BP AUSTRALIA LIMITED v BROWN & ORS [2003] NSWCA 216

(2003) 46 ASCR 677 Reported Decision : 58 NSWLR 322 (2003) 21 ACLC 1535

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : BP AUSTRALIA LIMITED v BROWN & ORS [2003] NSWCA 216 HEARING DATE(S) : 23 and 24 April 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 8 August 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Mason P at 215; Handley JA at 216 DECISION : Appeal allowed in part. Cross-appeal allowed in part. See par [214].

CATCHWORDS : CORPORATIONS LAW - Insolvency - Voidable preference payments - time limit for application to recover - whether time may be extended under Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 1322(4)(d) - CORPORATIONS LAW - Insolvency - Voidable preference payments - power to extend time within which to apply for recovery - whether extension may be granted in general terms - Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 588FF(3) - CORPORATIONS LAW - Insolvency - Voidable preference payments - power to extend time within which to apply for recovery - appropriate test for exercise of discretion to extend time - PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS - Ex parte orders - when permitted - right of affected party to have orders set aside - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - Joinder of parties - date of effect of joinder of defendant - whether provision of Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) governing time limit for commencing proceedings directs attention to commencement against a particular party. Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) Bankruptcy Act 1924 (Cth) Bankruptcy Amendment Act 1980 (Cth) LEGISLATION CITED : Companies Code 1981 (Vic) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Corporations Law Supreme Court Act 1970 ABB Power Plants Limited v Electricity Commission (NSW) (t/as Pacific Power) (1995) 35 NSWLR 596 Anthony Hordens & Sons Limited v Amalgamated Clothing & Allied Trades Union of Australia (1932) 47 CLR 1 Australasian Memory Pty Ltd v Brien (2000) 200 CLR 270 Beard v Baulkham Hills Shire Council (1986) 7 NSWLR 273 Brian Rochford Ltd (Administrator Appointed) v Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of NSW (1998) 47 NSWLR 47 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1997) 186 CLR 541 Cameron v Cole (1944) 68 CLR 571 Dahozo Pty Ltd v Oz-US Film Productions Pty Ltd (1997) 24 ACSR 739 David Grant and Co Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1995) 184 CLR 265 Downey v Trans Waste Pty Ltd (1991) 172 CLR 167 Demondrille Nominees Pty Ltd v Shirlaw (1997) 25 ACSR 535 Emanuele v Australian Securities Commission (1996-1997) 188 CLR 114 Ferrier and Knight (as Liquidators of Compass Airlines Pty Ltd) v Civil Aviation Authority (1994) 55 FCR 28 Greig v Australian Building Industries Pty Ltd (In liq) [2002] QSC 138 Greig v Australian Building Industries Pty Ltd (In liq) (2002) 171 FLR 41; 21 ACLC 324 Greig v Australian Building Industries Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2003] QCA 298 Hall v Nominal Defendant (1966) 117 CLR 423 Haynes' case (1614) 12 Co Rep 113, 77 ER 1389 Horsburgh v Strongman & Crouch [1998] 3 VR 896 Itek Graphix Pty Ltd v Elliott (2001) 54 NSWLR 207 John v Commissioner of Taxation (Cth) (1989) 166 CLR 417 Leon Fink Holdings Pty Ltd v Australian Film Commission (1979) 141 CLR 672 Owners of the SS Kalibia v Wilson (1910) 11 CLR 689 CASES CITED : Pegulan Floor Coverings Pty Ltd v Carter (1997) 24 ACSR 651 PMT & Partners (In liq) v Australian National Parks & Wildlife Service (1995) 184 CLR 301 R (Burkett) v Hammersmith and Fulham LBC [2002] 1 WLR 1593 R v Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, ex parte A [1998] QB 659 R v Lynn (1788) TR 733, 100 ER 394 R v Sharpe (1857) 7 Cox CC 214, 169 ER 959 R v Wallis; Ex parte Employers' Association of Wool-Selling Brokers & H V McKay Massey Harris Pty Ltd (1949) 78 CLR 529 R v Young (1999) 46 NSWLR 681 Re Aura Commercial Interiors (2002) 20 ACLC 904 Re Envirostar Energy Ltd [2002] NSWSC 1246 Re Great Eastern Cleaning Services Pty Ltd [1978] 2 NSWLR 278 Re Greg Sewell Forgings Pty Ltd (1995) 17 ACSR 602 Re Wilcox; Ex parte Venture Industries Pty Ltd (1996) 66 FCR 511 Ricon Constructions Pty Ltd (In liq); ex parte McDonald (1997) 43 NSWLR 174 Salido v Nominal Defendant (1993) 32 NSWLR 524 Saraswati v The Queen (1991) 172 CLR 1 Southern Cross Exploration NL v Fire and All Risks Insurance Company Ltd (1990) 21 NSWLR 200 Star v National Australia Bank Ltd (1999) 30 ACSR 583 Sutherland v Dexion Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 24; (2003) 21 ACLC 341 Switz Pty Ltd v Glowbind Pty Ltd (2000) 48 NSWLR 661 Tagoori Pty Ltd (In liq) v Lee [2001] 2 Qd R 98 Texel Pty Ltd v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [1994] 2 VR 298 Wright v Mansell (2001) 116 FCR 46 BP Australia Limited (Appellant) Martin Russell Brown and Timothy James Cumming (First Respondents) PARTIES : DML Resources Pty Limited (In Liquidation) (Second Respondent) DML Resources (WA) Pty Limited (In Liquidation) (Third Respondent)