WATSON and SPORTING SHOOTERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (WA) INC.

In the matter of Watson and Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (WA) Inc., the applicants sought a judicial review of a decision made by the Associations Incorporation Tribunal (WA). The dispute revolves around the applicants' assertion that the Tribunal lacks the jurisdiction to determine the matter, primarily due to questions about their membership status in the association and whether they adhered to the prescribed dispute resolution procedure outlined in the association's constitution.

The court was tasked with determining whether the applicants qualified as members of the association, as this is a prerequisite for initiating proceedings under section 182 of the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 (WA). Additionally, the court needed to assess whether the applicants followed the internal dispute resolution procedures stipulated in the association's constitution, as failure to do so could impact the Tribunal's jurisdiction.

The court examined the applicants' membership status and adherence to the internal dispute resolution procedures. It found that the applicants had not conclusively proven their membership and had not followed the prescribed dispute resolution procedure. Consequently, the court ruled that the Tribunal did not have the jurisdiction to determine the dispute. The court further determined that the association's grievance procedure, which is part of the constitution, should be applied to the specific facts of this case to assess the applicants' eligibility to bring the proceeding.

In light of the findings, the court dismissed the applicants' application for judicial review, reaffirming the importance of following internal association procedures before seeking external judicial intervention. The court's decision underscores the necessity for members to comply with the constitution and internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the Tribunal.