Nichols v Singleton Council (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 1517

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Nichols v Singleton Council (No 2) [2011] NSWSC 1517 Hearing dates: 22 August 2011, 23 August 2011, 24 August 2011 Decision date: 09 December 2011 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Administrative Law Before: Schmidt J Decision: The usual order as to costs is that they should follow the event. If the parties wish to be heard on costs, they should approach. For the reasons given, I propose to order that: 1. Mr Smiths' report be quashed. 2. The Council be restrained from giving any consideration to Mr Smith's report. I will hear the parties on the final form of the orders to be made. Catchwords: LOCAL GOVERNMENT - complaint against councillor - review of complaint - conduct of review - the Local Government Act 1993 - the Council's Code of Conduct - construction of the Code - whether the reviewer failed to adhere to the Act and the Code - whether general manager and /or delegate acted contrary to their obligations under the Act and the Code - whether report into the complaint should be quashed

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - construction of Local Government Act 1993 - construction of Council's Code of Conduct - particulars of complaint - investigator's obligations - procedural fairness - failure to give reasons - whether Council should be restrained from dealing with complaint - the Hardiman principle - whether Council breached Hardiman principle in its approach taken in these proceedings Legislation Cited: Interpretation Act 1987 Local Government Act 1993 Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 Protected Disclosures Act 1994 Public Interest Disclosures Act 1994 Cases Cited: Applicant VEAL of 2002 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2005] HCA 72; (2005) 225 CLR 88 Fagan v Crimes Compensation Tribunal [1982] HCA 49; (1982) 150 CLR 666 Greyhound Racing NSW v Cessnock & District Agricultural Association [2006] NSWCA 333 Hot Holdings Pty Ltd v Creasy [1996] HCA 44; (1996) 185 CLR 149 Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission [1992] HCA 10; (1992) 175 CLR 564 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kioa v West [1985] HCA 81; (1985) 159 CLR 550 The Medical Board of Queensland v Byrne [1958] HCA 40; (1958) 100 CLR 582 McGovern v Ku-ring-gai Council [2008] NSWCA 209; (2008) 72 NSWLR 504 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend [1986] HCA 40; (1986) 162 CLR 24 Muin v Refugee Review Tribunal [2002] HCA 30; (2002) 190 ALR 601 Murlan Consulting Pty Ltd v Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council [2009] NSWCA 300 National Companies & Securities Commission v News Corporation Ltd [1984] HCA 29; (1984) 156 CLR 296 Nichols v Singleton Council [2011] NSWSC 946 Nichols v Singleton Council (unreported, 5 April 2011) Oshlack v Richmond River Council [1998] HCA 11; (1998) 193 CLR 72 Public Service Board of New South Wales v Osmond [1986] HCA 7; (1986) 159 CLR 656 The Queen v The Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; ex parte Hardiman [1980] HCA 13; (1980) 144 CLR 13 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Paul Nichols (Plaintiff) Singleton Council (First Defendant) Bernard Smith (Second Defendant) Scott Greensill (Third Defendant) Gary Thomson (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr R Lovas (Plaintiff) Mr J Griffiths SC with Ms M Allars (Defendants) Solicitors: Alex Irving Solicitor (Plaintiff) Sparke Helmore Lawyers (Defendants) File Number(s): 2010/376603 Publication restriction: None