Secretary, Department of Social Services & Commonwealth of Australia v Francesco Cassaniti and Maria Cassaniti [2015] NSWSC 1586

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Secretary, Department of Social Services & Commonwealth of Australia v Francesco Cassaniti and Maria Cassaniti [2015] NSWSC 1586 Hearing dates: 27 August 2015 Date of orders: 28 October 2015 Decision date: 28 October 2015 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Slattery J Decision: The applicants' motion is dismissed. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – application for declaratory relief by non-party to proceedings – whether Court has jurisdiction to grant declarations in favour of non-party – whether non-party has right to joinder in proceedings for the purpose of seeking declarations – whether the Supreme Court of New South Wales has jurisdiction to make declarations as to what matters will be binding on the AAT – discretionary factors relevant to making of declarations Legislation Cited: Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth), ss 43, 44, 45 Civil Procedure Act, s 56 Conveyancing Act 1919 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 39B Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross Vesting) Act 1987 (Cth), ss 3(1), 6(3) Real Property Act 1900 Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 (Cth), s 240 Statute of Frauds 1677 (UK) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, rr 6.24, 6.27, 36.16 Cases Cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 Australasian Oil Exploration Ltd v Lachberg (1958) 101 CLR 119 Bacon v Rose [1972] 2 NSWLR 793 Blanch (t/a Hicksons) v British American Tobacco Australia Services Ltd [2005] NSWSC 241; 62 NSWLR 653 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Hattersby [2001] NSWSC 60; 51 NSWLR 333 Donges v Ratcliffe [1975] 1 NSWLR 501 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Ltd (1972) 127 CLR 441 Gardner v Dairy Industry Authority (NSW) (1977) 52 ALJR 180 Hanson v Radcliffe Urban District Council (1922) 2 Ch 490 Ibeneweka v Egbuna [1964] 1 WLR 219 International General Electric Co of New York Ltd v Customs and Excise Commissioners [1962] Ch 784 John Alexander's Clubs Pty Ltd v White City Tennis Club Ltd [2010] HCA 19; 241 CLR 1 Maksimovic v Walsh [1983] 2 NSWLR 656 News Ltd v Australian Rugby Football League Ltd (1996) 64 FCR 410 Pegang Mining Co Ltd v Choong Sam [1969] 2 MLJ 52 Re Raejoe Pty Limited [2012] NSWSC 1457 Telstra Corp Ltd v AAPT Pty Ltd [1999] NSWSC 853 Truth About Motorways Pty Ltd v Macquarie [2000] HCA 11; 200 CLR 591 Texts Cited: RP Meagher, JD Heydon, MJ Leeming, Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity: Doctrines and Remedies (4th ed 2002, Butterworths LexisNexis) JD Heydon, MJ Leeming and PG Turner, Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity: Doctrines & Remedies (5th ed 2014, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Consequential orders (other than Costs) Parties: First Applicant: Secretary, Department of Social Services Second Applicant: Commonwealth of Australia First Respondent: Francesco Cassaniti Second Respondent: Maria Cassaniti Representation: Counsel: Defendant: M Ashurst SC; M Dolenec