Boucher v Murray Irrigation Limited; Pratt v Murray Irrigation Limited; Park v Murray Irrigation Limited [2017] NSWSC 1268

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Boucher v Murray Irrigation Limited; Pratt v Murray Irrigation Limited; Park v Murray Irrigation Limited [2017] NSWSC 1268 Hearing dates: 20 February 2017 – 24 February 2017 Decision date: 21 September 2017 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Button J Decision: (1) The claims of the plaintiffs are dismissed. (2) Costs are reserved. Catchwords: COMMERCIAL LAW – not-for-profit statutory corporation – alteration to rules pertaining to ability of members to trade rights to water and delivery thereof – whether breach of contract – whether unconscionable conduct contrary to s 51AC of the Trade Practices Act (now s 21 of the Australian Consumer Law) – whether misleading or deceptive conduct contrary to s 52 of the Trade Practices Act (now s 18 of the Australian Consumer Law) – all bases of claim dismissed Legislation Cited: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Schedule 2 Australian Consumer Law, ss 4; 18; 20; 21; 22 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 51AA; 51AC; 51A; 52 Water Act 2000 (Cth) Cases Cited: ACCC v C G Berbatis Holdings Pty Ltd (2000) 96 FCR 491 ASIC v National Exchange Pty Ltd [2005] FCAFC 226 Blomley v Ryan (1956) 99 CLR 362 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 266 Commercial Bank of Australia v Amadio (1983) 151 CLR 447; [1983] HCA 14 Hurley v McDonald's [1999] FCA 1728 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; [1959] HCA 8 Paciocco v ANZ (2015) 236 FCR 199 Perpetual Nominees Ltd v Parist Holdings Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 1345 PM v The Queen (2007) 232 CLR 370; [2007] HCA 49 Thorby v Goldberg (1964) 112 CLR 597 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Margaret Joy Boucher (Plaintiff) Neville Robert Boucher (Plaintiff) Narelle Pratt (Plaintiff) Jeffrey Pratt (Plaintiff) James Scott Park (Plaintiff) Murray Irrigation Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D R Pritchard SC with A J Macauley (Plaintiffs) S A Goodman SC with J A Granger (Defendant)