Morris Finance Ltd v Brown [2016] NSWCA 343

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Morris Finance Ltd v Brown [2016] NSWCA 343 Hearing dates: 29 November 2016 Date of orders: 08 December 2016 Decision date: 08 December 2016 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Payne JA at [2]. Decision: (1) Dismiss the summons seeking leave to appeal for want of jurisdiction.

(2) Order that the applicant, Morris Finance Ltd, pay the third respondent, Mr Free's, costs of the summons for leave to appeal and the motion as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: COURTS – jurisdiction – proceedings against bankrupt – appeal from separate question regarding leave to commence proceedings in the Equity Division – Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) s 58 – whether appeal lay to Court of Appeal – whether prohibition on instituting and determining appeal other than in a federal court in s 7(5) of Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987 (Cth) applied – whether appeal involved a matter for determination arising under the Bankruptcy Act – appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) ss 27, 58, 60 Commonwealth Constitution s 76 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 78B Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987 (Cth) s 7 Cases Cited: Boensch v Pascoe [2016] NSWCA 191 Bramco Electronics Pty Ltd v ATF Mining Electrics Pty Ltd (2013) 86 NSWLR 392; [2013] NSWCA 392 CGU Insurance Limited v Blakeley [2016] HCA 2 Eberstaller v Poulos (2014) 87 NSWLR 394; [2014] NSWCA 211 Felton v Mulligan (1971) 124 CLR 367 Jakimowicz v Jacks [2016] VSCA 42 Mango Media Pty Ltd v Velingos [2008] NSWSC 202 Meriton Apartments Pty Ltd v Industrial Court of New South Wales (2008) 171 FCR 380; [2008] FCAFC 172 Moss v Eaglestone (2011) 83 NSWLR 476; [2011] NSWCA 404 R v Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration; Ex parte Barrett (1945) 70 CLR 141 Scott v Bagshaw (2000) 99 FCR 573; [2000] FCA 816 Texts Cited: Leeming M J, Authority to Decide, (2012, The Federation Press) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Morris Finance Ltd (applicant) Neil Warren Brown (first respondent) Caroline Elsie Brown (second respondent) Stuart William Free, Trustee of the property of Neil Warren Brown, a bankrupt (third respondent) Official Trustee in Bankruptcy, Trustee of the property of Caroline Elsie Brown, a bankrupt (fourth respondent) Holiday Coast Credit Union Ltd (fifth defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr S Webster (applicant) Ms I J King (third respondent)