HELICOPTERS PTY LTD v BANKSTOWN AIRPORT LTD [2010] NSWCA 178

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: HELICOPTERS PTY LTD v BANKSTOWN AIRPORT LTD [2010] NSWCA 178

HEARING DATE(S): 15/06/2010

JUDGMENT DATE: 16 August 2010

JUDGMENT OF: McColl JA at 1; Basten JA at 2; Handley AJA at 3

DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: CONTRACT – penalty – tenant's right to object to rent review conditional on payment of rent and outgoings – unpaid outgoings – loss of conditional right not a penalty - LANDLORD and TENANT – lease of Commonwealth land - tenant not liable to State land tax – tenant's covenant to make payment in lieu of land tax – subleases – construction of covenant – whether single or multiple tax thresholds - ELECTION – between competing or inconsistent rights – tenant's right to object to rent review notice conditional on payment of rent and outgoings – landlord's right to reject invalid notice not election between inconsistent rights - ELECTION – act of agent – no evidence agent knew all material facts – election not established - ESTOPPEL – no evidence of representee's state of mind – no evidence of reliance – estoppel not established.

LEGISLATION CITED: Land Tax Management Act 1956

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Agricultural and Rural Finance Pty Ltd v Gardiner [2008] HCA 57, 238 CLR 570 Bridge v Campbell Discount Co Ltd [1962] AC 600 Craine v Colonial Mutual Fire Insurance Co Ltd [1920] HCA 64, 28 CLR 305 CASES CITED: Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd v New Garage and Motor Co Ltd [1915] AC 79 Gilbert J McCaul (Aust) Pty Ltd v Pitt Club Ltd (1957) 59 SR 122 Matthews v Smallwood [1910] 1 Ch 777 Ringrow Pty Ltd v BP Australia Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 71, 224 CLR 656 Suttor v Gundowda Pty Ltd [1950] HCA 35, 81 CLR 418