Crawford v Davidson-Crawford [2019] NSWSC 728

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Crawford v Davidson-Crawford [2019] NSWSC 728 Hearing dates: 7 June 2019 Date of orders: 07 June 2019 Decision date: 18 June 2019 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: (1) Declare that Laurance John Tracey Crawford is not the biological father of Thomas Charles Davidson-Crawford. (2) Order, pursuant to s s 45(2) of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995 (NSW), that the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages correct the Register maintained pursuant to s 43 of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995 (NSW) by deleting the name of Laurence John Tracey Crawford as the father of Thomas Charles Davidson-Crawford from the Register. (3) No order as to the costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: EQUITY – declaration – interpretation of s 45 of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995 (NSW) – whether the court has jurisdiction to grant declaratory relief – order that the plaintiff is not the biological father of the first defendant Legislation Cited: Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995 (NSW), ss 19(1), 43, 45, 63 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 56 and 59, Div 1 of Pt 6, Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 156 Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) New South Wales Act 1823 (UK), Act 4 Geo.IV c.96 Status of Children Act 1996 (NSW), ss 26 and 27 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 22, 23 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 29.7(2)(a) Cases Cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564; [1992] HCA 10 Assistant Commissioner Condon v Pompano Pty Ltd (2013) 252 CLR 38; [2013] HCA 7 Australian Postal Commission v Dao (No 2) (1986) 6 NSWLR 497 Cameron v Cole (1944) 68 CLR 571; [1944] HCA 5 Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd v Australian Industrial Relations Commission (2000) 203 CLR 194; [2000] HCA 47 Dickason v Dickason (1913) 17 CLR 50; [1913] HCA 77 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337; [2000] HCA 63 G v H (1994) 181 CLR 387; [1994] HCA 48 Gypsy Jokers Motorcycle Club Inc v Commissioner of Police (2008) 234 CLR 532; [2008] HCA 4 House v R (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 In the marriage of Lee and Tse (2005) 33 Fam LR 167; [2005] FamCA 77 Lane v Morrison (2009) 239 CLR 230; [2009] HCA 29 North Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service Inc v Bradley (2004) 218 CLR 146; [2004] HCA 31 Russell v Russell (1976) 134 CLR 495; [1976] HCA 23 Wainohu v New South Wales (2011) 243 CLR 181; [2011] HCA 24 Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission (NSW) v Browning (1947) 74 CLR 492; [1947] HCA 21 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Laurence John Tracey Crawford (Plaintiff) Thomas Charles Davidson-Crawford (First Defendant) Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: DC Price (Plaintiff)