Mehmet v Carter [2020] NSWSC 413

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Mehmet v Carter [2020] NSWSC 413 Hearing dates: 8 - 10, 14 - 17 October 2019 Date of orders: 17 April 2020 Decision date: 17 April 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Ward CJ in Eq Decision: 1. Declare that the plaintiffs are entitled to the return of the funds representing the deposit paid by them on the contract for the sale of land dated 6 July 2015 for the purchase of the property the subject of the present proceeding. 2. Order judgment for the plaintiffs for recovery of damages in the sum of $29,855.47. 3. Dismiss the cross claim with costs. 4. Order that the defendants pay the plaintiffs/cross-defendants' costs of the proceeding, including (as per the orders of the Court of Appeal) the costs of the separate question determination the subject of the proceeding before Darke J in 2017. Catchwords: CONTRACTS — Termination — Repudiation of contract — where purchasers raised requisitions — where plausible contentions and vendors refused to address

LAND LAW — Conveyancing — Contract for sale — Breach — Error or misdescription — Requisitions — Vendors' obligations — Notices to complete — Purchasers' remedies

ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING — Heritage conservation — Protection of Aboriginal heritage — meaning of "Aboriginal object" — National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW), ss 41, 86 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2 (Australian Consumer Law), s 18 Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), ss 13, 55(1), 55(2A), 57 Electricity Supply Act 1995 (NSW), s 51 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 60, 69(2)(b), 72, 74, 78, 81, 135, 136 Evidence Amendment Act 2007 (NSW) Fauna Conservation Act 1974 (Qld), s 7(1) Law Reform (Law and Equity) Act 1972 (NSW), s 5 Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), s 59A Mining Act 1992 (NSW), s 164 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1967 (NSW), ss 3(1), 33D National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW), ss 2A(1), 5(1), 83, 84, 85A, 86, 87, 89A, 90K(1)(b), 90Q(3)(d) Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) Real Property Act 1900 (NSW), s 42 Succession Act 2006 (NSW), Pt 4.4 Cases Cited: Abraham v Mallon (1975) 1 BPR 9157 Akiba v Queensland (No 2) (2010) 204 FCR 1; [2010] FCA 643 All Options Pty Ltd v Flightdeck Geelong Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 588 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Woolworths Ltd [2019] FCA 1039 Batey v Gifford (1997) 42 NSWLR 710 Bell v Scott (1922) 30 CLR 387; [1922] HCA 13 Borda v Burgess [2003] NSWSC 1171 Byers v Dorotea (1986) 69 ALR 715 Carlish v Salt [1906] 1 Ch 335 Carpenter v McGrath (1996) 40 NSWLR 39 Carydis v Merrag Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 1220 Chambers v Borness [2014] NSWSC 890 City of Botany Bay Council v Jazabas Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 94 Clark Equipment Credit of Australia Ltd v Kiyose Holdings Pty Ltd (1988) 21 NSWLR 160 Country Energy v Williams; Williams v Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife (2005) 63 NSWLR 699; [2005] NSWCA 318 Crowe v Rindock Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 375; (2005) 12 BPR 22,823 Dainford Ltd v Lam (1985) 3 NSWLR 255 Davies v Morgan (1831) 1 Cr & J 587; 148 ER 1557 (Ex) DCT Projects Pty Ltd v Champion Homes Sales Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 117 De Rose v State of South Australia [2002] FCA 1342 Dovuro Pty Ltd v Wilkins (2003) 215 CLR 317; [2003] HCA 51 DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd (1978) 138 CLR 423; [1978] HCA 12 Eighth SRJ Pty Ltd v Merity (1997) 7 BPR 15,189 Elwes v Briggs Gas Company (1886) 33 Ch D 562 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89; [2007] HCA 22 Festa Holdings Pty Limited v Adderton [2004] NSWCA 228 Fink v Robertson (1907) 4 CLR 864 [1907] HCA 7 Fligg v Owners Strata Plan 53457 [2012] NSWSC 230 Flight v Booth [1834] Eng R 1087; (1834) 131 ER 1160 Foran v Wight (1989) 168 CLR 385; [1989] HCA 51 Frankel v Paterson [2015] NSWSC 1307 Galafassi v Kelly (2014) 87 NSWLR 119; [2014] NSWCA 190 Gardiner v Orchard (1910) 10 CLR 722; [1910] HCA 18 Georgeski v Owners Corporation SP49833 (2004) 62 NSWLR 534 Godfrey Constructions Pty Ltd v Kanangra Park Pty Limited (1972) 128 CLR 529 Greek Orthodox Parish Community of St Marys and District Ltd v Denis Stanley Merrick [2014] NSWSC 1196 Gumana v Northern Territory (2005) 141 FCR 457; [2005] FCA 50 Gupta v Fordham Laboratories Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 551 Gustin v Taajamba Pty Ltd (1988) NSW Conv R 55-433 Halsey v Grant (1806) 13 Ves 73 Hamilton v Munro (1951) 51 SR (NSW) 250 Hasanovic v Polistena [1982] NSW Conv R 55-078 Henry v Director-General of the Department of Environment and Conservation (2007) 159 LGERA 17; [2007] NSWLEC 722 Heyman v Darwins Ltd [1942] AC 356 Hoy Mobile Pty Ltd v Allphones Retail Pty Ltd (2008) 167 FCR 314; [2008] FCA 369 Idoport Pty Limited v National Australia Bank Limited [2000] NSWSC 1215 Jarosz v State of New South Wales [2019] NSWSC 692 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Ltd (2007) 233 CLR 115; [2007] HCA 61 Lahoud v Lahoud (No 2) [2005] NSWSC 1019 Lancaster v R (2014) 44 VR 820; [2014] VSCA 333 Laurinda Pty Ltd v Capalaba Park Shopping Centre Pty Ltd (1989) 166 CLR 623; [1989] HCA 23 Lewis v Keene (1936) 36 SR (NSW) 493 Liberty Grove v Yeo [2006] NSWSC 1373; (2006) 12 BPR 23,709 Liverpool Holdings Ltd v Gordon Lynton Car Sales Pty Ltd [1978] Qd R 279; (1978) 43 LGRA 388 Lowndes v Lane (1789) 2 Cox, Eq Cas 363; 30 ER 16 Lustre Hosiery Ltd v York (1935) 54 CLR 134; [1935] HCA 71 Mabo v State of Queensland [1992] 1 Qd R 78 McKinnon v Bliss 21 NY 206 (1860) McRae v Commonwealth Disposals Commission (1951) 84 CLR 377; [1951] HCA 79 Mehmet v Carter (2018) 98 NSWLR 977; [2018] NSWCA 305 Mehmet v Carter [2017] NSWSC 1067 Michael Realty Pty Ltd v Carr [1977] 1 NSWLR 553 Micos v Diamond [1970] 3 NSWR 407; (1970) SR (NSW) 392 Milirrpum v Nabalco Pty Ltd (Gove Land Rights Case) (1971) 17 FLR 141 Morris v Baron & Co [1918] AC 1 Moseley v Davies (1822) 11 Price 162 National Commercial Banking Corporation of Australia Limited v Cheung (1983) 1 ACLC 1326 NEC Information Systems Australia Pty Limited v Linton (Supreme Court (NSW), Wood J, 17 April 1985, unrep) New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council v Jones (1998) 43 NSWLR 300 North Shore Gas Company Ltd v Commissioner of Stamp Duties (NSW) (1940) 63 CLR 52; [1940] HCA 7 Oldfield v Round (1800) 5 Ves 508; 31 ER 707 Pamamull v Albrizzi (Sales) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] VSCA 260 Pratt v Hawkins (1991) 32 NSWLR 319 Progressive Mailing House Pty Ltd v Tabali Pty Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 17 Re Brine and Davies' Contract [1935] Ch 338 Re Estate of Jerrard, Deceased (2018) 97 NSWLR 1106; [2018] NSWSC 781 Re Ford & Hill (1879) 10 Ch D 365 Re Ridgeway and Smith's Contract [1930] VLR 111; (1929) 36 ALR 79 Re Spollon and Long's Contract [1936] Ch 713 Redapple and Howgate v Hely (1931) 45 CLR 452 Richards v Morgan (1863) 4 B & S 641 Sampi (on behalf of the Bardi and Jawi People) v Western Australia [2010] FCAFC 26; (2010) 266 ALR 537 Sandy (on behalf of the of Yugara People) v State of Queensland (No 2) [2015] FCA 15; (2015) 325 ALR 583 SAS Realty Developments Pty Ltd v Kerr [2013] NSWCA 56 Schulze v Williams [2006] SASC 330 Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society v Reg Austin Insurance Pty Limited (1995) 9 ACLR 909 Shepherd v Croft [1911] 1 Ch 521 Smith v Joyce (1954) 89 CLR 529; [1954] HCA 15 South Eastern Drainage Board (South Australia) v Savings Bank of South Australia (1939) 62 CLR 603 Spooner v Brewster (1825) 3 Bing 136; 130 ER 465 Stockland (Constructors) Pty Ltd v Carriage (2003) 56 NSWLR 636; [2002] NSWSC 1179 Szanto v Bainton [2011] NSWSC 278 Tambel Pty Ltd v Field (1982) 2 BPR 9593; (1982) NSW ConvR ¶55-077 Thomas v Jenkins (1837) 6 Ad & El 525; 112 ER 201 Torr v Harpur (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 585 Traderight (NSW) Pty Ltd v Bank of Queensland Ltd (No 17) [2014] NSWSC 55 Travinto Nominees Pty Ltd v Vlattas (1973) 129 CLR 1 Walton v Stocks & Parkes Investments Pty Ltd (1975) 1 BPR 9660 Want v Stallibrass (1873) LR 8 Ex 175 Waugh Hotel Management Pty Ltd v Marrickville Council [2009] NSWCA 390 Williams v Williams (1882) 20 Ch D 659 Winchcombe Carson Trustee Company v Ball-Rand Pty Ltd [1974] 1 NSWLR 477 Wright v Tatham (1857) 5 Cl & F 670 Yandle and Sons v Sutton [1922] 2 Ch 199 Yanner v Eaton (1999) 201 CLR 351; [1999] HCA 53 Yarmirr v Northern Territory (No 2) (1998) 82 FCR 533 Texts Cited: Australian Law Reform Commission, Uniform Evidence Law Report (ALRC Report 102, December 2005) Christopher Rossiter, Principles of Land Contracts and Options in Australia (2003, LexisNexis Butterworths) D Skapinker and P Lane, Sale of Land: Commentary and Cases (4th ed, 2009, LawBook Co) FE Moss, Sale of Land in New South Wales (5th ed, 1973, Butterworths) Hon Michael Black AC, "Developments in Practice and Procedure in Native Title Cases" (2002) 13 Public Law Review 16 ICF Spry, Equitable Remedies (8th ed, 2009, Sweet & Maxwell J D Heydon, Cross on Evidence (6th ed, 2000, 11th ed, 2017, LexisNexis Butterworths) James H Chadbourn, Evidence in Trials at Common Law (Chadbourn Revision, 1974) Bk 5 Maurice Ryan and Robert J Smith, Time and Tide Again: A History of Byron Bay (2001, Northern Rivers Press) New South Wales Law Reform Commission, Uniform Evidence Law Report (NSWLRC Report 112, December 2005) New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 17 October 2007 New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 4 November 1969 New South Wales Legislative Council, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 24 October 2007 PJ Butt, The Standard Contract for Sale of Land in New South Wales (2nd ed, 1998, Law Book Co) Victorian Law Reform Commission, Uniform Evidence Law Report (VLRC Final Report, December 2005) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ian Mehmet t/as ATF Ian G Mehmet Testamentary Trust (First Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) Cameron Mehmet t/as ATF Cameron Mehmet (Second Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) Errol Mehmet t/as ATF Errol J Mehmet Testamentary Trust (Third Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) Cheers Aviation Pty Ltd t/as ATF KMGC Investment Trust (Fourth Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) Murray John Carter (First Defendant/Cross-Claimant) The Wheel Resort Pty Ltd (Second Defendant/Cross-Claimant) Cathscompany Pty Ltd (Third Defendant/Cross-Claimant) Matthews Cheers (Fourth Cross-Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D Smallbone with YLR Chen (Plaintiffs/Cross-Defendants) T Alexis SC with M Southwick (Defendants/Cross-Claimants)