Sanpine Pty Ltd v Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council & Ors [2006] NSWCA 291

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Sanpine Pty Ltd v Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council & Ors [2006] NSWCA 291

HEARING DATE(S): 11 July 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 2 November 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Giles JA at 1; Tobias JA at 181; Bryson JA at 182

DECISION: (By majority) (1) Refuse leave to rely on contention ground 1 and grant leave to rely on contention ground 2: dispense with filing of the notice of contention; (2) Appeal allowed; (3) Set aside orders 1 and 2 made by Campbell J on 22 April 2005 and the orders made on 31 March 2006, and in lieu thereof order that the question be answered no and that the first and second defendants pay the plaintiff's costs of the hearing of the separate question; (4) Remit the proceedings to the Equity Division for directions for their continuance; (5) Respondent pay appellant's costs of the appeal and have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act if otherwise qualified.

CATCHWORDS: Contract - joint venture for development of land - breaches in some respects by one party - other party terminated for repudiation - whether breaches showed intention to perform contract only in a manner substantially inconsistent with obligations and not in any other way - whether breaches where breaches of intermediate terms sufficiently serious to entitle termination - consideration of what amounts to repudiatory conduct - and of whether a term is essential or non-essential.

LEGISLATION CITED: Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983

Ankar Pty Ltd v National Westminster Finance (Australia) Ltd (1987) 162 CLR 549; Associated Newspapers Ltd v Bancks (1951) 83 CLR 322; Bentsen v Taylor Sons & Co (1893) 2 QB 274; Carr v J A Berriman Pty Ltd (1953) 89 CLR 327; Dainford Ltd v Smith (1985) 155 CLR 342; DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd (1978) 138 CLR 423; Hong Kong Fir Shipping Co Ltd v Kawasaki Kishen Kaisha Ltd (1962) 2 QB 26; Honner v Ashton (1979) 1 BPR 97049 CASES CITED: Laurinda Pty Ltd v Capalaba Park Shopping Centre Pty Ltd (1989) 166 CLR 623; Mersey Steel and Iron Co Ltd v Naylor Benzon & Co (1884) 9 App Cas 434; Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs v Hamsher (1992) 35 FCR 359; Roadshow Entertainment Pty Ltd v (ACN 053 006 269) Pty Ltd (1997) 42 NSWLR 462; Shevill v Builders Licensing Board (1982) 149 CLR 620; Tramways Advertising Pty Ltd v Luna Park (NSW) Ltd (1938) 38 SR (NSW) 632; Tricontinental Corporation Ltd v HDFI Ltd (1987) 21 NSWLR 689; Woodar Investment Development Ltd v Wimpey Construction UK Ltd (1980) 1 WLR 277; Ross T Smyth & Co Ltd v T D Bailey, Son & Co (1940) 3 All ER 60; Williams v Minister, Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (2000) Aust Torts Reports 81-578; [2000] NSWCA 255.