Tredex Australia Pty Ltd v Button, J.N
[1987] FCA 619
•13 Nov 1987
| - | .JUDGMENT No. b!? |
I N THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ) 1
ALJSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERAITORY j
) ho. ACT G 20 of 19116 LIbTHICT REGISTHY
| L7.tl.LIG.L | IJILISjL~I” |
l3ETiJLCI.I: TRLDEX AUSTRALIA PTY LTU Applicant
A:J ir : JGi1Z.l t.rCFdIAl4 BUTTON (Who 1S s u e d
i n h i s c u i J a c l t y a s M i n l s t c r o f S t a t e for I n d u s t r y , T e c h n o l o g y
and ConmerceJ R e s p o n a e n t
| JUUGE LlAKIIiG ORDER | : Cleaves J. | |||
| DATE OF UHDEK |
| |||
| M E K E MADE |
|
| THE | COUdT | O H G E h 5 | THAT: |
1. T h e n o t i o n o n b e h a l f of t h e r e s ? o n d e n t , J o h n Norman
n u t t o n , n o t i c e of w h i c h was g i v e n on 1 J u n e 1987 be disnlssecl.
I . T h e time w l t h l n w h i c h a n a p p l i c a t i o n b y T r e d c x
A u s t r a l l a u n d e r A L t d P t y t h m i n i s t r a t i v e
h c a r d t c y e t h e r .
I j e c i s i o n s ( J u d l c l a l . R c v ~ e w l A c t 1977 l r t h l f n r a n
~ ~ ~ - - ~ ~ , ~~. . . .____, _ _ _
o rde r of r e v l e w i n r e s p e c t ot t h e d e c i s i o n of John Norman B u t t o n , t h e Minister of S t a t e for I n d u s t r y ,
T e c h n o l o g y a n d Commerce, made on 9 A p r i l 1 9 8 7 a n d
n o t i f i e d t o T r e d e x A u s t r a l l a P t y L ta by l e t t e r
d a t e d 13 A p r i l 1 9 8 7 n a y . b e f i l e d be c x t e n d c d U;, t o
a n d i n c l u d i n y LU Novcnbcr 1987.
3 . T h c cos ts of t h e p r o c e c d i n s s b e f o r e t h e C o u r t un 5
J u n e 1 9 8 7 , 3 J u l l 1 9 8 7 and t h i s d a y b e r e s c r v e d .
4 . I f t h e a ~ ; p l i c a t l o n rcfcrroc; t3 i n order 2 above be
f i l c d , t h a t a p h l l c a t l o n a n a the ~1~>11 l l ca t lon u n d c r ttlc s a i d A c t i n p r o c e e d l n c ; No. ACT C; L8 OL 1986 bc
L.
5. T r e d e x Aus t ra l ia P t y L t d f i l e a n d s e r v e n o t l a t e r
t h a n 18 D e c e m b e r 1 9 8 7 a n y a f f l d a v l t s o n w h i c h i t
i n t e n d s t o r e l y .
U. John iJorrnan But ton f l l e a n d s e r v e n o t l a t e r t h a n 29
J a n u a r y 1 9 8 8 a n y a f f l d a v l t s o n w h i c h h ? i n t c n d s t o r e l y .
l . T r d : e x H u s t r d l l a l'ty L t u i l l e and serve n o t l a t e r
t h a n l u Pebruclry 19tcG a n y a f f l u a v l t s I n r e ? l y .
G. The na t te r b e l l s t e d f o r f u r t h e r u l r e c t l o n s o n l 2
F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 3 .
9. E a c h p a r t y h a v e l i b e r t y t o a p p l y o n two d a y s ' n o t ice.
| - | Note: | S e t t l e m e n t a | d | e n t r y of | orders | is | d e a l t | w l t h | I n | O r d e r | 36 |
| of | t h e F e d e r a l C o u r t | R u l e s . |
I N THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY UIbTRICT REGISTRY
GEhUtHAL CIVISICN
UEThEr
A p p l i c a n t
b t a t e for- I n d u s t r y , T c c h n o l o y y a n c Commerce)
R e s p o n d e n t
- CORK?: Ncaves J.
- DATL: 1 3 lwovenuer 1307
T h e Court nas b e f o r e I t two not lons on n o t l c e . T h e
f l r s t i s a m o t l o n on b e h a l f of J o h n N o r m a n B u t t o n l n h l s
c a p a c l t y a s M l n l s t e r o f S t a t e f o r I n d u s t r y , T e c h n o l o y y a n d
Commcrce f o r a n o r d e r t h a t a p r o c c e d l n c j (ho. ACT G 28 of 1966)
i n w h i c h T r e d e x Aus t ra l la P t y L t d ( " T r e d e x " ) 1s t h e a p p l l c a n t
a n d t h e M i n i s t e r is r e s p o n d e n t a n d l n w h l c h T r e d e x s e e k s a n
order of revlew u n d e r t h e A d m i n l s t r a t l v e Decisions ( J u d l c i a l
Revlew) Act 1977 ( C t h ) ( " t h e J u d l c l a l Rcvlzw Act") be d l s n l s s e d
y e n e r a l l y p u r s u a n t t o O r d e r 20, r u l e 2 o f t h e F e d e r a l C o u r t
R u l e s ?.S d l s c l o s l n g no reasonablc c a u s e of action. T h e s e c o n d
1s d motion on b e h a l f of T r e c l e x f o r a n e x t c n s l o n o f time w l t h l n
whlch t o b r l n y a f u r t h e r s r o c c c d l n s a y a l n s t t h c Mlnlstcr u n d c r t h e J u d i c i a l Review Act. A l t h o u g h t h c n o t l c c of t h l s m o t l o n 1s intituled in groceeding No. ACT G 28 of 198b, it is , in truth, a proceeding separate from that appllcatlon thouGh related to It in a wdy wrlich wlll ap2eur.
. pagers (1.e. contalnlny not more than 10 pcr cent necnonlcal ~uls), ln reels and sheets classlfled withln par.4a.Ul.91 of Schedule 3 of the Customs Tariff Act uncoatcd woodfree grlntln5 and krltlny
1982 (Cth); and
. papers cut to size and shape, classlfled within sub-item 48.15.9 of the said schedule, uncoated woodfree grrnting and writing
exgorted from South Africa prior to the date of publication
the date of such publlcatlon or within the perlod of four of the notice and entered for home consumption on or after months last preceding thc date of such publlcatlon. The notice recites that the Mlnistcr was sotlsfled in respect of the said goods that:
"(a)
thc amount ot the cxport price of the g o o d s is less than thc amount ot the normal vdlur of those goods;
(b) by reason t h e r e o f -
(1) material i n ~ u r y t o a n A u s t r a l i a n
i n d u s t r y h a s h e n o r i s b e i n g
c a u s c d or is t h r e a t e n e d , o r the
e s t a b l i s h n e n t ot a n A u s t r a l i a n
l n u u s t r y h a s b e e n or n a y be
n a t c r l a l l y h i n d c r c d ; o r
(11) material i n ~ u r y t o an A u s t r a i i a n
i n d u s t r y b o u i d ur night hav? been
c a u s e d i f s c c d r l t y h a d n o t becn t a k e n u n d e r s e c t i o n 4~ o f t h e
C u s t o m s A c t l S U l I n respec t of
any d u t v t h a t may beconc savable
E l i n l s t e r T h c o b ~ c c t c d t o a p 2 l i c a t i o n t h a t
p r o c c e d i n s t o a h e a r i n c , o n t h e $ r o u n d t h a t i t was 1odr;eJ o u t
ot t i n e . TLc q u c s t i o n ra i scd by t h a t o b ~ u c t i o n w d s
d e t e r n i n c d i n t h e I l l n l s t e r ' s f a v o u r I n a jud$mcnt of t h c
C o u r t u e l l v e r e d on 11 Se,?tcmbcr 1 9 d G ( T r e d e x A u s t r d l i a Pty
- L t d v . ~ u t t o n ( 1 9 b 6 ) o d A . L . 1 1 . b 2 5 ) . A n a p > l i c a t l o n by 'TrcUex f o r a n e x t c n s i o n o f thc tune w i t h i n w h l c h t o l o d g e
t h e a d p l i c a t l o n was, h o w e v e r , s u c c e s s f u l (W)).
Uy v i r t u e o f sub-s.15(3) of t h e A n t l - C u m p i n g Act, a
person e n y a g c d i n t h e b u s i n e s s o f i m p o r t l n g i n t o Aus t r a l i a
g o o d s of a p a r t i c u l a r k l n d may r c q u e s t t h c M i n l s t e r t o
r e v o k c a no t l ce i n f o r c e u n d e r s . 8 r e l a t i n g t o t h o s e goods o r g o o d s of t h a t k i n d . W h e r e t h e Minis te r i n f o r m s t h e
p e r s o n , ~n w r l t i n g , t h a t h e d o c s n o t ;rol;ose t o accede t o
t h e request, t h e p r s o n n a y r e q u e s t t h e f l i n l s t e r , ~n
v r i t i n c j , t o r e f e r t o t h c I n d u s t r l c s Assistance C o r m i s s l o n ( " t h e Comnlssion") f o r i n y u l r y a n d rLport t h e q u e s t i o n a s t o
t h e e x l s t c n c e of a f a c t o r f a c t s ds t o t h c c x i s t c n c c of
which, 1f t h e n o t l c c were not l n f o r c e , t h e M i n r s t e r w o u l d
b e requlred t o be s a t r s f i e d b e f o r e c a u s l n g t h e notlce t o be p u b l i s h e d . k i h r r e t h u Mlnlster r e c e l v e s s u c h a r e q u e s t , h e
1s r e q u l r e d t o r e f e r t h c q u e s t l o n t o t h c C o m m l s s l o n u n l e s s
t h e q u c s t l o n h a s pCCVlOUSlj’ b e e n rdLcrrcc! ( s u b s . l > ( d ) ) .
P r i o r t o 11 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 b , whcn ~ u d y m n t u p o n t h c
ea r l i e r a p L d l l c a t l o n was d c l l v e r e d , T r e d e x h a d r e q u e s t e d t h a t
a y u c s t l o n c o n c r r n l n y two f a c t u a l i ssues te rc ic r rcd t o t h e C o m l l s s i o n for l n q u l r y a n d r e p o r t . T h o s e 1ssue.s were sa le
t o r * l a t e , f l r s t t o t h e m e t h o d of a s c c r t a l n n e n t o t t h t
normal v a l u c of t h e goods l n q u c s t i o n a n d , s e c o n d l y , t o ti;c
f i n d i n g c o n c e r n i n g materla1 l n J u r y t o A u s t r n l l a n a n I n d u s t r y . N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h c $ r o v l s l o n s of s u b - s . l j ( 4 ) of
t h e A n t i - L u r q i n g Act and the c i r c u n s t a n c e t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n
llad n o t previously been r e f e r r e d t o t h c Conmlsslon, t h e r e
hacl b c e n n o r e f e r e n c e o f t h e q u e s t l o n t o t h e C o m n i s s i o n
prior t o 11 S e p t e m b c r 1 9 8 6 .
IIowcver, on 15 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 6 t h e M l n i s t e r referred
t o t h e C o m m l s s l o n f o r l n q u l r y a n d report t h e q u e s t l o n s -
“ ( a ) w h e t h e r a n y o f t h e g o o d s e x p o r t e d t o
A u s t r a l i a f r o m S o u t h A f r i c a p r l o r t o t h e
22nd d a y of J a n u a r y 1 9 8 6 , b e l n g g o o d s
e n t e r e d for h o n e c o n s u m p t i o n on anc!
a f t c r t h e 22nd day of J a n u a r y 1986 o r
w i t h i n t h e , ~ e r l o d o f f o u r m o n t h s l a s t
p r e c e d i n y t h e LLnd d a y o f J a n u a r y 1 9 U b ,
h a v e b e e n e x ~ o r t e d t o A u s t r a l l a a t a n
c x p o r t p r i c e w h l c h 1s less t h a n t h e
n o r m a l v a l u z I n S o u t h A f r i c a ; and
(b) w h e t h e r , I f a n s w e r t h c t o ( a ) 1s
a f f l r m a t l v c , by rcason thercot -
(1) materla1 l n l u r y t o a n A u s t r a l i a n
nuu us try h a s b e c n o r is b e i n g
caused or 1s t h r e a t e n e d o r t h e
e s t a o l i s h n c n t of a n A u s t r a l i a n
i n d u s t r y h a s b e e n or n a y be
n a t a r i a l l y h l n r l o r c d , or
(11) l ad tc r lc l l n ~ u r y to an A u s t r a l i d n
1 n c ; u s t r y wou ld or rnl5l;t navL L c e n
c ~ u s c c ! i f s e c u r i t y hac: no t been t a k e n u n d e r S e c t i o n 4 2 of t h e Cdstoms A c t l9ul 111 r u s d u c t of
a a i - L t y t h a t n a y L ~ c o n c p a y a b l e c n tr:osc .I;OOLIS. I'
T h e C o n n l s s l o n h e l d a ;,u>llc h e a r i n g o n t h e
r e f e r e n c e f o l l o w i n g t h e r t c c i g t by It of w r i t t e n submissions
by i n t e r e s t e d p a r t l c ; s , i n c l d d l n , T r e c e x , a n u o n 1 5 D e c e n b e r
14Ju submi t ted i t s repor t t o t n c :.~lnlst.:r. Page 3 2 of t'h*
Cornlsslon's r e p o r t records ~ t s f l n d l n r ; s as tollows:
"The I n d u s t r l s s A s ~ s t a n c e C o n n l s s i o n f i d s
t h a t , III t h e pcrlod s p e c l f l e d I n the r e f e r e n c e :
c e r t a i n u n c o a t c d w o o d f r e e 2apcrs u n d e r
r e f e r e n c e u e x L > o r t e c . r c t o Australia
from S o u t h A f r i c a a t e x p o r t p r i c e s w h i c h
were less t h a n t h e normal v a l u e i n S o u t h A f r i c a ;
t h e i m p o r t a t i o n o f w h l t e B a n k s f a l l l n g
w i t h i n p a r a g r a p h 48.01.91 of t h e C u s t o m s T a r l f f , statistical code 308, c a u s e d a n d t h r e a t e n e d material i n ] u r y t o the
A u s t r a l i a n i n d u s t r y 2 r o d u c i n g w h i t e
B a n k s I n r o l l s or s h e e t s ; a n d
i n p r y was n o t c a u s e d or t h r e a t e n e d t o t h c loca l i n d u s t r y p r o d u c l n y w h l t e B o n d s i n r o l l s o r s h e e t s , o r t o a n y of t h e
o t h e r g o o d s u n d e r r e f e r e n c c .
Thc Commlssion a l so f l n d s t h a t natcr1a.l i n J u r y
w o u l d o r m i g h t have b c c n a u s e d t o t h e
A u s t r a l i a n i n d u s t r y p r o d u c l n c ; w h i t e B a n k s i n
rolls or s h e e t s ~f s c c u r i t i c s had n o t b c c n t a k c n
u n d e r S c c t l o n 4 2 o f t h e C u s t o m s Act l Y O l i n
r e l a t i o n t o i m p o r t s of w h i t e ' J a n k s 111 rol ls or
s h c c t s Eron S o u t h A f r i c a . "
It 1s to oe noted that neither the Anti-Dumping Act nor the Industries Assistance Commlsslon Act 1973 (Cth) cxPresslY 2rovider. f o r what 1s to occur once the Conmission has madc its report. It may, >erha;s, Se mplied that the rlinlstcr 1s unl;Gr b cuty to consider Che resort and aeternlne whether to act uson any flnclngs or rocomcnuatlons made by the Connlsslon. Thcrc is, ccrtalnly, no express oollc,,atlcn ;,lacer; upon him to do SO.
Following recel2t of the Connlsslon's report,
submissions were put to the !llnlster on Behalf of Tredex 'insupport of the proposition that 'Id posltive €inciny of
dumsins has been maintained once agaln on erroneous grounds". Tne Mlnlster was again requested to r c v o k c the notice published on L 2 January 1930.
On 13 April 1987 a letter was sent to the
solicitors for Tredex by an officer of the Department Of
Industry, Technology and Commerce in the followlng terms:
"The Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce, Senator John Button, has asked that I reply to y o u r letter of 30 March 1987 concerning the Industries Assistance Commission report on certain uncoated woodfree papcr from South Africa.
The Minister has acce2ted thc findings of the
IAC other than the finainy:'(111) injury was not causea or threatened to the local industry producing white bond in r o l l s or shects, o r to any of the other goods under refarcncc'.
A c o p y o f t h e meaia r e l e a s e a n n o u n c i n s t h e
Minister's d e c i s i o n is e n c l o s e d y f o r u r i n f o r m a t l o n . "
I t 1s u n n e c e s s a r y t o s c t o u t t h e m a i d re lease In f u l l . I t
15 s u f ~ l c l c n t t o note t h a t l t rccurdcc! an a n n o u n c c n c n t by
tnc ' I l n l s t e r 0 1 1 3 A;rll l r b 7 t l ia t d u n ; l n ~ d u t i e s were t o be
rctcllned on the uncoatea v o o i f r e e p a G c r s f r o m S o u t h A f r i c a s p c i f i e c l i n t h e no t l cc > u S l i s h e u o n L L J a n u a r y 1986.
fio s t e p h a d i n t h e interim Deen t a k e n by T r e d e x i n
t h e p r o c e e d i n g No. ACT G 2 8 o f 1 9 8 6 . H o w e v e r , a f t e r receipt on 15 A p r l l 1 9 8 7 o f t h e l e t t e r ddtcr! 1 3 A p r i l 1 9 6 7 , s t e p
w r e t a k e n t o l lst t h a t 2 r o c e f d i n g €or a d i r c c t l o n s h e a r i n c ;
on 5 J u n e 1 9 8 7 . O n 1 J u n e 1 9 8 7 t h e no t i ce o f motlon, t o
which I h a v e r e f e r r e d , s e e k l n g a n o r d e r t h a t t h e p r o c e c d l n g
b e d i s m l s s e d u n d e r O r d e r 2 b , rule 2 o f t h e F e d e r a l Cour t
R u l e s was f i l e d on b e h a l f of t h e E l l n l s t e r . T h e n o t i c e s t a t e d t h a t t h e C o u r t would be moved o n 5 J u n e 1 9 8 7 .
I n s u p p o r t i n g t h e n o t l o n t o d i s m i s s t h e a p p l i c a t l o n
i n p r o c e e d i n g No. ACT G 2 8 o f 1986, c o u n s e l f o r t h e Minister
d i d n o t c o n t e n d t h a t t h e G r o u n d s s e t o u t i n t h e a p p l i c a t i o n
f i l e d o n 29 May 19&6 had no s u b s t a n c e or were n o t a r g u a b l e g r o u n d s . T h e essence o f h i s s u b m i s s i o n was t h a t t h e
decision o f t h e M i n l s t e r e v i d e n c e d b y t h e no t i ce p u b l i s h e d
On Z L J a n u a r y 1 9 8 b was no l o n g e r t h e o p c r d t l v e decision, I t h a v i n g b e e n s u p e r c e d e d by t h e d e c i s i o n madc by t h c Mlnister on 9 A p r i l 1 9 8 7 f o l l o w i n y u p o n h i s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e
report of t h e C o n n i s s l o n u p o n t h c r e f c r c n c c madc t o it by t h e M i n i s t e r a t t h e ins tance of T r e d c x . I t was s u b m l t t c d
t h a t , i n t h o s e circumstances, t h e e a r l l e r d e c l s i o n was n o t
o n c t h a t was s u s c e p t i b l e o f a t t a c k u n a c r t h c J u o l c l a l R e v l e w
Act e x c e p t c o l l a t e r a l l y a s p a r t of an a t t a c k u 2 o n t h e l a t e r
Li2Clslon. A l l a n c e :,as a l s o p l a c e r . o n t h c c l r c u n s t a n c a t h a t
T r c o e x h a a n o t l n s t l t u t c ‘ d 2 r o c e f d l n b s u n d e r the Judicial
Ildvlew Act f o r u n orber of r e v l e w ~n rdsL-c.ct of t h e l a t e r d e c l s i o n .
T r 4 t . x opposed t h e m a k l n y o f t h e o r d e r s o u h h t ,
c o n t e n d i n g t h a t i ts l i a b i l i t y t o p a y d u t y m d e r - - t h e -. ‘-
Antl-Dumping A c t d e r l v c a f r o m t h e p u b l l c a t l o n of t h e notkcc;,
o n L;: J a n u a r y 1 9 d b a n < n o t from a n y s u b s e q u e n t a c t l o n t a k e n
by t h e Minister. Thi! a r g u m e n t fo r T r e d e x w e n t so f a r a s t o
c o n t e n d t h a t h e d e c i s l o n made by t h e M l n l s t e r on 5) A p r l l
1987 was not c a p a b l e of cha l lense u n d e r t h e J u c l c l a l k c v l e w Act b e c a u s e , a l t h o u g h l t m l ~ h t h a v e a m o u n t e d t o a d C C l S i O n ,
I t was n o t a d e c i s l o n “ u n d e r a n e n a c t m e n c ” w i t h l n t h e n e a n l n g - o f t h a t e x p r e s s i o n I n t h e J u d l c l a l R e v l e w A c t , as
t h e l e g i s l a t i o n g a v e operat ive e f f e c t o n l y t o t h e
p u b l i c a t l o n o f a n o t i c e l n t h e Commonwealth of A u s t r a l i a
G a z e t t e ana no s u c h p u b l l c a t i o n of t h e l a te r decision h a d
been made.
The d l r e c t i o n s h e a r i n g i n respect of t h e
~ p p l l c a t l o n r e s u l t e d i n t h e d l s c u s s l o n of a w l d c r a n g e of
i s s u e s t h a n those a r l s i n g u p o n t h e n o t l o n o n b e h a l f of the
I l i n i s t u r . I n y a r t l c u l a r , q u e s t i o n t h e was discussed
Wtlctller, I n oruer t o e n s u r e t h a t a l l rc levant issues b e t w e e n the parties were properly before the Court, Tredex should flle an application under the Judiclal Keview Act for an Ordtr of review In respect of the declslon ot whlch notlcc was sivun to Tredex by letter dated 1 3 A;rll 1Ya7 and, as L12 tlr,iL wlthln wnich such an dpgllcatlon night be 1orlc;ed
hac cx,~ired, an appllcation to extend such tlmc to enable thc substdntlve appllcatlon to be brought. The matter was ad~ournea untll 3 July 1937 to enable Tredex to conslder What course It wished to follow. No dcclslon was nadc at that time upon the Mlnlstcr's motlon for dlsmlssal of the appllcation In procecdlng NO. ACT G 26 of 19815.
On 1J June 19d7 Tredcx fllcd ln ths reglstry Of tnt: Court a notice of motlon sceklns dn extenslon of tune within which to lodge an appllcatlon under the Judiclal Rcvlew Act for an order of rcvlcw ln respect of the declslon of the :linister made on 9 Aprll 1987 and notlfied to Tredex by the letter dated 13 April 1YU7. The dcclslon 1s dcscrlbed in the application as a dcclslon purportlny to affirm O r r alternatlvely, not to revoke the declslon of the Mlnister on 8 January 1986 under the Antl-Dunplng Act. On the same day
Tredex lodged in the registry a document In the form of the substantive appllcatlon to be flled ln the event of the extension of time being granted. The matter again cane before the Court on 3 July
11. l '.
S O f a r as t h e N l n l s t c r ' s m o t l o n u n d e r O r d e r 2 0 ,
r u l c L of t h e F e d e r a l Cour t Ku lcs is c o n c c r n e d , I accept t h e s u b n l s s l o n s ? u t by c o u n s e l on b e h a l f o f T r e d c x . I t would be
a serlous s t e p t o d l s n l s s 2 r o c e e d l n g t h e a t t h i s
l n t c r l o c u t o r y s t age as d l s c l o s l n y no r e a s o n a b l e cause o f
a c t l o n . I t 1s a s t e p whlc l ; s h o u l d o n l y b e t a k e n I n t h e
c l e a r e s t o f c a scs a n d I d o n o t p r o p o s e t o a c c e d e t o t h e
l n v i t a t l o n t o take it. U n t l l r e v o k e d u n d e r t h e a p p r o p r i a t e
legislative p r o v i s l o n s , o r se t a s l d e a s a r e s u l t of rev iew
u n d e r t h e J u d i c r a l R e v i e w Act, t h e n o t i c e p u b l i s h e d o n 22
J a n u a r y 1 9 8 6 continues t o b e t h e source of t h e l l a b l l l t y o f
T r e d c x t o d u m a l n g d u t y i n r c s p c c t of t h e g o o d s t o w h i c h t h e
nOt lCe relates. I n ny o p i n i o n , ~t wou ld n o t b e a proper
cxercise of t h e C o u r t ' s d l s c r c t i o n t o exercise t h e power
u n d z r O r d e r 20 , r u l e 2 t o p r e v e n t T r e d e x h a v l n g t h e d e c i s l o n
e v l d c n c u d b y t h a t no t lce r e v i e w e d u n d e r t h e J u d i c l a l Review Act. The rnotlon o n D e h a l t of the M l n l s t e r notice of w h l c h
was y l v c n o n 1 J u n e 1987 i s , t h c r c f o r e , d i s m i s s e d .
-_ rlhd a f t i L u v l t rv ldencc , p l a c e d b e f o r e tile C o u r t I n s u p p o r t of
tllc a ; , ; l l ca t lon f o r A n e x t e n s l o n of tlme s a t l s f l c s ne t h a t
tile rda5on I n resscct ot
h i - . ~ a n
a p 1 : l l c a t l o n
u n d e r
t h e
J u d l c l a l
R e v l e w
Act
'kinat was d o n e on 9 A p r i l 1 9 8 7 was n o t l o d g e d
W l t h l n thc t1r.c : l r t , s c r l b e d b y s . l l ( 3 ) of t h a t Act was
L c c ~ ~ s i o f t h u v i e w t a k e n by T r c d e x ' s l e g a l a d v l s e r s t h a t
t k r L :das no "c.cclslon u n d e r a n e n a c t m e n t " I n r e s p e c t of
;,..~CI. C ~ L I - , a r ; , , l l c a t l o n c o u l d b e made a n d , I n a n y e v e n t ,
t l l L L 'I'rc.Jc:':'b i<:Jdl r l g h t s were f u l l y p r o t c c t a d by t h e
Luril:r d , , i - ~ a L l u n . W h c t h c r t h c y wcrc cor rec t l n t a k l n g The Minister opposed the grantlng of an extension
of time to permit Tredex to file the application for an
order of review in respect of the declslon of 9 April 1987. No ar9ument was, however, addressed to the! Court on whether what was done on that date was revlewable under the Judicial Revlew Act.
In all the circumstances, I thlnk thls 1s a proper case ~n which to grant an approprlate extenslon of time so as to enable the application in relatlon to the declslon made by the Minlster on 9 April 1987 to be flled. It was my understandlng when the natter was last before the Court that the further application under the Judlclal Revlew Act had
been filed on 18 June 1987 so that an extenslon up to and including that date would be sufficlent. However, an examination of the Court record Indicates that the further application has not, ~n fact, been flled. I propose,
therefore, to grant an extension of tlme to flle the application up to and including 20 November 1987.
Directions should now be given as to the further appllcation be filed, that application and the application
conduct of the proceedings. I order that, if the further
In mattcr No. ACT G 28 of 1986 be heard together. I further order that Tredex file and serve not later than 18 December
1987 any affidavlts on which It intcnds to rely, that the Minister flle and serve not later than 29 January 1988 any affldavits on which he intcnds to rely, that Tredex file and serve not latcr than 1 U February 19&8 any affidavits ln reply and that the matter be listed for further directions
on 12 February 1988. I order that the costs of the proccedlnps before the Court on 5 June 1367, 3 July 1967 and thls day be reserved. I rcscrvc to each dart1 liberty to apply on two days' notlcr.
I certify that thls anc
the preceding 13 pages are
a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment hereln of the Honourable Mr Justlce Neaves.
Assoclatc
Dated: 13 Novenber 1307
Counsel for the Tredex : Mr B.T. Sully Q.C., Australia Pty Ltd Mr F.J. Purncll and Mr I.W. Nash Sollcitors for Tredex Australia
Ltd Pty : J.G. McMahon h Co. Counsel for the Minister : Mr C.M. Ersklne
Sollcitor for the Minister : Australian Government Solicitor Dates of hearing : 5 June 1987, 3 July 1987
0
0
0