Purnell Motors Pty Limited v Commissioner for Fair Trading and Anor [2007] NSWSC 19

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Purnell Motors Pty Limited v Commissioner for Fair Trading and Anor [2007] NSWSC 19

HEARING DATE(S) : 9 August 2006

JUDGMENT DATE : 29 January 2007

JUDGMENT OF : Johnson J at 1

DECISION : 1. The findings of the Second Defendant under the heading "Insurance Quotations" contained in paragraph 5.5 of the Determination are quashed; 2. The Summons is otherwise dismissed.

CATCHWORDS : ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - claim for prerogative relief in the nature of certiorari - disciplinary action against motor dealer under Motor Dealers Act 1974 - sale of repaired hail-damaged new and demonstrator vehicles to purchasers without notice being given of hail damage and repair - whether such notice required under s.24(7) Motor Dealers Act 1974 and clauses 32 and 51 Motor Dealers Regulation 2004 - findings that motor dealer carried on business in dishonest or unfair manner - whether error of law on face of record, jurisdictional error or denial of procedural fairness in such findings

Motor Dealers Act 1974 Supreme Court Act 1970 LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 Fair Trading Act 1987 Crimes Act 1900

Roos v Director of Public Prosecutions (1994) 34 NSWLR 254 Wyong Shire Council v MCC Energy Pty Limited [2005] NSWCA 86 Attorney-General for New South Wales v Quin (1989-1990) 170 CLR 1 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259 Abebe v Commonwealth of Australia (1999) 197 CLR 510 Corporation of the City of Enfield v Development Assessment Commission (1999) 199 CLR 135 Craig v South Australia (1994-1995) 184 CLR 163 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Limited (1985-1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf (2001) 206 CLR 323 Saville v Health Care Complaints Commission [2006] NSWCA 298 Hanna v Department of Immigration Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2004] NSWCA 275 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Limited (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321 Absolon v New South Wales TAFE [1999] NSWCA 311 CASES CITED : YG v Minister for Community Services [2002] NSWCA 247 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs; Ex parte Lam [2003] 214 CLR 1 Hall v University of New South Wales [2003] NSWSC 669 Greyhound Racing NSW v Cessnock & District Agricultural Association [2006] NSWCA 333 3WJ Pty Limited v Director General, Fair Trading [2003] NSWSC 331 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Greyhound Racing Authority (NSW) v Bragg [2003] NSWCA 388 Coal & Allied Operations Limited v Australian Industrial Relations Commission (2000) 203 CLR 194 SZEEU v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2006] FCAFC 2 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Clark (2003) 57 NSWLR 113 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] 194 CLR 355 Chugg v Pacific Dunlop Limited (1990) 170 CLR 249 Director of Public Prosecutions v Belani (2005) 64 NSWLR 319 Sirway Asia Pacific Pty Limited v Commonwealth of Australia [2002] FCA 1152 Derry v Peek (1889) 14 App Cas 337 Banditt v The Queen (2005) 224 CLR 262 McCann v Switzerland Insurance Australia Ltd [2000] 203 CLR 579