Commonwealth of Australia v BIS Cleanaway Limited [2007] NSWSC 1075

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Commonwealth of Australia v BIS Cleanaway Limited [2007] NSWSC 1075

HEARING DATE(S) : 6 September 2007

JUDGMENT DATE : 26 September 2007

JURISDICTION : Equity Division Commercial List

JUDGMENT OF : Brereton J

DECISION : The proceedings are a justiciable controversy. The only proper exercise of discretion would be to decline final relief. Proceedings summarily dismissed.

CATCHWORDS : CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – OPERATION AND EFFECT OF COMMONWEALTH CONSTITUTION – Judicial power – "matter" – where claim by Commonwealth for bare declaratory relief – whether justiciable controversy. - EQUITY – Remedies – declarations – discretion where claim for bare declaratory relief where declarations would not resolve whole controversy – whether declaration appropriate. - PROCEDURE – Summary disposal – where only proper exercise of discretion would be to decline final relief on discretionary grounds. - PROCEDURE – Stay of proceedings – where related proceedings involving some common issues between different parties pending in different court – whether one proceeding should be stayed.

(CTH) Human Rights (Sexual Conduct) Act 1994, s 4(1) (NSW) Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 LEGISLATION CITED : (NSW) Equity Act 1901, s 10 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970, s 75 (TAS) Criminal Code Act 1924

Abebe v Commonwealth of Australia (1999) 162 ALR 1 Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 Barnard v National Dock Labour Board [1953] 2 QB 18 Blackburn v Attorney-General [1971] 2 All ER 1380 Buck v Attorney General [1965] Ch 745 Coles v Wood [1981] 1 NSWLR 723 Commonwealth v Sterling Nicholas Duty Free Pty Ltd (1972) 126 CLR 297 Croome v State of Tasmania (1997) 191 CLR 119 Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62 Dinari Ltd v Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd [1972] 2 NSWLR 385 Fencott v Muller (1983) 152 CLR 570 Gardner v Dairy Industry Authority of New South Wales (1978) 18 ALR 55 Gardner v Dairy Industry Authority of NSW (1977) 18 ALR 55 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125], Hanson v Radcliffe Urban District Council [1922] 2 Ch 490 Howard v Pickford Tool Co Ltd [1951] 1 KB 417 Ibeneweka v Egbuna [1964] 1 WLR 219 In re Judiciary & Navigation Acts (1921) 29 CLR 257 In the Estate of Leahy [1975] 1 NSWLR 246 CASES CITED : Integrated Lighting and Ceilings Pty Ltd v Phillips Electrical Pty Ltd (1969) 90 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 693 Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council v Suburban Centres Pty Ltd [1971] 2 NSWLR 335 Lohar Corp Pty Ltd v Dibu Pty Ltd (NSWCA, 11 May 1976, unreported) Marra Developments Ltd v B W Rofe Pty Ltd [1977] 2 NSWLR 616 Mellifont v Attorney-General (Qld) (1991) 173 CLR 289 Mellstrom v Garner [1970] 2 All ER 9 Neeta (Epping) Pty Ltd v Phillips (1974) 131 CLR 286 Re Clay, Clay v Booth [1919] 1 Ch 66 Re McBain; ex parte Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (2002) 209 CLR 372 Rivers v Bondi Junction-Waverley RSL Sub-Branch Ltd [1986] 5 NSWLR 362 Rosesin v Attorney-General (1918) 34 TLR 417 Sanderson Pty Ltd v Urica Liberty Systems BV (1998) 44 NSWLR 73 Smart v Allen (1970) 91 WN(NSW) 241 Spellson v George (1992) 26 NSWLR 666 Tampion v Anderson [1973] VR 321 Thorne v Motor Trade Association [1937] AC 797 Trans Realties Pty Ltd v Grbac [1975] 1 NSWLR 170 Truth About Motorways Pty Ltd v Macquarie Infrastructure Investment Management Ltd (2000) 200 CLR 591 Walton v Gardiner (1993) 177 CLR 378 Text: Meagher, Gummow and Lehane's Equity Doctrines and Remedies, 4th ed, [19-115]