Goodlen Pty Ltd v BP Australia Pty Ltd [2004] NSWSC 646

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Goodlen Pty Ltd v BP Australia Pty Ltd [2004] NSWSC 646 HEARING DATE(S) : 05/07/04, 06/07/04, 07/07/04, 08/07/04, 09/07/04, 16/07/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 3 August 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Gzell J DECISION : Plaintiff refused relief. Declarations that notices had terminated the franchise agreements.

CATCHWORDS : STATUTES - Interpretation - The Petroleum Retail Marketing Franchise Act 1980 (Cth) - Plaintiff seeking declaration that notices of termination of franchise agreements had no effect - Whether clear days are required in a notice of termination - Whether the description of a statutory holding over under a franchise agreement was adequate - Whether a renewed agreement may be terminated for events preceding the renewal - Whether a notice must contain all facts relied upon or reference may be made to extraneous documents - Whether the notices contained sufficient particularity - Whether it was just and equitable to declare the notices to have terminated the franchise agreements Petroleum Retail Marketing Franchise Act 1980 (Cth) Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (NSW) Food Act 1989 (NSW) Food Regulation 2001 (NSW) Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 Caltex Oil (Aust) Pty Ltd v Best (1990) 170 CLR 516 R T & M I Abela Pty Ltd v Esso Australia Ltd (1989) 89 ALR 485 Lester v Garland (1808) 15 Ves Jun 248 (33 ER 748) Morton v Hampson [1962] VR 364 Armstrong v Great Southern Gold Mining Co NL (1911) 12 CLR 382 Associated Dominions Assurance Society Pty Ltd v Balmford (1950) 81 CLR 161 BP Australia Ltd v Carrige (1992) 109 FLR 236 Ward v Berndston (1889) 8 NZLR 21 Joseph Guljas v Caltex Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd, unreported, FCA, 13 May 1992 CASES CITED : Scurr v Brisbane City Council (1973) 133 CLR 242 Anjac Pty Ltd v Caltex Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd (1985) 9 FCR 553 Serhan v Ampol Petroleum Ltd (1985) 58 ALR 347 Hudson v BP Australia Ltd, unreported, FCA, 23 September 1984 Skouloudis v Georges Jet Gas (Aust) Pty Ltd, unreported, FCA, 14 August 1987 Gerraty v McGavin (1914) 18 CLR 152 Rider v Ford [1923] 1 Ch 541 Trade Practices Commission v Tooth & Co Ltd (1979) 142 CLR 397 Ampol Ltd v Calaby Pty Ltd (1991) 30 FCR 426 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 PARTIES : Goodlen Pty Ltd - Plaintiff BP Australia Pty Ltd - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 1331/04 COUNSEL : Mr G M McGrath - Plaintiff Mr R M Smith SC/ Mr M A Jones - Defendant SOLICITORS : Stojanovic Solicitors Corrs Chambers Westgarth