Oates Properties Pty Ltd & Ors v Commissioner of State Revenue [2003] NSWSC 596

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Oates Properties Pty Ltd & Ors v Commissioner of State Revenue [2003] NSWSC 596 HEARING DATE(S) : 26/06/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 4 July 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Gzell J DECISION : Declaration as to common intention and rectification of deed of appointment

CATCHWORDS : EQUITY - Equitable Doctrines and Presumptions - Rectification - Mistake of Law - Deed of appointment of new trustee - Failure irrevocably to exclude benefits to trustees - Ad valorem stamp duty assessed on transfers of property to new trustee - Disconformity between common intention and deed of appointment - Whether rectification should be granted Duties Act 1997 LEGISLATION CITED : Revenue Ruling SD 118 Stamp Duties Act 1920 Income Tax Act 1918 (UK) Burroughes v Abbott [1922] 1 Ch 86 Jervis v Howle and Talke Colliery Co Ltd [1937] Ch 67 Whiteside v Whiteside [1950] Ch 65 Joscelyne v Nissen [1970] 2 QB 86 Re Butlin's Settlement Trusts [1976] Ch 251 Bacchus Marsh Concentrated Milk Co Ltd (in liq) v Joseph Nathan & Co Ltd (1919) 26 CLR 410 Commissioner of Stamp Duties (NSW) v Carlenka Pty Ltd (1995) 41 NSWLR 329 Club Cape Schanck Resort Co Ltd v Cape Country Club Pty Ltd (2001) 3 VR 526 Prestige Land Developments Pty Ltd v Eagle Hotels Pty Ltd [1996] ANZ Conv R 208 Baird v B C E Holdings Pty Ltd (1996) 40 NSWLR 374 Victoria Gardens Developments Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue (1999) 99 ATC 4683 Davis v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2000) 171 ALR 654 CASES CITED : Baxter v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2002) 196 ALR 519 Conagra International Fertiliser Co v Lief Investments Pty Ltd (1997) 141 FLR 124 Terceiro v First Mitmac Pty Ltd (1997) 8 BPR 15,733 Permanent Trustee Australia Ltd v FAI General Insurance Co Ltd (1998) 153 ALR 529 Leibler, Leibant Investments Pty Ltd v Air New Zealand Ltd [1999] 1 VR 1 at 27 Trimmer v Lax (unreported, 9 May 1999, SC (NSW)) Furey v Mackne (unreported, 9 December 1999, SC (NSW)) Palmer v Roads and Traffic Authority [2001] NSWSC 846 Fitzwood Pty Ltd v Unique Goal Pty Ltd (in liq) [2002] FCAFC 285 Barak Pty Ltd v W T H Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 15 LE Stewart Investments Pty Ltd v FC & M Legge Building Contractors & Developers [2003] NSWSC 193 Meagher, Gummow and Lehane's Equity Doctrines and Remedies, 4th ed, Butterworths Lexis Nexis, Australia, 2002 Spry, The Principles of Equitable Remedies, 6th ed, LBC Information Services, Australia, 2001 Kerr on Fraud and Mistake, 6th ed, Sweet & Maxwell, UK, 1929 Oates Properties Pty Ltd - 1st Plaintiff PARTIES : Cameron Oates Properties Pty Ltd - 2nd Plaintiff Cameron William Donald-Oates - 3rd Plaintiff Commissioner of State Revenue - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 2259/03 COUNSEL : Mr J O Hmelnitsky SOLICITORS : Blake Dawson Waldron Lawyers