Midcoast Lime Co Pty Ltd v Minister for Primary Industries [2008] NSWSC 331

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Midcoast Lime Co Pty Ltd v Minister for Primary Industries [2008] NSWSC 331

HEARING DATE(S) : 1 November 2007, 2 November 2007

JUDGMENT DATE : 15 April 2008

JURISDICTION : Common Law

JUDGMENT OF : Rothman J

(i) The summons in this matter be dismissed; DECISION : (ii) The plaintiff shall pay the defendants' costs of and incidental to the proceedings, as agreed or assessed.

CATCHWORDS : MINING – exploration licences – jurisdiction of Mining Warden's Court – jurisdiction of Minister on grant and renewal of exploration licence – proper construction of Mining Act – factors that may be taken into account but not bound to do so - ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – appeal from Mining Warden's Court – nature of proceedings in Mining Warden's Court – nature of appeal to Court – relevant factors – not irrelevant factors – alleged jurisdictional error – alleged administrative error – failure to consider factors – Wednesbury unreasonableness.

Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 LEGISLATION CITED : Mining Act 1992 Survey (Geometric Datum of Australia) Act 1999

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

Associated Provincial Picture Houses Limited v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223 Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin [1990] HCA 21; (1990) 170 CLR 1 Australian Retail Association v Reserve Bank of Australia [2005] FCA 1707; (2005) 148 FCR 446 Collector of Customs v Agfa-Gevaert Limited [1996] HCA 36; (1996) 186 CLR 389 Craig v South Australia [1995] HCA 58; (1995) 184 CLR 163 Foster v Minister for Customs and Justice [2000] HCA 38; (2000) 200 CLR 442 Hunter Resources Limited v Melville [1988] HCA 5; (1988) 164 CLR 234; (1988) 62 ALJR 88 Krishna v DPP (NSW) [2007] NSWCCA 318 M v R [1994] HCA 63; (1994) 181 CLR 487 CASES CITED : Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] HCA 40; (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang [1996] HCA 6; (1996) 185 CLR 259 Morris v R [1987] HCA 50; (1987) 163 CLR 454 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; 194 CLR 355 R v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; Ex parte 2HD Pty Ltd [1979] HCA 62; (1979) 144 CLR 45 R v Isaac; Ex parte Transport Workers' Union [1985] HCA 80; (1985) 159 CLR 323 R v R (1989) 18 NSWLR 74 Re Coldham Ex Parte Brideson [No. 1] [1989] HCA 2; (1989) 166 CLR 338 Re Our Town FM Pty Limited and Newcastle Stereo Radio Pty Limited v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal and Newcastle FM Pty Limited [1987] FCA 301; (1987) 16 FCR 465 Williams v R [1987] HCA 36; (1986) 161 CLR 278