Insurance Australia Group Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v Ilsley [2019] NSWSC 500

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Insurance Australia Group Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v Ilsley [2019] NSWSC 500 Hearing dates: 7 September 2018 Date of orders: 03 May 2019 Decision date: 03 May 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Walton J Decision: The Court makes the following orders:

(1) The plaintiff shall bring in short minutes of order reflecting this judgment within 7 days of the publication of this judgment.

(2) Costs reserved, subject to any agreement as to costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review – Motor Accidents Compensation Act – motor vehicle accident – medical dispute – medical assessments – application for reference to further medical assessment to proper officer – application to Claims Assessor – whether proper officer decision reviewable after application to Claims Assessor – nature of discretion of claims officer – whether misunderstood scope of discretion and powers – proper officers decision – whether failure to have regard to relevant consideration – whether constructive failure to exercise jurisdiction – futility – orders Legislation Cited: Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Cases Cited: Allianz Australia Ltd v Cervantes (2012) 61 MVR 443; [2012] NSWCA 244 Avon Downs Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1949) 78 CLR 353; 23 ALJR 322; [1949] ALR 792 Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia v Futuris Corporation Ltd (2008) 237 CLR 146; 247 ALR 605; 82 ALJR 1177; [2008] HCA 32 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2003) 197 ALR 389; 77 ALJR 1088; [2003] HCA 26 Henderson v QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd (2013) 66 MVR 69; [2013] NSWCA 480 Hot Holdings Pty Ltd v Creasy (1996) 185 CLR 149; 134 ALR 469; 70 ALJR 286; [1996] HCA 44 Insurance Australia Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v Parisi [2014] NSWSC 1248 Miles v Motor Accidents Authority of NSW (2013) 84 NSWLR 632; [2013] NSWSC 927 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZMDS (2010) 240 CLR 611; [2010] HCA 16 QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd v Miller (2013) 67 MVR 322; [2013] NSWCA 442 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Miah (2001) 206 CLR 57; [2001] HCA 22 Reece v Webber (2011) 192 FCR 254; [2011] FCAFC 33 Rodger v De Gelder (2011) 80 NSWLR 594; [2011] NSWCA 97 The Queen v Connell; Ex parte Hetton Bellbird Collieries Ltd (1944) 69 CLR 407; 18 ALJR 205; [1944] HCA 42 Trazivuk v Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales (2010) 57 MVR 9; [2010] NSWCA 287 Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Ltd v Kocak (2013) 252 CLR 480; [2013] HCA 43 Zurich Australian Insurance Ltd v Mestric (2016) 76 MVR 1; [2016] NSWSC 187 Texts Cited: Mark Aronson, Matthew Groves and Greg Weeks, Judicial Review of Administrative Action and Government Liability (Thomson Reuters, 6th ed, 2016) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Insurance Australia Group Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance (Plaintiff) Patricia Ilsley (First Defendant) State Insurance Regulatory Authority (Second Defendant) Sarah Edwards, in her capacity as a Proper Officer appointed by SIRA (Third Defendant) Peter Harvey, in his capacity as a CARS assessor appointed by SIRA (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: K Rewell SC (Plaintiff) M Robinson SC with C Hart (First Defendant)