WORLDAUDIO v GB RADIO [2003] NSWSC 855

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : WORLDAUDIO v GB RADIO [2003] NSWSC 855 revised - 10/10/2003 HEARING DATE(S) : 15/09/03, 16/09/03, 17/09/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 10 October 2003

JUDGMENT OF : McDougall J at 1 DECISION : See paragraphs 221-225

CATCHWORDS : Contract - whether concluded or enforceable contract exists - uncertainty of terms - whether specifically enforceable - discretionary defences - whether asserting incorrect view of contract amounted to repudiation - whethere there was a breach - validity of termination for repudiation or breach - whether terminating party was ready, willing and able to perform - estoppel - applicability of s 52 Trade Practices Act - rectification Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Radiocommunications Act 1992 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd (1973) 129 CLR 99, 109 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v XIVth Commonweaith Games Ltd (1988) 18 NSWLR 540, 550-551 Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd v GR Securities Pty Ltd & Ors (1986) 40 NSWLR 622, 628 Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd v Pace (1988) 15 NSWLR 130, 135-136 Burger King Corporation v Hungry Jack's Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 187 Butt v M'Donald (1896) 7 QLJ 68, 70-71 Coalcliff Collieries Pty Ltd v Sijehama Pty Ltd (1991) 24 NSWLR 1 at 20 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1982) 149 CLR 337, 348 Council of the Upper Hunter County District v Australian Chilling & Freezing Co Ltd (1967) 118 CLR 429, 433 DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd (1978) 138 CLR 423, 429 Film Bars Pty Ltd v Pacific Film Laboratories Pty Ltd (1979) 1 BPR 9251, 9255-6 Fitzgerald v F J Leonhardt Pty Ltd (1997) 189 CLR 215, 219 CASES CITED : Fletcher Challenge Energy Ltd v Electricity Corporation of New Zealand Ltd [2002] 2 NZLR 433, 446, 447 GR Securities Pty Ltd v Baulkham Hills Private Hospital Pty Ltd (1986) 40 NSWLR 631, 635 Hillas & Co v Arcos [1932] 147 LT 503, 512, [1932] All ER 494, 499 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Mackay v Dick (1881) 6 App Cas 251, 263 Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353, 360 Meehan v Jones (1982) 149 CLR 571, 589 Peters (WA) Ltd v Petersville Ltd (2001) 205 CLR 126 Psaltis v Schultz (1948) 76 CLR 547, 560 Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust v South Sydney City Council (2002) 76 ALJR 436; 186 ALR 289 Secured Income Real Estate (Australia) Ltd v St Martins Investments Pty Ltd (1979) 144 CLR 596, 607 Shepherd v Felt & Textiles of Australia Ltd (1931) 45 CLR 359 Sinclair, Scott and Co v Naughton (1929) 43 CLR 310, 317 WorldAudio Ltd Plaintiff 1 WorldAudio Communications Pty Ltd Plaintiff 2 GB Radio (Aust) Pty Ltd Defendant PARTIES : GB Radio (Aust) Pty Ltd Cross-Claimant WorldAudio Ltd Cross-Defendant 1 WorldAudio Communications Pty Ltd Cross-Defendant 2 Andrew Peter Thompson Cross-Defendant 3 FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50056/03 COUNSEL : J T Gleeson SC/P J Brereton (Plaintiffs and Cross-Defendants) R B S Macfarlan QC/P Whitford (Defendant) SOLICITORS : Blake Dawson Waldron for Plaintiffs Gadens for Defendant