Ashjal Pty Ltd v Alfred Toepfer International (Australia) Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 1306

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ashjal Pty Ltd v Alfred Toepfer International (Australia) Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 1306 Hearing dates: 8 October 2012 Decision date: 26 October 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Commercial Arbitration List Before: Stevenson J Decision: The enactment of s 5, s 34, s 35 and s 36 of the Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 was not beyond the legislative power of the New South Wales Parliament Catchwords: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - legislative power of NSW Parliament - defining characteristics of Supreme Court

COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION - validity of s 5, s 34, s 35 and s 36 of the Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 Legislation Cited: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 Commercial Arbitration Act 1984 Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 Constitution Constitution Act 1902 Foreign Judgments Act 1991 International Arbitration Act 1974 (Cth) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Statute of 1698 (9 & 10 Will III c.15) Cases Cited: Anderson v Stewart (1876) 2 VLR 75 Baker v The Queen [2004] HCA 45; (2004) 223 CLR 513 Chase Oyster Bar Pty Ltd v Hamo Industries Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 190; (2010) 78 NSWLR 393 Egan v Willis [1998] HCA 71; (1998) 195 CLR 424 Hodgkinson v Fernie (1857) 3 CB (NS) 189; 140 ER 712 Goode v Bechtel [1904] HCA 27; (1904) 2 CLR 121 Gold Coast City Council v Canterbury Pipe Lines (Aust) Pty Ltd [1968] HCA 3; (1968) 118 CLR 58 Kable v Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) (NSW) [1996] HCA 24; (1996) 189 CLR 51 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales [2010] HCA 1; (2010) 239 CLR 531 Le Mesurier v Connor [1929] HCA 41; (1929) 42 CLR 481 Minister for Works (WA) v Civil and Civic Pty Ltd [1967] HCA 4; (1967) 116 CLR 273 Powell v Apollo Candle Co Ltd (1885) 10 AC 285 Public Service Association of South Australia Inc v Industrial Relations Commission of South Australia [2012] HCA 25; (2012) 289 ALR 1 Premium Nafta Products Ltd v Fili Shipping Co Ltd [2007] 4 All ER 951; [2007] UKHL 40 R v Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; Ex parte Lain [1967] 2 QB 864 Re Bailey and Hart (1883) 9 VLR 311 Re Refugee Tribunal; Ex parte Aala [2000] HCA 57; (2000) 204 CLR 82 Westport Insurance Co v Gordian Runoff Limited [2011] HCA 37; (2011) 244 CLR 239 Tuta Products v Hutcherson Bros Pty Ltd [1972] HCA 4; (1972) 127 CLR 253 Texts Cited: Mustill and Boyd, The Law and Practice of Commercial Arbitration in England, 2nd ed (1989) New South Wales, Law Reform Commission, Report on Commercial Arbitration (1976) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ashjal Pty Ltd (ACN 074 244 072) (plaintiff) Alfred Toepfer International (Australia) Pty Ltd (ACN 126 806 979) (formerly Elders Toepfer Grain Pty Ltd) (defendant) Attorney General for NSW trading as Crown Solicitors Office (intervener) Representation: Counsel: F M Douglas QC with J O'Sullivan and T Prince (plaintiff) J K Kirk SC with A Shearer (defendant) S Free (Attorney General for NSW; intervener) Solicitors: Jarratt Webb & Graham (plaintiff) Thomsons Lawyers (defendant) I V Knight (Attorney General for NSW; intervener) File Number(s): SC 2012/74342 Publication restriction: Nil