Singh v Motor Accidents Authority of NSW [2010] NSWSC 550

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Singh v Motor Accidents Authority of NSW [2010] NSWSC 550

HEARING DATE(S) : 16 April 2010

JUDGMENT DATE : 28 May 2010

JURISDICTION : Common Law

JUDGMENT OF : Rothman J

(i) Certiorari will not issue against the Proper Officer in relation to his decision of 9 March 2009;

DECISION : (ii) Prohibition is capable of being issued directed to the Motor Accidents Authority, to the Proper Officer and/or to a medical assessor (if one had been appointed) restraining them from dealing with a purported reference for further medical assessment, if the Court determines that the criteria in s 62(1)(a) have not been satisfied or the condition in s 62(1A) has not been satisfied;

(iii) Each of those criteria are jurisdictional facts and will give rise to the issue of orders in the nature of prerogative relief of the kind already mentioned.

CATCHWORDS : ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Motor Accidents Compensation Act – referral for medical re-assessment – decision of Proper Officer to refer – jurisdictional fact – role of Proper Officer – unavailability of certiorari – availability of prohibition and mandamus to restrain or require further assessment

Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) LEGISLATION CITED : Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 Supreme Court Act 1970

CATEGORY : Separate question

Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission [1992] HCA 10; (1992) 175 CLR 564; (1992) 66 ALJR 271 Australian Postal Corporation v Forgie [2003] FCAFC 223; (2003) 130 FCR 279 Corporation of the City of Enfield v Development Assessment Commission [2000] HCA 5; (2000) 199 CLR 135 De Gelder v Motor Accidents Authority of NSW [2009] NSWSC 1173 Garcia v Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales [2009] NSWSC 1056; (2009) 54 MVR 102 Gedeon v Commissioner of the New South Wales Crime Commission [2008] HCA 43; (2008) 236 CLR 120 Goodman v The Motor Accidents Authority of NSW and Anor [2009] NSWSC 875; (2009) 53 MVR 420 CASES CITED : Graham Kelly v Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales and Anor [2006] NSWSC 1444; (2006) 46 MVR 553 Kirk v Industrial Relations Commission; Kirk Group Holdings Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Childs) [2010] HCA 1; (2010) 239 CLR 531; (2010) 84 ALJR 154 Mahon v Air New Zealand [1984] AC 808 Parisienne Basket Shoes Pty Ltd v Whyte [1938] HCA 7; (1938) 59 CLR 369 Police Integrity Commission v Shaw [2006] NSWCA 165; (2006) 66 NSWLR 446 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 R v Electricity Commissioners [1924] 1 KB 171 Re Coldham; Ex Parte Brideson [1989] HCA 2; (1989) 166 CLR 338 Timbarra Protection Coalition Inc v Ross Mining NL & Ors [1999] NSWCA 8; (1999) 46 NSWLR 55