Director General, New South Wales Department of Community Services v Childrens Court of New South Wales & Ors; Re Peter & Ors [2002] NSWSC 679

Reported Decision : (2002-2003) 56 NSWLR 555

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Director General, New South Wales Department of Community Services v Childrens Court of New South Wales & Ors; Re Peter & Ors [2002] NSWSC 679 FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 11416/02 HEARING DATE(S) : 27/5/02;28/5/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 31 July 2002

PARTIES : Director General, New South Wales Department of Community Services Children's Court of New Wouth Wales & Ors; Re Peter & Ors JUDGMENT OF : O'Keefe J

LOWER COURT Children's Court JURISDICTION : LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Mag T Lucas JUDICIAL OFFICER :

Mr G Moore - Plaintiff COUNSEL : Mr and Mrs V - In person Mr G Dougherty - Solicitor in person I. V Knight - Crown Solicitor, sydney - Plaintiff SOLICITORS : 2nd and 3rd Defendants in person 4th Defendant - in person CATCHWORDS : Courts - Practice and procedure - Children's Court - Duty of Children's Court to give reasons - Discretion - Court expert - Authorised Clinician - Oral evidence - Declaration - Order in the nature of mandamus - Costs Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 : ss 8, 48, 53, 54, 58, 59, 93, 98, 99, 107, Pt 6 Children's Court Act, 1997 : ss 6, 7(2)(b), 12, 15B, 23 Children's Court Rule 2000 : Pt 8, Cl 33, Cl 36 LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) : s 192(2) Family Law Act 1975 Supreme Court Act 1970 : ss 69, 75 Deserted Wives and Childrens Act, 1991 Equity Act 1901: s 10 Ex Parte Powter : Re Powter (1946) 46 SR (NSW) 1 Barker v Barker (1906) 95 LT 549 Carlson v King (1947) 64 WN (NSW) 64 Pettitt v Dunkley (1971) 1 NSWLR 376 Public Sevice Board of NSW v Osmond (1986) 159 CLR 656 Housing Commission of NSW v Tatmar Pastoral Co (1983) NSWLR 378 at 386 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Limited (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 Capital and Suburban Properties v Swycher (1976) Ch 319 at 325-326 Mohamed Kunjo s/o Ramalan v Public Prosecutor (1979) AC 135 Ex parte Currie : Re Dempsey (1969) 70 SR 443 Palmer v Clarke (1989) 19 NSWLR 158 Yates v Darling Harbour Authority (1991) 24 NSWLR 186 O'Hare v DPP [2000] NSWSC 430 Stanoevski v The Queen (2001) 202 CLR 115 John Fairfax & Sons Limited v Police Tribunal of New South Wales (1986) 5 NSWLR 465 Re: JRL, ex parte CJL (1986) 161 CLR 343 CASES CITED : In the marriage of PW and AJ Hall (1979) 5 FamLR 609 Bacon v Rose (1972) 2 NSWLR 793 Ex parte Cousens Re Blacket (1947) 47 SR 145 Willessee v Willessee (1974) 2 NSWLR 275 Acs v Anderson (1974) 2 NSWLR 482 Connor v sankey (1976) 2 NSWLR 570 The King v War Pensions Entitlement appeal Tribunal; ex parte Bott (1933) 50 CLR 228 Ex parte Hebburn Limited; Re Kearsley Shire Council (1947) 47 SR (NSW) 416 The King v Minister of Health (1939) 1 KB 232 Estate and Trust Agencies (1927) LTD v Singapore Improvement Trust (1937) AC 898 The King v Connell (1944) 69 CLR 407 The King v Board of Education (1910) 2 KB 165 Acuthan v Coates (1986) 6 NSWLR 472 Degmam Pty Limited (in liq) v Wright No 2 (1983) 2 NSWLR 354 Wentworth v Rogers (No 5) (1986) 6 NSWLR 534 Hobartville Stud Pty Limited v Union Insurance Co Limited (1991) 25 NSWLR 358 Northridge v Central Sydney Area Health Service (2000-2001) 50 NSWLR 549 at 570 DECISION : 1(a) The record of the Children's Court be called up and the determination of such Court in respect of the Department's Request to Court for Authorised Clinician to Give Evidence be quashed; 1(b) The Children's Court re-consider the Department's Request to Court for Authorised Clinician to give Evidence in accordance with law as set out in this judgment, giving reasons for the determination made, or to be made, in relation to such request; 2. I declare that the Children's Magistrate fell into error in failing to give reasons for his decision to refuse the Department's Request to Court for Authorised Clinician to Give Evidence by declining to allow the Authorised Clinician to be called to give oral evidence;3. No order as to costs.