Sengthong v Lao Buddhist Society of NSW Incorporated [2016] NSWSC 1408

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Sengthong v Lao Buddhist Society of NSW Incorporated [2016] NSWSC 1408 Hearing dates: 19-22 September 2016 Date of orders: 14 October 2016 Decision date: 05 October 2016 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Lindsay J Decision: (1) The parties are to be allowed an opportunity to bring in Short Minutes of Orders giving effect to these reasons for judgment and dealing with ancillary questions, if any.

(2) An order is to be made, under section 6 of the Charitable Trusts Act 1993 NSW, that leave be granted for maintenance of these proceedings.

(3) The plaintiff's application for an order that the first defendant be wound-up is to be dismissed.

(4) Orders are to be made for the appointment of a receiver and manager of the property and undertaking of the first defendant pending the conduct of a court-supervised election of a management committee for the first defendant. Catchwords: CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS – Constitution, management and powers – Management Committee – Nature and extent of Honorary President's right of veto

ASSOCATIONS AND CLUBS – Jurisdiction of the Courts – Interference in internal management - Application for winding up dismissed - Appointment of receiver and manager to conduct a court-supervised election – Court's jurisdiction to appoint receiver

CHARITIES – Jurisdiction of the Court under Charitable Trusts Act – Charitable trust proceedings – Religious charitable institution – Receipt of public donations - Leave to maintain proceedings granted under section 6 Legislation Cited: Associations Incorporation Act 2009 NSW Associations Incorporation Act 1984 Associations Incorporation Regulation 2016 NSW Charitable Trusts Act 1993 NSW Civil Procedure Act 2005 NSW Corporations Act 2001 Cth Supreme Court Act 1970 NSW Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 NSW New South Wales Act 1823 (Imp), The Third Charter of Justice, the Australian Courts Act 1828 (Imp) Electoral Act 1907 Cases Cited: Ahmed v Chowdhury [2012] NSWSC 1452 Atalar v Nami (Bryson J, unrep, 10 November 1988) BC 8801346 Baxter v West (1858) 28 LJ Ch 169 Bond Brewing Holdings Ltd v National Australia Bank Ltd [1991] VicRp 31; (1990) 1 ACSR 445 Cameron v Hogan [1934] HCA 24; [1934] 51 CLR 358 Charrington & Co Ltd v Camp [1902] 1 Ch 386 Clarke v Australian Labour Party (SA Branch) [1999] SASC 365; (1999) 74 SASR 109 Clydesdale v McManus and Anor (1934) 36 WALR 89 Coleman v Liberal Party of Australia, NSW Division (No. 2) [2007] NSWSC 736; 212 FLR 271 Commonwealth of Australia v ABC 2 Group Pty Limited [2008] NSWSC 1383; 69 ACSR 228 Co-operative Farmers' & Graziers' Direct Meat Supply Ltd v Smart [1977] VicRp 47; [1977] VR 386 Corporate Affairs Commission v Smithson [1984] 3 NSWLR 547 Estate Polykarpou; Re a charity [2016] NSWSC 409 Hopkins v Worcester and Birmingham Canal Proprietors (1868) LR 6 Eq 437 John v John [1898] 2 Ch 537 John v Rees [1970] Ch 345 Kabir Ahmed and Ors v Ayubur Rahman Chowdury and Ors [No. 2] [2011] NSWSC 954 Khan v Khan; Re Islamic Association Western Suburbs Sydney Inc. [2015] NSWSC 638 Lamerand v Lamerand (No 1) (1960) 80 WN (NSW) 198 Lemm v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1942) 66 CLR 399 Marshall v Charteris [1920] 1 Ch 520 McLean v McKinlay and Ors [2004] WASC 2 Mitchell v Simons (1862) 1 SCR (NSW) Eq 70 Moss Steamship Co Ltd v Whinney [1912] AC 254 National Australia Bank Ltd v Bond Brewing Holdings Ltd [1991] VicRp 31; [1991] 1 VR 386 National Australia Bank Limited v Bond Brewing Holdings Limited (1990) 169 CLR 271 Owen v Homan [1853] EngR 883; (1853) 10 ER 752 Parker v Campden London Borough Council [1986] Ch 162 Radmanovich v Nedeljkovic (2001) 52 NSWLR 641 Rana v Survery (No 2) [2012] NSWSC 905; [2013] NSWCA 234 Re AAA; Report on a Protected Person's Attainment of the Age of Majority [2016] NSWSC 805 Re Crompton & Co Ltd [1914] 1 Ch 967 Re Manchester & Milford Railway Co; Ex parte Cambrian Rail Co (1880) 14 Ch D 645 Re Newdigate Colliery Ltd [1912] 1 Ch 468 Roman Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne v Lawlor (19234) 51 CLR 1 Tate v Barry (1928) 28 SR (NSW) 380 The Sikh Association of Sydney and Ors v Cheema and Ors (McLelland CJ in Eq, unrep, 11 April 1996) BC 9601222 UTS v Gerrard [2001] NSWSC 368 Weinstock v Beck (2013) 251 CLR 396 Texts Cited: Gino dal Pont, Law of Charity (Lexis Nexis Butterworths, Australia, 2010) paragraphs [17.65]-[17.74] Meagher Gummow & Lehane's "Equity: Doctrines and Remedies" 4th Edition at 908 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Phosy Sengthong First Defendant: Lao Buddhist Society of NSW Incorporated ABN 971 965 324 51 Second Defendant: Thongsavanh Chanethathirath Third Defendant: Attorney General for NSW Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: MK Condon SC and JG Simpkins First Defendant: Submitting Appearance Second Defendant: DR Stack Third Defendant: H El Hage