New South Wales v West

STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES v WAYNE KARL WEST & ANOR
[2008] ACTCA 14 (5 September 2008)

APPEAL – leave to appeal from an interlocutory judgement dismissing an application to strike out the statement of claim – whether the statement of claim discloses no reasonable cause of action – whether no amendment to the statement of claim could disclose any reasonable cause of action – cause of action in negligence – claim against the Crown in right of State of New South Wales – relationship between the pleading of material facts and the provision of particulars – whether the material facts relied upon give rise to a duty of care.

NEGLIGENCE – whether and when a statutory authority owes duty of care in the exercise of statutory power – statutory regime – purpose served – control – knowledge of risk – vulnerability of the plaintiff – whether the imposition of a duty to act or to make a decision not to act is inconsistent with, or distort the functions of, the statutory body – intended sphere of protection - political sanctions – where the duty to act may be capable of enforcement only by reference to government policy – decisions on resource allocation - whether the duty is not capable of producing liability by reason of the operation of s128(1) of the Rural Fires Act 1997 (NSW) – scope of Crown immunity – onus of proving acts or omissions in good faith.

Rural Fires Act 1997 (NSW), ss 3, 8, 9, 11, 28, 44, 64, 125, 127, 136
Mental Health Act1986 (Vic)
Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), s 731
Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT), rr 406, 425, 432, 480, 482, 507, 1147
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW)
Court Procedures Act 2004 (ACT), ss 7, 21, 22
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 1997 (NSW)
Bush Fires Act 1949 (NSW), s 48
Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 59-66 Part 9
Rural Fires Act 1997 (NSW)
Medical Practitioners Act 1938 (NSW), s 27
Rural Fires Bill 1997 (NSW) [Act 1997 No 65]

Gardner v Northern Territory of Australia [2004] NTCA 14
Anns v Merton London Borough Council [1978] AC 728
Puntoriero v Water Administration Ministerial Corporation (2000) 199 CLR 575
Kent v Griffiths [2001] QB 36
Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee (1999) 200 CLR 1
Lowns v Woods (1996) Aust Torts Reports 81-376
Pyrenees Shire Council v Day (1998) 192 CLR 330
Timbs v Shoalhaven City Council (2004) Aust Torts Reports 81–738
Hunter Area Health Service v Presland (2005) 63 NSWLR 22
Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2002) 211 CLR 540
Brodiev Singleton Shire Council (2004) 206 CLR 512
Kirkland-Veenstra v Stuart & Ors [2008] VSCA 32
Shaloub v Buchanan [2003] NSWSC 681
Board of Fire Commissioners (NSW) v Ardouin (1961) 109 CLR 105
Burnie Port Authority v General Jones Pty Ltd (1994) 179 CLR 520
Board of Fire Commissioners v Ardouin (1961) 109 CLR 105
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