Oberon Council v Minister for Local Government; Cabonne Shire Council v Minister for Local Government; McAlister and Graham v Minister for Local Government [2016] NSWLEC 131

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Oberon Council v Minister for Local Government; Cabonne Shire Council v Minister for Local Government; McAlister and Graham v Minister for Local Government [2016] NSWLEC 131 Hearing dates: 25, 26, 27, 31 May and 1, 3, 6 June 2016 Date of orders: 07 October 2016 Decision date: 07 October 2016 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Preston CJ Decision: The Court orders in each of the proceedings:

(1) The proceedings are dismissed.

(2) The applicant is to pay the respondents' costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW – proposals for amalgamation of local government areas – whether proposals made in accordance with Local Government Act 1993 – whether proposals made by Minister – whether decision to make proposals manifestly unreasonable – referral of proposals to Departmental Chief Executive for examination and report – whether referral of proposals manifestly unreasonable – inquiries required to be held – whether reasonable public notice given of the holding of inquiries – whether inquiries held in accordance with Act – whether examination and report on proposals in accordance with Act – whether Departmental Chief Executive had regard to relevant considerations in s 263(3) of Act – whether affected councils denied procedural fairness by Departmental Chief Executive – review and comment on Departmental Chief Executive's reports by Boundaries Commission – whether review conducted in accordance with Act – whether affected councils denied procedural fairness by Boundaries Commission – publicly accessible material in support of proposals represented that analysis and modelling of consultant was independent – whether representations misleading – whether allegedly misleading representations invalidated statutory process of amalgamation – whether Minister made decisions under Act to recommend implementation of proposals to Governor – whether Minister's decision to recommend to Governor that a proposal be implemented was invalid Legislation Cited: Interpretation Act 1987 ss 31, 32 Local Government Act 1993 ss 204, 213, 218A, 218B, 218C, 218CA, 218D, 218E, 218F, 218F(1), 218F(2), 218F(6), 218F(7), 218F(8), 260, 261, 262, 263, 263(2A), 263(2B), 263(3), 264, 265, 354B, 438U, Pts 1, 2 and 3 of Ch 9, Pt 8 of Ch 13, Sch 2 Cases Cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564; [1992] HCA 10 Anderson v Minister for Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources (2006) 151 LGERA 229; [2006] NSWLEC 725 Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596; [1990] HCA 57 Applicant VEAL of 2002 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (2005) 225 CLR 88; [2005] HCA 72 Assistant Commissioner Condon v Pompano Pty Ltd (2013) 252 CLR 38; [2013] HCA 7 Attorney-General for the State of Victoria v City of Geelong [1989] VR 641 Baba v Parole Board of New South Wales (1986) 5 NSWLR 338 Bartzios v Leichhardt Municipal Council [1978] 1 NSWLR 7 Betfair Pty Ltd v Western Australia (2008) 234 CLR 418; [2008] HCA 11 Botany Bay City Council v Minister for Local Government (2016) 214 LGERA 173; [2016] NSWCA 74 Botany Bay City Council v Minister for Local Government [2016] NSWLEC 35 Botany Bay City Council v The State of New South Wales [2016] NSWCA 243 Bruce v Cole (1998) 45 NSWLR 163 Brunetto v Collector of Customs (1984) 4 FCR 92 Bushell v Repatriation Commission (1992) 175 CLR 408; [1992] HCA 47 Bushell v Secretary of State for the Environment [1981] AC 75 Castle v Director General, State Emergency Service [2008] NSWCA 231 Director General, Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services v Lewis (2012) 301 ALR 420; [2012] NSWCA 436 Doppstadt Australia Pty Ltd v Lovick & Son Developments Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 158 Dunghutti Elders Council (Aboriginal Corporation) RNTBC v Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations (2011) 195 FCR 318; [2011] FCAFC 88 Elias v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2002) 123 FCR 499; [2002] FCA 845 Esber v The Commonwealth of Australia (1992) 174 CLR 430; [1992] HCA 20 Foster v Minister for Customs and Justice (2000) 200 CLR 442; [2000] HCA 38 Hot Holdings Pty Ltd v Creasy (1996) 185 CLR 149; [1996] HCA 44 Insurance Australia Ltd v Motor Accidents Authority (NSW) [2007] NSWCA 314 Jacob v Save Beeliar Wetlands (Inc) (2016) 216 LGERA 201; [2016] WASCA 126 Jarratt v Commissioner for Police for New South Wales (2005) 224 CLR 44; [2005] HCA 50 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Kindimindi Investments Pty Ltd v Lane Cove Council (2006) 143 LGERA 277; [2006] NSWCA 23 Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550; [1985] HCA 81 Lindemans Wines Pty Ltd v Woodward (1981) 46 LGRA 14 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v MZYTS (2013) 230 FCR 431; [2013] FCAFC 114 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZSSJ (2016) 90 ALJR 901; [2016] HCA 29 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Khadgi (2010) 190 FCR 248; [2010] FCAFC 145 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Maman (2012) 200 FCR 30; [2012] FCAFC 13 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf (2001) 206 CLR 323; [2001] HCA 30 Minister for Local Government v South Sydney City Council (2002) 55 NSWLR 381; [2002] NSWCA 288 Muin v Refugee Review Tribunal (2002) 76 ALJR 966; [2002] HCA 30 Notaras v Waverley Council (2007) 161 LGERA 230; [2007] NSWCA 333 Ogawa v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2011) 199 FCR 51; [2011] FCA 1358 P J Magennis Pty Ltd v The Commonwealth (1949) 80 CLR 382; [1949] HCA 66 Parramatta City Council v Hale (1982) 47 LGRA 319 Parramatta City Council v Pestell (1972) 128 CLR 305; [1972] HCA 59 R (on the application of Forest Care Home Ltd) v Pembrokeshire County Council (2011) 14 CCLR 103; [2010] EWHC 3514 (Admin) Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Miah (2001) 206 CLR 57; [2001] HCA 22 Scurr v Brisbane City Council (1973) 133 CLR 242; [1973] HCA 39 Singh v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2001) 109 FCR 152; [2001] FCA 389 Sutherland Shire Council v Finch (1970) 123 CLR 657; [1970] HCA 49 Vanmeld Pty Ltd v Fairfield City Council (1999) 46 NSWLR 78; [1999] NSWCA 6 Waitemata County v Local Government Commission [1964] NZLR 689 Walsh v Parramatta City Council (2007) 161 LGERA 118; [2007] NSWLEC 255 Wei v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2015) 90 ALJR 213; [2015] HCA 51 Woollahra Municipal Council v Minister for Local Government [2016] NSWLEC 86 Zhang v Canterbury City Council (2001) 51 NSWLR 589; [2001] NSWCA 167 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Oberon Council v Minister for Local Government