHWORDS : Residential tenancy dispute - application under Residential Tribunal Act (1998), s 63 for a rehearing - whether Chairperson of the Tribunal bound to hear both parties before making a determination under s 63 - whether absence of a party is sufficient to demonstrate that evidence not reasonably available at the hearing is now available - appeal allowed. s10/s 60(1)(2)(3)/s 62/s 63 Residential Tribunal Act (1998) LEGISLATION CITED : s 16(2)(d) Residential Tenancies Act (1987) cl 16 Residential Tribunal Regulation 1999 Assi v Keung [(1999) NSWSC 206 at (15)] Kioa v West [(1985) 159 CLR 550, 563, 582, 584,628] Offe v Tenancies Tribunal of NSW (29/10/1997, unreported) R v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal ex parte Hardiman (1980) 144 CLR 13 Twist v Randwick Municipal Council [(1976) 136 CLR 106, at pp 109-110] FAI Insurance Ltd v Winneke (1982) 151 CLR 342 at 360, 376-7 CASES CITED: Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596 at 598 Commissioner of Police v Tanos [(1958) 98 CLR 383, at pp 395-396] Heatley v Tasmanian Racing & Gaming Commission [(1977) 137 CLR 487, at pp 496,500] J v Lieschke [(1987) 162 CLR 447, at p 456] Haoucher v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs [(1990) 169 CLR 648, at p 680] Baba v Parole Board of New South Wales [(1986) 5 NSWLR 338, at pp 344-345, 347, 349] Constable v Anvic Holdings Pty Ltd (2001) NSWSC 444 DECISION : 1) Extend the time to apply for leave to appeal until 18 May 2001 and grant leave to appeal ; (2) Appeal Upheld ; (3) Orders (1) and (2) made by Master Harrison on 30 August 2000 set aside ; (4) Quash the order of the Chairperson of the Residential Tribunal of New South Wales that matters numbers 99/28238 and 99/25943 be reheard ; (5) Second respondent to pay the appellants' costs of the appeal and to have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act if otherwise qualified ; (6) Liberty to the second respondent to apply within 28 days to vary the orders as to costs ; (7) Direct the Registrar of the Court of Appeal to send a copy of these reasons to the second respondent's address for service.