VAW (Kurri Kurri) Pty Ltd v Scientific Committee (Established under s127 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995) [2003] NSWCA 297

Reported Decision : 128 LGERA 419 58 NSWLR 631

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : VAW (Kurri Kurri) Pty Ltd v Scientific Committee (Established under s127 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995) [2003] NSWCA 297 HEARING DATE(S) : 7 March 2003; 10 March 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 17 October 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Beazley JA at 61; Hodgson JA at 214 DECISION : Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS : ENVIRONMENTAL LAW - endangered ecological community - listing process in Threatened Species Conservation Act - validity of final determination to list community - distinction between initiating mechanisms - assemblage of species - particular area ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - validity of determinations of Scientific Committee - requirement to advertise reasons for determinations - where published reasons restated statutory formula - sufficiency of reasons - certainty of findings in final determination - non-compliance with statutory provision for nominations - availability of alternative power to support listing - whether different consequences of statute under alternative powers - reasonable apprehension of bias PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - application to reopen case - discretion to allow reopening - where inconsistent tactical decisions and legal claims by both parties - where new evidence on critical matter in proceedings Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 25D Broadcasting and Television Act 1942 (Cth) Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Cth) s 160 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 s 100A LEGISLATION CITED : Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) s 18 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 ss 118A, 181 National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 (Cth) Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 (Cth) s 7 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 ss 3, 4, 6, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 127, 128, 133, 134 Abbott v Shire of Heidelberg [1926] VLR 199 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal (1989) 88 ALR 287 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal & Actors Equity of Australia Ltd v Saatchi & Saatchi Compton (Vic) Pty Ltd (1985) 10 FCR 1 Australian Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden [2002] NSWCA 419 Bass v Permanent Trustee Co Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 334 Brown v Petranker (1991) 22 NSWLR 717 Brown v West (1990) 169 CLR 195 Canwest Global Communications Corporation v Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia (1997) 147 ALR 509 Dalton v Deputy Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1986) 160 CLR 246 Dixon v Esperance Bay Turf Club (Inc) [2002] WASC 110 Genkem Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1994) 35 NSWLR 33 Harris v Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (1999) 162 ALR 651 Harts Australia Limited v Commissioner of Australian Federal Police (2002) 117 FCR 358 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 CASES CITED : Iveagh (Earl) v Minister of Housing and Local Government [1964] 1 QB 395 Johns v Australian Securities Commission (1993) 178 CLR 408 Kentucky Fried Chicken Pty Ltd v Gantidis (1979) 140 CLR 675 Lockwood v The Commonwealth (1953) 90 CLR 177 Mercantile Mutual Life Insurance v Australian Securities Commission (1992) 40 FCR 409 MIMA v Bhardwaj (2002) 209 CLR 597 Minister for Immigration v Yusuf (2001) 75 ALJR 1105 Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning v Rosemount Estates Pty Ltd (1996) 91 LGERA 31 Moore v The Attorney General (Irish Free State) [1935] AC 484 Newcrest Mining (WA) Ltd v The Commonwealth (1997) 190 CLR 513 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 R v Bevan; Ex parte Elias and Gordon (1942) 66 CLR 452 Racecourse Co-operative Sugar Association Ltd v Attorney-General (Qld) (1979) 142 CLR 460 Ramos v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs (1998) 53 ALD 64 Tasker v Fullwood [1978] 1 NSWLR 20 Urban Transport Authority of New South Wales v Nweiser (1991) 28 NSWLR 471 PARTIES : Appellant: VAW (Kurri Kurri) Pty Ltd Respondent: Scientific Committee (Established under s127 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995) FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40555/02 COUNSEL : Appellant: S Rares SC / M Leeming Respondent: B Walker SC / B Preston SC / S Pritchard SOLICITORS : Appellant: Blake Dawson Waldron Respondent: Vivienne Karen Ingram (NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service)