Greyhound Racing Authority (NSW) v Bragg [2003] NSWCA 388

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Greyhound Racing Authority (NSW) v Bragg [2003] NSWCA 388 HEARING DATE(S) : 25 November 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 22 December 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Santow JA at 1; Ipp JA at 80; Brownie AJA at 81 DECISION : (1) That the appeal be allowed; (2) That orders of the Court made 27 February 2003 be set aside; (3) The respondent to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal and of the proceedings below.

CATCHWORDS : ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - racing tribunal - meaning of "due inquiry" in Statute - procedural fairness - factual determinations - merits review inappropriate - Wednesbury unreasonableness distinguished from review of factual determinations based on irrationality or illogicality - meaning of Briginshaw standard and "comfortably satisfied" in context of administrative tribunal - relevance of informality of procedure and hearsay evidence - evidence "against interest" as applicable to reputation. Evidence Act s65(7)(a) The Greyhound Racing Authority Act 1985 (NSW). LEGISLATION CITED : Greyhound Racing Control Board Act 1985 Rule 9(1) Rules of The Greyhound Racing Authority 1999 Greyhound Racing Authority (Appeals) Regulation 1999 Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988 ss37 and 38 Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin (1990) 170 CLR 1 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Chan v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1989) 169 CLR 379 Finocchiaro v Law Society of New South Wales [2002] NSWSC 112 Gamaethige v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2001) 109 FCR 424 General Medical Council v Spackman (1943) AC 627 Leeson v General Medical Council (1889) 43 Ch D 366 CASES CITED : McCormack v Commissioner of Taxation (2001) 114 FCR 574 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu (1996) 185 CLR 259 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu (1999) 197 CLR 611 Re Minister for Immigration and Multi-Cultural Affairs; ex parte applicant S20/2002 (2003) 198 ALR 59; (2003) 77 ALJR 1165 NAMM of 2002 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2003] FCAFC 32 Perez v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2002) 191 ALR 619 Petty v Maiden (1981) 55 A Crim R 322 PARTIES : GREYHOUND RACING AUTHORITY (NSW) (Appellant) Rodney BRAGG (Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40224/03 COUNSEL : R J WEBB, SC (Appellant) D E BARAN (Respondent) SOLICITORS : Hartmann & Associates (Appellant) Heard McEwan (Respondent)