Eade v St Barbara

[2025] VSC 21

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA Not Restricted

AT MELBOURNE
COMMON LAW DIVISION
CIVIL CIRCUIT LIST

S ECI 2021 02316

BETWEEN:

JASON JOHN EADE	Plaintiff
v
ST BARBARA LIMITED (ACN 009 165 066) & ANOR (according to the attached Schedule)	Defendants

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JUDGE	Ierodiaconou AsJ
WHERE HELD:	Melbourne
DATE OF HEARING:	18 October 2024
DATE OF RULING:	4 February 2025
CASE MAY BE CITED AS:	Eade v St Barbara & Anor
MEDIUM NEUTRAL CITATION:	[2025] VSC 21

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CONFLICT OF LAWS – Forum non conveniens – Negligence – Employee resident of Victoria injured in PNG – Whether Victoria clearly inappropriate forum – Defendant insurance – Kvist and Others v GippsAero Pty Ltd and Another [2023] VSC 275 – Abuse of process.

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APPEARANCES:	Counsel	Solicitors
For the Plaintiff	Ms Folie of counsel	Harris Lieberman Solicitors Pty Ltd
For the Defendants	Mr Bongiorno of counsel	Gilbert + Tobin

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 1

Summary.............................................................................................................................................. 1

Background......................................................................................................................................... 1

Contract of employment.............................................................................................................. 1

Incident and aftermath................................................................................................................. 3

WorkCover claim.......................................................................................................................... 4

The County Court and PNG proceedings................................................................................. 6

History of this proceeding........................................................................................................... 9

Amended statement of claim........................................................................................................... 9

Evidence regarding the relationship between St Barbara and Simberi................................ 10

Is the Supreme Court of Victoria an inappropriate forum?.................................................... 12

Applicable principles.................................................................................................................. 12

Defendants’ submissions.................................................................................................. 15

Applicable law...................................................................................................... 15

Prejudice................................................................................................................ 16

Plaintiff’s submissions...................................................................................................... 17

Supreme Court of Victoria not an inappropriate forum................................ 17

Applicable law...................................................................................................... 19

Juridical advantage.............................................................................................. 20

The defendants’ insurance.................................................................................. 21

Case Against St Barbara...................................................................................... 22

Analysis – forum......................................................................................................................... 22

Applicable law................................................................................................................... 22

Defendants’ insurance coverage...................................................................................... 24

Significant connecting factors between Victoria, the subject matter and parties..... 28

Witnesses............................................................................................................... 28

Site view................................................................................................................. 29

Documentary evidence........................................................................................ 29

Juridical advantage............................................................................................................ 29

Is the proceeding an abuse of process?........................................................................................ 31

Defendants’ submissions.................................................................................................. 31

Plaintiff’s submissions...................................................................................................... 32

Analysis – abuse of process....................................................................................................... 32

Conclusion......................................................................................................................................... 35

HER HONOUR

Introduction

1. The parties dispute whether the appropriate forum for the plaintiff’s damages claim is the Supreme Court of Victoria or the National Court of Papua New Guinea. 

1. The plaintiff, Jason Eade, resided in Victoria and was a ‘fly-in, fly-out’ (FIFO) worker.   He was working in PNG when he fell and fractured his leg and ankle.  Mr Eade underwent surgery in Australia for his injuries. 

1. The second defendant, Simberi Gold Company Ltd (‘Simberi’), is Mr Eade’s former employer.  The first defendant, St Barbara Limited (‘St Barbara’), is the parent company of the second defendant. 

1. The defendants apply for the proceeding to be dismissed, stayed or struck out. 

Summary

1. The questions for determination and their answers follow.

(a)        Is the Supreme Court of Victoria a clearly inappropriate forum? No

(b)       Is this proceeding an abuse of process? No

Background

Contract of employment

1. On 17 March 2017, Mr Eade commenced employment with Simberi, pursuant to the employment contract signed on 3 April 2017.[1]  The terms and conditions of employment are contained in a written document titled ‘letter of offer – maximum term of employment’ and an annexure titled ‘Employment Conditions’ (together, ‘the employment contract’).  The letter of offer was signed by Mr Eade and…