Sydney Local Health Network v QY and QZ [2011] NSWCA 412

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Sydney Local Health Network v QY and QZ [2011] NSWCA 412 Hearing dates: 20 May 2011 Decision date: 20 December 2011 Before: Campbell JA at [1] Macfarlan JA at [75] Young JA at [78] Decision: (1) Leave to appeal granted. (2) Appellant to file notice of appeal in the form of the final draft of 21 June 2011 within seven days. (3) Appeal allowed. (4) Order that the claim of the respondents be summarily dismissed. (5) Order that the respondents pay the appellant's costs of the appeal. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: CIVIL LIABILITY - whether a doctor conducting a post mortem is protected from liability under the Coroners Act

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - Anti-Discrimination Act ss 4 and 49B - whether "person" includes a "deceased person"

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - Anti-Discrimination Act s 4 - whether "associate" includes a past associate of the aggrieved person - wording of definition is unambiguous - "associate" only include those who are presently associates

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - Anti-Discrimination Act ss 4, 49M - whether "service" includes the performance of a post mortem - whether a particular matter is a "service" is a question of fact Legislation Cited: Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act 1997 Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 ss 4, 7, 8, 20C, 20D, 38S, 38T, 49B, 49M, 49ZT, 49ZTA, 49ZXB, 49ZXC, 88, 89A, 93A, 95, 108 Anti-Discrimination (Amendment) Act 1994 Coroners Act 1980 Human Tissue Act 1983 Interpretation Act 1987 ss 5, 21 Judicial Officers Act 1986 Status of Children Act 1996 Cases Cited: Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue [2009] HCA 41; 239 CLR 27 AW v CW [2002] NSWSC 301; 54 NSWLR 445 Commissioner of Police v Mohamed [2009] NSWCA 432 Commissioner of Police v Russell [2001] NSWSC 745 Commonwealth of Australia v Griffiths [2007] NSWCA 370; 70 NSWLR 268 Commonwealth of Australia v Wood [2006] FCA 60; 148 FCR 276 Council of the Municipality of Randwick v Rutledge (1959) 102 CLR 54 CUNA Mutual Group Ltd v Bryant [2000] FCA 970; 102 FCR 270 Director-General DOCS v MM & AM [2003] NSWSC 1241; (2007) EOC 93-464 Farah v Commissioner of Police [1998] QB 65 Foley v Phelps 37 NYS 471 (1896) Harris v Lewisham and Guy's Mental Health NHS Trust [2000] EWCA 52; 3 All ER 769 Harrison v Melhem [2008] NSWCA 67; (2008) 72 NSWLR 380 Hastings Co-operative Ltd v Port Macquarie Hastings Council [2009] NSWCA 400; 171 LGERA 152 IW v City of Perth [2997] HCA 30; 191 CLR 1 Jones v Kaney [2011] UKSC 13; 2 WLR 823 Kelly v R (2004) 218 CLR 216 Manly Council v Malouf [2004] NSWCA 299 Palenzke v Bruning 98 Ill App 644 (1900) Preston v Commissioner of Fair Trading [2011] NSWCA 40 R v Peters (1886) 16 QBD 636 Rainsford v Victoria [2005] FCAFC 163; 144 FCR 279 Rainsford v Victoria [2007] FCA 1059; 167 FCR 1 Rainsford v Victoria [2008] FCAFC 31; 167 FCR 26 Re Bolton; Ex parte Beane (1987) 162 CLR 514 Re Dingjan; Ex Parte Wagner [1995] HCA 16; (1995) 183 CLR 323 Rushing v Medical College of Georgia 62 SE 563 (1908) Saeed v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2010] HCA 23; (2010) 241 CLR 252 San v Rumble (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 259 Savjani v Inland Revenue Commissioners [1981] QB 458 Stephenson v Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1996) 68 FCR 290 Waters v Public Transport Corporation [1991] HCA 49; 173 CLR 349 Texts Cited: D C Pearce & R S Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia 7th ed (2011) Jackson, The Law of Cadavers (Prentice Hall Inc, New York, 1936) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Sydney Local Health Network (formerly Sydney South West Area Health Service) (Appellant) QY (First Respondent) QZ (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel Dr M A Perry QC and L A Clegg (Appellant) Dr C S Ward and S J Walsh (Respondents) Solicitors GILD Insurance Litigation Pty Ltd (Appellant) HIV/AIDS Legal Centre Incorporated (Respondents) File Number(s): CA 2010/244324 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9113 Citation: QY & QZ v Sydney South West Area Health Service (EOD) [2010] NSWADTAP 48 Date of Decision: 2010-06-29 00:00:00 Before: K P O'Connor DCJ (P); D Patten (DP); B Field File Number(s): ADTAP 109003