Association of Quality Child Care Centres of NSW v Manefield [2012] NSWCA 123

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Association of Quality Child Care Centres of NSW v Manefield [2012] NSWCA 123 Hearing dates: 5 December 2011 Decision date: 07 May 2012 Before: Beazley JA at [1]; McColl JA at [154]; Tobias AJA at [155] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. [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: DEFAMATION - Whether matter complained of conveyed defamatory imputations - Application of ordinary reasonable reader test

DEFAMATION - Defences - Qualified privilege - Common law - Reciprocity of interest - Employers' association - Letter sent to members of association - Communication of defamatory imputations - Whether matter complained of published pursuant to a duty to protect the financial and business interests of the association and its members - Whether matter complained of published on occasion of qualified privilege

DEFAMATION - Defences - Qualified privilege - Proof of malice - Admissibility of draft letter as evidence of malice

DEFAMATION - Damages - Whether award of compensatory and aggravated damages excessive

APPEAL - General principles - Whether a point not taken at hearing may be raised on appeal - Court is to determine whether it is in the interests of justice and expedient to determine the new point Legislation Cited: Defamation Act 2005 Evidence Act 1995 Supreme Court Act 1970 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Aktas v Westpac Banking Corporation Ltd [2010] HCA 25; 241 CLR 79 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 Australian Native Landscapes Pty Ltd v Minogue [2010] NSWCA 279 Bashford v Information Australia (Newsletters) Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 5; 218 CLR 366 Carson v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1993] HCA 31; 178 CLR 44 Coulton v Holcombe [1986] HCA 33; 162 CLR 1 Crampton v Nugawela (1996) 41 NSWLR 176 Davidson v Barclays Bank Ltd [1940] 1 All ER 316 Farquhar v Bottom [1980] 2 NSWLR 380 Gross v Weston [2007] NSWCA 1 Hamod v State of New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 375 Holmes a Court v Papaconstuntinos [2011] NSWCA 59 House v R [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 Howe & McColough v Lees (1910) 11 CLR 361 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; 101 CLR 298 Justin v Associated Newspapers Ltd [1967] 1 NSWR 61; (1966) 86 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 17 Megna v Marshall [2010] NSWSC 686 Multicon Engineering Pty Ltd v Federal Airports Corporation (1997) 47 NSWLR 631 Reader's Digest Services Proprietary Ltd v Lamb [1982] HCA 4; 150 CLR 500 Roberts v Bass [2002] HCA 57; 212 CLR 1 Toogood v Spyring (1834) 1 Cr M & R 181; 149 ER 1044 Triggell v Pheeney [1951] HCA 23; 82 CLR 497 University of Wollongong v Metwally (No 2) [1985] HCA 28; 59 ALJR 481 Waterhouse v Broadcasting Station 2GB Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 58 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Association of Quality Child Care Centres of NSW Incorporated t/as Child Care NSW (Appellant) Bruce Manefield (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J S Wheelhouse SC; M A Polden (Appellant) B R McClintock SC; J de Meyrick (Respondent) Solicitors: Meridian Lawyers (Appellant) Paris J Carr & Associates (Respondent) File Number(s): 2009/297613 Decision under appeal Citation: Manefield v Child Care NSW [2010] NSWSC 1420 Date of Decision: 2010-12-15 00:00:00 Before: Kirby J File Number(s): 2009/297613