Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Pomfret [2015] NSWCA 4

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Pomfret [2015] NSWCA 4 Hearing dates: 7 August 2014 Decision date: 11 February 2015 Before: Beazley P at [1]; McColl JA at [2]; Basten JA at [3]; Macfarlan JA at [28]; Meagher JA at [29] Decision: 1.Grant leave to the applicant to appeal from the decision and orders of the Dust Diseases Tribunal of New South Wales (Kearns J) of 3 June 2014.

2.Direct that the applicant file and serve a notice of appeal in the form of the draft notice contained in the White Book, within seven days of the date of this order.

3.Appeal dismissed.

4.Applicant/appellant pay the respondent's costs of the application for leave and the appeal. Catchwords: WORKERS COMPENSATION - employer's liability – occupational diseases – when liability of employer taken to arise – construction of s 151AB Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) – whether 'disease' in s 151AB(1)(a) refers only to the injury or harm which is the subject of the claimed liability – where claimed liability is for injury or disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibre during particular period – whether liability taken to arise when worker last employed in that period – distinction between 'divisible' and 'indivisible' harm or injury Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Dust Diseases Tribunal Act 1989 (NSW), s 32(4) Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW) WorkCover Legislation Amendment Act 1995 (NSW) Workers Compensation Act 1926 (NSW), s 8, s 18(1) Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151AB Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2004 Workers' Compensation Regulations (NSW) Workers' Compensation (Dust Diseases) Act 1942-1967 (NSW) Workers' Compensation (Dust Diseases) Amendment Act 1967 (NSW), s 6(2)(b)(iii) Workmen's Compensation Act 1916 (NSW), s 12 Cases Cited: Amaca Pty Ltd v Booth [2011] HCA 53; 246 CLR 36 Amaca Pty Ltd v Ellis [2010] HCA 5; 240 CLR 111 Barras v Aberdeen Stream Trawling and Fishing Co Ltd [1933] AC 402 Blatchford v Staddon and Founds [1927] AC 461 Bonnington Castings Ltd v Wardlaw [1956] AC 613 Cartledge v E Jopling & Sons Ltd [1963] AC 758 CIC Workers' Compensation (NSW) Limited v Alcan Australia Limited (1994) 34 NSWLR 169 Davies v ACN 000008195 Pty Ltd (formerly R Fowler Ltd) [2013] NSWDDT 10 Dingle v Associated Newspapers Ltd [1961] 2 QB 162 Energize Fitness Pty Ltd v Vero Insurance Limited [2012] NSWCA 213 FAI Traders Insurance Co Ltd v HIH Winterthur Workers Compensation (NSW) Pty Ltd (1998) 45 NSWLR 257 FAI Traders Insurance Co Ltd v HIH Winterthur Workers' Compensation (NSW) Pty Ltd [1999] HCA Trans 250 Gett v Tabet [2009] NSWCA 76; [2009] Aust Torts Rep 82-005; 254 ALR 504 GIO General Ltd v ABB Installation & Service Pty Ltd [2000] NSWCA 118; 19 NSWCCR 720 Government Insurance Office of NSW v Colgate Palmolive Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 24; 50 NSWLR 729 Holtby v Brigham & Cowan (Hull) Ltd [2000] 3 All ER 421 ICI Australia Operations Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2004] NSWCA 55; 60 NSWLR 18 March v Stramare (E&MH) Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 12 ; 171 CLR 506 MMI Insurance Compensation (NSW) Ltd v Baker (1997) 41 NSWLR 289 Orica Limited v CGU Insurance Limited [2003] NSWCA 331; 59 NSWLR 14 QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited v Dust Diseases Tribunal of NSW [2011] NSWCA 421 Sienkiewicz v Greif (UK) Ltd [2011] UKSC 10; [2011] 2 AC 229 Smith v Mann [1932] HCA 30; 47 CLR 426 Tame v Commonwealth Collieries Pty Ltd (1947) 47 SR (NSW) 269 Thompson v Smiths Shiprepairers (North Shields) Ltd [1984] 1 QB 405 University of NSW v AAI Ltd [2014] NSWCA 153 Wakelin v London & South Western Railway Co (1886) 12 App Cas 41 Wardley Australia Limited v Western Australia [1992] HCA 55; 174 CLR 514 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales v Chubb Australia Limited [2000] NSWCA 221; 20 NSWLCCR 614 Wunderlich Ltd v Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Ltd [1981] 2 NSWLR 678 Texts Cited: Malcolm Clarke, The Law of Insurance Contracts (5th ed, 2006, informa) Pearce and Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia (7th ed, 2011) at [3.44]-[3.49] Category: Principal judgment Parties: Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd (Appellant) Wade Alfred Pomfret (First Respondent) Wallaby Grip (BAE) Pty Limited (in liquidation) (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D Hooke SC with D Toomey (Appellant) B M Toomey QC with A McSpedden (First Respondent)