Lynwood v Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council [2017] NSWSC 424

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Lynwood v Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council [2017] NSWSC 424 Hearing dates: 12 April 2017 Date of orders: 19 April 2017 Decision date: 19 April 2017 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Adamson J Decision: See paragraph [66]. Catchwords: STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – appeal from NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal – termination of social housing tenancy agreements – statutory construction of ss 85, 137, 155 and 154E of Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW)

WORDS AND PHRASES – whether Tribunal is "considering whether to make a termination order" only when exercising a discretionary power to make a termination order, or also when the Tribunal is obliged to make an order

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – whether inconsistency between s 154E and s 85 – relevant principles – inconsistency found – inconsistency resolved by s 137 in favour of s 154E – Tribunal required to have regard to the matters in s 154E when considering whether to terminate social housing tenancy agreement under s 85

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – error of law as Tribunal failed to consider mandatory relevant considerations in s 154E – decision set aside and matter remitted to Tribunal to be determined according to law Legislation Cited: The Commonwealth Constitution, s 109

Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW), s 83 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 33, 34(2)(a), 35(2), 35(5) Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (NSW) Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW) ss 3, 81, 82, 82(1)(c), 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 136, 137, 140, 143, 147, 147(1), 147(2),148, 151, s 152 (repealed), 153(1)(a), 153, 153(1)(b), 154, 154A, 154(1), 154B, 154C, 154D, 154E, 154E(1)(d), 154E(1)(e), 154F, 154G, 155 Residential Tenancies Amendment (Social Housing) Act 1998 (NSW) Residential Tenancies Amendment (Social Housing) Act 2005 (NSW) Residential Tenancies and Housing Legislation Amendment (Public Housing—Antisocial Behaviour) Act 2015 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Cases Cited: Baini v The Queen (2012) 246 CLR 469; [2012] HCA 59 Bell Group NV (in Liq) v Western Australia; WA Glendinning & Associates Pty Ltd v Same; Maranoa Transport Pty Ltd (in liq) v Same (2016) 90 ALJR 655; [2016] HCA 21 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 Odzic v Commonwealth of Australia [2017] FCAFC 28 Parisienne Basket Shoes Pty Ltd v Whyte (1938) 59 CLR 369 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Telstra Corporation Ltd v Worthing; Attorney-General for the Commonwealth of Australia v Telstra Corporation Ltd (1999) 197 CLR 61; [1999] HCA 12 The State of Victoria v The Commonwealth (1937) 58 CLR 618 Texts Cited: New South Wales Legislative Assembly Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 5 August 2015 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Candy Lynwood (First Plaintiff) Mary Flanders (Second Plaintiff) Stella Roberts (Third Plaintiff) Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P Batley (Plaintiffs) D C Price (Defendant)