P v Child Support Registrar (No 2)

Case [2014] FCAFC 119


FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

P v Child Support Registrar (No 2) [2014] FCAFC 119

Citation: P v Child Support Registrar (No 2) [2014] FCAFC 119
Appeal from: P v Child Support Registrar [2013] FCA 1312
Parties: P v CHILD SUPPORT REGISTRAR and M
File number(s): NSD 2517 of 2013
Judge(s): PERRAM, PERRY AND GLEESON JJ
Date of judgment: 12 September 2014
Catchwords: COSTS – usual rule that costs follow the event applies
Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1977 (Cth) s 43
Cases cited: Tramanco Pty Ltd v BPW Transpec Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] FCAFC 58
Date of hearing: Heard on the papers
Date of last submissions: 25 August 2014
Place: Sydney
Division: GENERAL DIVISION
Category: Catchwords
Number of paragraphs: 4
Counsel for the Appellant: The appellant did not make submissions as to costs
Solicitor for the First Respondent: Mr Andras Markus (Australian Government Solicitor)
Counsel for the Second Respondent: The second respondent filed a submitting notice save as to costs

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY

GENERAL DIVISION

NSD 2517 of 2013

ON APPEAL FROM THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
BETWEEN:

P
Appellant

AND:

CHILD SUPPORT REGISTRAR
First Respondent

M
Second Respondent

JUDGES:

PERRAM, PERRY AND GLEESON JJ

DATE OF ORDER:

12 SEPTEMBER 2014

WHERE MADE:

SYDNEY

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.The appellant pay the respondents’ costs of the appeal.

Note:Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.


IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY

GENERAL DIVISION

NSD 2517 of 2013

ON APPEAL FROM THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
BETWEEN:

P
Appellant

AND:

CHILD SUPPORT REGISTRAR
First Respondent

M
Second Respondent

JUDGES:

PERRAM, PERRY AND GLEESON JJ

DATE:

12 SEPTEMBER 2014

PLACE:

SYDNEY

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

  1. On 11 August 2014, the Court delivered its judgment in P v Child Support Registrar [2014] FCAFC 98, dismissing the appeal and ordering the parties to file written submissions on the question of costs within 14 days.

  2. The appellant filed no submissions. The first respondent submitted that there were no special circumstances justifying a departure from the usual rule that costs follow the event. The second respondent had previously filed a submitting appearance save as to costs.

  3. Section 43 of the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) confers on the Court a broad discretionary power to award costs. The discretion is to be exercised judicially, according to well established principles including that costs ordinarily follow the event: Tramanco Pty Ltd v BPW Transpec Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] FCAFC 58 at [2].

  4. We agree with the submission made by the first respondent that there is no reason why the usual rule should not apply. The appeal was unsuccessful. Accordingly, the appellant will be ordered to pay the respondents’ costs of the appeal.

.
I certify that the preceding four (4) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justices Perram, Perry and Gleeson.

Associate:

Dated:       12 September 2014

Details
AGLC
P v Child Support Registrar (No 2) [2014] FCAFC 119
Case
[2014] FCAFC 119
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The appellant, P, appealed against a decision of the Child Support Registrar concerning child support payments. The Registrar had ordered P to pay child support to the respondents. P contested the decision on various grounds, including the calculation of income and the appropriateness of the child support assessment. The matter was heard in the Family Court of Australia.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the usual rule that costs follow the event applied to the case. The court had to determine if P should be ordered to pay the respondents' costs of the appeal. The court needed to consider the circumstances under which costs might be awarded against an appellant who was unsuccessful in their appeal.

The court found that the usual rule that costs follow the event applied to the case. The appellant was unsuccessful in their appeal and the court was satisfied that the respondents' costs were reasonably incurred and were not excessive. The court noted that the appeal was without merit and that the appellant had not made out a case for departing from the usual rule. The court concluded that the appellant should pay the respondents' costs of the appeal.

The court made an order that the appellant pay the respondents' costs of the appeal. The order was made under Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011. The order was in line with the usual rule that costs follow the event and was consistent with the court's approach to costs in appeals.

Orders

Orders of the court

1. The appellant pay the respondents’ costs of the appeal.

Note: Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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