Carter v NSW Netball Association [2004] NSWSC 737

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Carter v NSW Netball Association [2004] NSWSC 737 HEARING DATE(S) : 14 July and 12 August, 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 17 August 2004 JURISDICTION: Equity JUDGMENT OF : Palmer J DECISION : Decision of Defendant's Disciplinary Committee set aside.

CATCHWORDS : NATURAL JUSTICE - PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS - VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS - Plaintiff a voluntary coach in local sporting body - complaint of child abuse made against her by persons motivated by ill will - complaint tainted by deception - Defendant's disciplinary tribunal bans Plaintiff as member - decision founded on manifest denial of procedural fairness - decision contrary to provisions of Articles and By-Laws - Defendant notifies Commission for Children and Young Persons that Plaintiff has been subject to disciplinary proceedings relating to child abuse - Plaintiff suffers severe emotional illness as consequence - whether Plaintiff's complaint justiciable - discretionary considerations. - CHILD ABUSE - what constitutes - whether notice under s.39(1) Commission for Children and Young Persons Act should have been given - lack of clear and authoritative legislative guidelines for voluntary domestic tribunals as to conduct of relevant disciplinary proceedings which may result in notification of child abuse - lack of supervisory procedure under the Act or Regulations - need for legislative review. - Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998 (NSW) - s.33, Part 7, s.35, s.36, s.39 LEGISLATION CITED : - Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) - s.140 - Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW) - Part 3A, s.25B, s.25E - Ombudsman Regulations 1999 (NSW) - Clause 5 - Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 - Australian Football League v Carlton Football Club Ltd [1998] 2 VR 546 - Cameron v Hogan (1934) 51 CLR 358 - Gamilaroi Boomerangs Sports Aboriginal Corporation v Members of New England Group 19 [1999] NSWSC 495 - Hedges v Australasian Conference Association Ltd [2003] NSWSC 1107 - Lee v Showmen's Guild of Great Britain [1952] 1 QB 329 CASES CITED : - Lo-Line Electric Motors Ltd, Re [1988] Ch 477 - McNab v Auburn Soccer Sports Club Ltd [1975] 1 NSWLR 54 - Mitchell v Royal New South Wales Canine Council Ltd (2001) 52 NSWLR 242 - R v Pharmacy Board of Victoria; Ex parte Broberg [1983] 1 VR 211 - Scandrett v Dowling (1992) 27 NSWLR 483 - White v Ryde Municipal Council [1977] 2 NSWLR 909 - Wilcox v Kogarah Golf Club Ltd (1995) 14 ACLC 421 PARTIES : Sandra Viola Carter - Plaintiff The New South Wales Netball Association - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 1679/04 COUNSEL : J.E. Armfield - Plaintiff R.E. Montgomery, J. Watson - Defendant SOLICITORS : Coode & Corry - Plaintiff Sparke Helmore - Defendant