LDF Enterprise Pty Ltd v State of New South Wales [2017] NSWCA 89

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: LDF Enterprise Pty Ltd v State of New South Wales [2017] NSWCA 89 Hearing dates: 3 May 2017 Decision date: 03 May 2017 Before: Basten JA at [51]; Macfarlan JA [52]; Leeming JA at [1] Decision: 1. Grant leave to appeal. 2. Direct LDF Enterprise to file a notice of appeal in the form contained in the white folder within 7 days, and otherwise dispense with the rules as to service. 3. Appeal dismissed. 4. Dismiss the statement of claim in proceeding 2017/100386. 5. LDF Enterprise to pay the State's costs in this Court, including the reserved costs of the hearing before Emmett AJA. 6. LDF Enterprise to pay the defendants' costs at first instance. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – procedural fairness – existence of obligation to accord procedural fairness – whether power of entry in the course of investigations attracted obligation to accord procedural fairness to landowner – whether statute clearly displaced obligation – Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) s 166

JURISDICTION – first duty of court to determine jurisdiction – whether claim for declaratory and injunctive relief concerning threatened entry on land in purported exercise of powers under Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) within exclusive jurisdiction of Land and Environment Court – Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) s 71 Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 149B Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 33 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), ss 20, 71, 72 Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW), s 65 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW), ss 86, 156B Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), ss 184, 189, 196, 197, 199, 211 Cases Cited: Ashby v White (1703) 2 Ld Raym 938; 92 ER 126 Berowra Holdings Pty Ltd v Gordon (2006) 225 CLR 364; [2006] HCA 32 Bradlaugh v Gossett (1884) 12 QBD 271 Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427 Commissioner of Australian Federal Police v Propend Finance Pty Ltd (1997) 188 CLR 501 CPCF v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2015) 255 CLR 514; [2015] HCA 1 D'Anastasi v Environment, Climate Change & Water (NSW) (2011) 81 NSWLR 82; [2011] NSWCA 374 Federated Engine-Drivers and Firemen's Association of Australasia v Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd (1911) 12 CLR 398 Khatri v Price (1999) 95 FCR 287 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZSSJ [2016] HCA 29; 90 ALJR 901 Musgrove v Chun Teeong Toy [1891] AC 272 Obeid v R (2015) 91 NSWLR 226; [2015] NSWCCA 309 Owners of "Shin Kobe Maru" v Empire Shipping Co Inc (1994) 181 CLR 404 Plenty v Dillon (1991) 171 CLR 635 Proust v Blake (1989) 17 NSWLR 267 Re Macks; ex parte Saint (2000) 204 CLR 158; [2000] HCA 62 Category: Principal judgment Parties: LDF Enterprise Pty Ltd (Applicant) State of New South Wales (First Respondent) Anthony Lean (Second Respondent) Grahame Price (Third Respondent) Robert Evans (Fourth Respondent) Jonathan Giles-Sproule (Fifth Respondent) Representation: Counsel: PW Larkin SC / L Byrne (Applicant) N Hutley SC / J Emmett (First Respondent)