Queensland Police Union of Employees & Ors v State of Queensland

[2014] HCATrans 144

[2014] HCATrans 144

IN THE HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Office of the Registry
  City     No B48 of 2013

B e t w e e n -

QUEENSLAND POLICE UNION OF EMPLOYEES

First Plaintiff

QUEENSLAND NURSES’ UNION OF EMPLOYEES

Second Plaintiff

QUEENSLAND TEACHERS UNION OF EMPLOYEES

Third Plaintiff

and

STATE OF QUEENSLAND

Defendant

Summons for directions

KIEFEL J

TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS

AT BRISBANE BY VIDEO LINK TO SYDNEY

ON WEDNESDAY, 25 JUNE 2014, AT 9.32 AM

Copyright in the High Court of Australia

____________________

MR N.J. OWENS:   If the Court pleases, I appear for the plaintiffs.  (instructed by Hall Payne Lawyers)

MR G.J.D. DEL VILLAR:   May it please the Court, I appear for the defendants.  (instructed by Crown Law – Brisbane)

HER HONOUR:   I have read the plaintiffs’ outline of written submissions in relation to the remaining issue of costs but appear not to have received any from the defendant, Mr del Villar.

MR DEL VILLAR:   Your Honour, my instructions are that we will essentially be agreeing to orders that costs be agreed or assessed.

HER HONOUR:   The defendant agrees to pay the plaintiffs’ costs?

MR DEL VILLAR:   Yes, your Honour.

HER HONOUR:   Were you aware of this, Mr Owens?

MR OWENS:   We received a phone call yesterday, your Honour, to tell us that, so I was going to propose that with consent – or by consent ‑ your Honour make orders, one, giving the plaintiff leave to discontinue and, two, providing that the defendant pay the plaintiffs’ costs.

HER HONOUR:   As agreed or not agreed to be taxed?

MR OWENS:   That is correct.

HER HONOUR:   Yes, very well.  There will be orders in those terms.  It may have been useful to have been advised that there was no longer an issue about costs; the matter could have been resolved on the papers.  Adjourn the Court.

MR OWENS:   I am sorry the matter was not brought to your Honour’s attention earlier.

HER HONOUR:   Adjourn the Court.

AT 9.34 AM THE MATTER WAS CONCLUDED