Tryam Pty Ltd & Anor v. Grainco Australia Ltd & Ors [2003] NSWSC 812

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Tryam Pty Ltd & Anor v. Grainco Australia Ltd & Ors [2003] NSWSC 812 HEARING DATE(S) : 30 April, 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 September 2003

JURISDICTION: Equity Division Commercial List JUDGMENT OF : Palmer J DECISION : Proceedings transferred to Supreme Court of Queensland; Notice of Motion challenging jurisdiction under s.106 Industrial Relations Act stood over to be determined by Supreme Court of Queensland, if required.

CATCHWORDS : JURISDICTION PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - Whether Supreme Court has jurisdiction under Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-Vesting) Act 1987 (NSW) to decide matters of substance in a proceeding transferred to the Court under s.8(1) - whether and to what extent Supreme Court should consider prospects of success in such a proceeding in order to determine whether it is "in the interests of justice" to transfer the proceeding to another Court - INDUSTRIAL LAW - UNFAIR CONTRACTS - Whether Industrial Relations Commission has jurisdiction under s.106 Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) only in respect of contracts the proper law of which is that of New South Wales - whether conflict between decisions of the Full Bench of the Commission and decision of the High Court - HIGH COURT - INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION - Whether privative clause in Industrial Relations Act has effect of making Full Bench of Commission the supreme authority on extent of Commission's jurisdiction under Industrial Relations Act - UNFAIR CONTRACTS - s.106 Industrial Relations Act - meaning of "work in any industry" discussed - CROSS-VESTING - Whether proceedings sought to be cross-vested have sufficient substance to warrant cross-vesting in the interests of justice - whether Supreme Court of Queensland or Supreme Court of New South Wales is the more appropriate forum - significance of contractual provision requiring parties to submit to exclusive jurisdiction of Courts of Queensland. - Financial Emergency Act 1931 (Vic) - Grain Marketing Act 1991 (NSW) - Industrial Arbitration Act 1940 (NSW) - s.88F - Industrial Relations Act 1991 (NSW) - s.275 - Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) - s.105, s.106, s.179 - Industrial Relations Act 1999 (Qld) - s.276 - Interest Reduction Act 1931 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : - Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) - s.33, s.39(2) - Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-Vesting) Act 1987 (NSW) - s.5, s.6, .6A, s.8 - Service and Execution of Process Act 1901 (Cth) - s.11 - Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) - s.48 - Supreme Court Rules Pt.1 r.1.3 - Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) - s.67 - Workers Compensation Act 1928 (Vic) - Commonwealth Constitution - Chapter III, s.73 - Ace Business Brokers Pty Ltd v Phillips-Treby [2000] NSWIRComm 163 - Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants v Osborne [1910] AC 87 - Australian Entre Business Centres Pty Ltd v Smith (1989) 29 IR 172 - Bankinvest AG v Seabrook (1988) 14 NSWLR 711 - Barcelo v Electrolytic Zinc Co of Australia Ltd (1932) 48 CLR 391 - BNY Australia Ltd v James (1992) 40 IR 1 - Bonython v Commonwealth (1950) 81 CLR 486 - Bristol-Myers Squibb Company v F.H. Faulding & Co Ltd (2000) 97 FCR 524 - Brown v Rezitis (1970) 127 CLR 157 - Caltex Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd v Feenan [1981] 1 NSWLR 169 - Cheater v Cater [1918] 1 KB 247 - Chevron Breeders & Producers of Australia Pty Limited v Fast Food Service Development Pty Ltd [1984] AR 576 - Chrysler Jeep Automotive Distributors Australia Pty Ltd v Canberra Star Motors Pty Ltd (1998) 79 IR 452 - Cosgrove v International Opal Pty Ltd [1977] AR 751 - Davies v General Transport Development Pty Ltd [1967] AR(NSW) 371 - Dawson v Baker (1994) 120 ACTR 11 - Deputy Commissioner of Taxation for New South Wales v Palmer [1907] AC 179 - Goodgold Pty Ltd v Bumpa T Bumpa Automart Pty Ltd (unrep. NSW Ind Comm, 18 December 1992 - Gosper v Sawyer (1985) 160 CLR 548 - Harris v Digital Pulse Pty Ltd (2003) 44 ACSR 390 - James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd v Barry (2000) 50 NSWLR 357 - V.G. Haulage Services Pty Ltd, Ex parte; re Industrial Commission of New South Wales [1972] 2 NSWLR 81 - Jacobs v London County Council [1950] AC 361 - Jones v Bartlett (2000) 205 CLR 166 - London Jewellers Ltd v Attenborough [1934] 2 KB 206 - McClelland v Trustees Executors and Agency Co Ltd (1936) 55 CLR 483 CASES CITED : - Maloney v Hoffman [1980] AR 318 - Mansweto v Midas Australia Pty Ltd (1996) 65 IR 182 - Merwin Pastoral Co Pty Ltd v Moolpa Pastoral Co Pty Ltd (1933) 48 CLR 565 - Mitchforce Pty Ltd v Industrial Relations Commission of NSW [2003] NSWCA 151 - Mount Albert Borough Council v Australasian Temperance & General Mutual Life Assurance Society [1938] AC 224 - Mynott v Barnard (1939) 62 CLR 68 - O'Toole v Charles David Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 232 - Permanent Trustee Co (Canberra) Ltd v Finlayson (1968) 122 CLR 338 - Perrott v XcelleNet Australia Ltd (1998) 84 IR 255 - Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth of Australia (2003) 77 ALRJ 454 - Production Spray Painting & Panel Beating Pty Ltd v Newnham (1991) 27 NSWLR 644 - R v Coldham; Ex parte Australian Workers Union (1983) 153 CLR 415 - R v Hickman; Ex parte Fox & Clinton (1945) 70 CLR 598 - R v Metal Trades & Employers Association; Ex parte Amalgamated Engineering Union (1951) 82 CLR 208 - R v Warner (1661) 1 Keb 66 [83 ER 814] - Reich v Client Server Professionals of Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2000] NSWIRComm 196. - Richardson, ex parte; re Hildred [1972] 2 NSWLR 423 - Rosenboom v Qantas Airways Ltd [2002] NSWSC 792 - Soueid v G.E. Nixon Pty Ltd - NSW Industrial Commission, unrep., 28 September 1992 - Savage v Digital Equipment Corporation (Australia) Pty Ltd [1999] NSWIRComm 227 - Bill Stevens Pty Ltd v WTH Pty Ltd - NSW Industrial Commission, unrep., 7 May 1993 - Stevenson v Barham (1977) 136 CLR 190 - Trident General Insurance Co Ltd v McNiece Bros Pty Ltd (1988) 165 CLR 107 - Vita Food Products Incorporated v Unus Shipping Company Ltd (in liq) [1939] AC 277 - Wanganui-Rangitikei Electric Power Board v Australian Mutual Provident Society (1934) 50 CLR 581 - Cross & Harris Precedent in English Law (1991) 4th Ed at 85-86, 158 - Nygh & Davies Conflict of Laws in Australia (2002) 7th Ed. p.366 Tryam Pty Limited t/as Summer Hill Grains - First Plaintiff Bernard Sidney Hughes - Second Plaintiff PARTIES : Grainco Australia Limited - First Defendant Australian Independent Grain Terminals Pty Limited - Second Defendant Australian Bulk Alliance Pty Limited - Third Defendant Marketlink (Aust) Pty Limited - Fourth Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50034/03 COUNSEL : F.C. Corsaro SC with S.E.J. Prince - Plaintiffs S. Doyle SC - First & Fourth Defendants SOLICITORS : Tress Cocks & Maddox - Plaintiffs Minter Ellison - First & Fourth Defendants