Elliott v Minister administering Fisheries Management Act 1994 [2018] NSWSC 117

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Elliott v Minister administering Fisheries Management Act 1994 [2018] NSWSC 117 Hearing dates: 24, 25 January 2018 Date of orders: 16 February 2018 Decision date: 16 February 2018 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (1) Summons dismissed;

(2) Interlocutory orders made in relation to these matters on 1 December 2017 vacated;

(3) The plaintiff shall pay the defendants' costs of and incidental to the proceedings. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – whether Regulations and Fishery Management Plan ultra vires – doctrine of legality – construction of legislation – whether amending regulations implementing alterations to Management were an authorised amendment – whether "new" plan – whether regulations arbitrary, capricious or an abuse – whether authority to amend of a kind is within the description all amendments – Rights and Obligations associated with statutory commercial fishing licences. Legislation Cited: Fisheries and Oyster Farms Act 1935 Fisheries Management Act 1994 Fisheries Management Amendment Act 2015 Fisheries Management (Estuary General Share Management Plan) Regulation 2006 Fisheries Management (Issue of Quota Shares) Instrument 2017 Fisheries Management Legislation Amendment (Quota Management) Regulation 2017 Fisheries Management Legislation Amendment (Quota Shares) Regulation 2017 Fisheries Management (Supporting Plan) Regulation 2006 Interpretation Act 1987 Cases Cited: Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596; [1990] HCA 57 Beaumont v Yeomans (1934) 34 SR (NSW) 562 Bird v John Sharp & Sons Pty Ltd (1942) 66 CLR 233; (1942) HCA 27 Bropho v Western Australia (1990) 171 CLR 1; [1990] HCA 24 Brunswick v Stewart (1941) 65 CLR 88; [1941] HCA 7 Campbell v Rofe [1933] AC 91 Clements Marshall Consolidated Ltd v ENT Ltd (1988) TASR(NC) N1; 13 ACLR 90 Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427; [1994] HCA 15. Colonial Bank v Whinney (1885) 30 Ch D 261 Electrolux Home Products Pty Ltd v Australian Workers' Union (2004) 221 CLR 309; [2004] HCA 40 Georgiadis v Australian & Overseas Telecommunications Corporation (1994) 179 CLR 297; [1994] HCA 6 Gifford v Strang Patrick Stevedoring Pty Ltd (2003) 214 CLR 269; [2003] HCA 33 Heatscape Pty Ltd v Mahoney [2017] NSWCCA 135 Kartinyeri v The Commonwealth (1998) 195 CLR 337; [1998] HCA 22 ("the Hindmarsh Bridge Case") Ku-Ring-Gai Municipal Council v Attorney-General (NSW) (1957) 99 CLR 251; [1957] HCA 61 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 R v Secretary of State for the Home Department Ex Parte Simms [2000] 12 AC 115 R v Secretary of State for the Home Department, Ex Parte Pierson [1998] AC 539 R v Tonkin; Ex Parte Federated Ship Painters' & Dockers' Union of Australia (1954) 92 CLR 526; [1954] HCA 38 Re Brighton & Dyke Railway (1890) 44 Ch D 28 at 38 South Australian River Fishery Association Inc & Warrick v South Australia (2003) 85 SASR 373; [2003] SASC 174 The City of Melbourne v Barry (1922) 31 CLR 174; [1922] HCA 56 Williams v City of Melbourne (1933) 49 CLR 142; [1933] HCA 56 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Dean Andrew Elliott (Plaintiff) Minister administering Fisheries Management Act 1994 (First Defendant) Secretary, Department of Industry (Second Defendant) State of New South Wales (Third Defendant) NSW Rural Assistance Authority (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P McKell (Plaintiff) J S Emmett (Defendants)