Queensland Police Service v Rose

The Queensland Police Service was the respondent to proceedings commenced by the applicants in the Trial Division. The applicants sought to have the Queensland Police Service held in contempt of court, and sought damages for the alleged contempt. The applicants also sought an originating application, which included a claim for a declaration that certain police officers were unfit to hold office. The primary judge struck out the claim and originating application, finding them to be prolix, vexatious and not disclosing a reasonable cause of action. The applicants appealed from those orders. The respondents sought to have the notices of appeal struck out on the basis that they did not state the nature of the orders sought, were largely unintelligible and did not conform with the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (Qld). The court was required to decide whether the notices of appeal complied with the rules and disclosed the orders sought by the applicants. The court found that the notices of appeal were sufficient to comply with the rules and to disclose the orders sought. The notices of appeal were intelligible to the extent necessary, and the court was able to ascertain the orders sought by the applicants. The appeals were dismissed and the applicants ordered to pay the respondents' costs of the appeals.