A-Tech Australia Pty Ltd v Top Pacific Construction Aust Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 404

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: A-Tech Australia Pty Ltd v Top Pacific Construction Aust Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 404 Hearing dates: 21, 22 March; 1 April 2019 Date of orders: 12 April 2019 Decision date: 12 April 2019 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: Parker J Decision: Proceedings adjourned for the entry of final orders and the hearing of any application by the defendant for a stay. Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – construction contracts – Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) – application for recovery of "claimed amount" as a debt due – validity of payment claims - whether payment claims sufficiently identified contract work - whether email sufficiently identified contract works to constitute a payment schedule – validity of service of payment claims - service by email pursuant to s 31(1)(c) - where no direct evidence of time of receipt .

BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – construction contracts – Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) – cross-claim for breach of contract and set off for damages – contractual effect of consent orders - whether agreement by consent bore contractual force such that application for judgment could not be sought in advance of determination of cross-claim - whether notwithstanding agreement cross-claim may be used as a defence pursuant to s 15(4) - whether s 34 would otherwise invalidate an agreement purporting to contract out of the jurisdiction of the Act. Legislation Cited: Building and Construction Industry Security for Payment 1999 (NSW), ss 13(2), 14, 15, 31(1)(c), 34 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Schedule 2, The Australian Consumer Law, s 18 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 52 Electronic Transactions Act 2000 (NSW), s13A Cases Cited: Barnden v Zulian; Barnden v Commissioner of Taxation [2018] NSWSC 1980 Bitannia Pty Ltd v Parkline Constructions Pty Ltd (2006) 67 NSWLR 9; [2006] NSWCA 238 Brimaud v Honeysett Instant Print Pty Ltd (1988) 217 ALR 44 Coulls v Bagot's Executor and Trustee Co Ltd (1967) 199 CLR 460; [1967] HCA 3 Falgat Constructions Pty Ltd v Equity Australia Corp Pty Ltd (2007) 23 BCL 292; [2006] NSWCA 259 Felton v Mulligan (1971) 124 CLR 367; [1971] HCA 39 Impero Pacific Group Pty Ltd v Bonheur Holdings Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 286 Morgan v 45 Flers Avenue Pty Ltd (1987) 11 NSWLR 573 Mullins v Howell (1879) 11 Ch D 763 Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd v Luikens and Anor [2003] NSWSC 1140 National Benzole Co Ltd v Gooch [1961] 1 WLR 1489 Purcell v F C Trigell Ltd [1971] 1 QB 358 Qantas Airways Ltd v Gubbins (1992) 28 NSWLR 26 Woods v Sheriff of Queensland (1895) 6 QLJ 163 Category: Principal judgment Parties: A-Tech Australia Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Top Pacific Construction Aust Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: FP Hicks SC/J Nathan (Plaintiff) F Santisi (Defendant)