Firth v Director of Public Prosecutions [2018] NSWCA 78

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Firth v Director of Public Prosecutions [2018] NSWCA 78 Hearing dates: 17 April 2018 Date of orders: 17 April 2018 Decision date: 17 April 2018 Before: McColl JA at [1]; Basten JA at [2]; Barrett AJA at [35] Decision: (1) Dismiss the application for an extension of time within which to commence proceedings by way of the amended summons filed on 20 March 2018.

(2) Order that the applicant pay the Director's costs of the proceedings in this Court. Catchwords: APPEAL AND REVIEW – supervisory jurisdiction – applicant convicted of driving whilst disqualified – appeal to District Court dismissed – certificate recorded applicant as disqualified at time of offence – certificate erroneous – application to extend time to commence judicial review proceedings – whether jurisdictional error on part of District Court – whether mistake regarding applicant's disqualification error within jurisdiction – whether Court should extend time

CRIME – inquiry into conviction – whether appropriate for Court to refer matter for inquiry – Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW), s 78

JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS – whether erroneous judgment of District Court effective before set aside – effect of erroneous disqualification from driving Legislation Cited: Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW), ss 12, 53, 63, 78, 79 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5, 5B District Court Act 1973 (NSW), ss 8, 176 Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1998 (NSW), s 25A Road Transport (General) Act 2005 (NSW), s 230 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), Pt 59, r 59.10 Cases Cited: Attorney-General (NSW) v Mayas Pty Ltd (1988) 14 NSWLR 342 Bandara v Director of Public Prosecutions [2016] NSWCA 140 Downey v Acting Judge Boulton (No 5) (2010) 78 NSWLR 499; [2010] NSWCA 240 Firth v Director of Public Prosecutions [2013] NSWCA 403 Garde v Dowd (2011) 80 NSWLR 620; [2011] NSWCA 115 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Bhardwarj (2002) 209 CLR 597; [2002] HCA 11 Parisienne Basket Shoes Pty Ltd v Whyte (1938) 59 CLR 369; [1938] HCA 7 Pelechowski v Registrar, Court of Appeal (NSW) (1999) 198 CLR 435; [1999] HCA 19 Sinkovich v Attorney-General of New South Wales (2013) 85 NSWLR 783; [2013] NSWCA 383 Wishart v Fraser (1941) 64 CLR 470; [1941] HCA 8 Category: Principal judgment Parties: William Malcolm Firth (Applicant) Director of Public Prosecutions (First Respondent) District Court of New South Wales (Second Respondent) Local Court of New South Wales (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Applicant self-represented Ms B K Baker (First Respondent) Mr M W Sneddon (Amicus Curiae)