Searle v Commonwealth of Australia (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 1017

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Searle v Commonwealth of Australia (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 1017 Hearing dates: 19 – 23 February 2018, 1 March 2018 Date of orders: 03 July 2018 Decision date: 03 July 2018 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Fagan J Decision: The plaintiff's claim is dismissed. Catchwords: CONTRACTS – parties – the Crown – purported training contract between Navy and enlisted serviceman – prerogative of command of armed forces – Commonwealth Constitution, s 68 – "command" – whether contract an impermissible fetter upon prerogative of command – contract void – claim for breach dismissed

CONTRACTS – formation – consideration – absence of consideration – enlistment in armed forces – purported contract between Navy and enlisted serviceman – where training to be offered and undertaken pursuant to purported "training contract" – whether no effective consideration due to serviceman's terms of service of enlistment – no effective consideration

ESTOPPEL – estoppel by representation – against public authorities – the Commonwealth – whether estoppel can bind Commonwealth to a contract to fetter exercise of prerogative of military command – no estoppel Legislation Cited: Air Force Act 1923 (Cth) Australian National Training Authority Act 1992 (Cth) Bill of Rights 1689, 1 William & Mary Sess 2, c2 Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 (Cth) Defence Act 1903 (Cth) Defence Force Regulations 1952 (Cth) Defence (Personnel) Regulations 2002 (Cth) Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) Migration Act 1958 (Cth) Naval Defence Act 1910 (Cth) The King's Sole Right over the Militia Act 1661, 13 Charles II, c6 Cases Cited: Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1977) 139 CLR 54; [1977] HCA 71 Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin (1990) 170 CLR 1; [1990] HCA 21 Barton v Commonwealth (1974) 131 CLR 477 C v Commonwealth of Australia [2015] FCAFC 113 China Navigation Co v Attorney-General [1932] 2 KB 197 Commonwealth v Quince (1944) 68 CLR 227; [1944] HCA 1 Commonwealth v Welsh (1947) 74 CLR 245; [1947] HCA 14 Coutts v Commonwealth (1985) 157 CLR 91; [1985] HCA 40 Dunn v The Queen [1896] 1 QB 116 Maritime Electric Co Ltd v General Dairies Ltd [1947] AC 610 Marks v Commonwealth (1964) 111 CLR 549; [1964] HCA 45 Minister for Immigration Local Government and Ethnic Affairs v Kurtovic (1990) 21 FCR 193; [1990] FCA 22 Mitchell v The Queen [1896] 1 QB 121 NSW Rifle Association Inc v Commonwealth [2012] NSWSC 818 Peregrine Mineral Sands Pty Ltd v Wentworth Shire Council [2014] NSWCA 429 Southend-on-Sea Corporation v Hodgson (Wickford) Ltd [1962] 1 QB 416 Texts Cited: James Stellios, Zines's The High Court and the Constitution (6th ed, 2015, Federation Press) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Clayton William Searle (plaintiff) The Commonwealth of Australia (defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr Nicholas Kidd SC/Mr Timothy Kane (plaintiff) Mr Gregory Sirtes SC/Ms Jodi Steele (defendant)