//
[2025] WADC 61
General information, not legal advice.
District Court of WA
2025-09-17
Re Mr P, Carolyn Martin J
Original judgment source is linked above.
I certify that the preceding paragraph(s) comprise the reasons for decision of the District Court of Western Australia.
[1] Magistrates Court lower court file PE Minor 9947 of 2024 (MB), page 128.
[2] MB, page 3, Minor Case Claim Form 4 (CF).
[12] Priscila Cronin Form 32A - Statement of Intended Evidence of a Witness dated 14 October 2024 (First Cronin Statement); MB, page 26.
[13] Marjorie Angeles Form 32A - Statement of Intended Evidence of a Witness dated 10 January 2025 (Angeles Statement); MB, page 78.
[14] Priscila Cronin Form 32A - Statement of Intended Evidence of a Witness dated 15 January 2025 (Second Cronin Statement); MB, page 110.
[15] Magistrates Court transcript of proceedings heard on 25 February 2025 (25 February 2025 ts) 55; MB, page 228.
[16] 25 February 2025 ts 55; MB, page 228.
[17] 25 February 2025 ts 79 - ts 94; MB, pages 251 - 266.
[18] 25 February 2025 ts 96; MB, page 268.
[19] 25 February 2025 ts 97; MB, page 269.
[20] Rankilor v Circuit Travel Pty Ltd [2013] WASCA 148 [55] (Newnes JA, with whom Pullin JA agreed generally, and Buss JA agreed on this issue).
[21] Jones v Darkan Hotel [2014] WASCA 133 [31] (judgment of the court).
[23] Glew v Frank Jasper Pty Ltd [2010] WASCA 87 [10] (reasons of the court).
[24] Wentworth v Rogers (No 5) (1986) 6 NSWLR 534, 536 - 537 (Kirby P), 543 (Hope JA, with whom Samuels JA agreed); Smart v Prisoner Review Board (WA) [2012] WASC 48 [10] (Pritchard J).
[25] Ibrahim v The Honourable Justice Carolyn Martin [2012] WASC 338 [21] (Beech J); Tobin v Dodd [2004] WASCA 288 [15] (EM Heenan J, with whom Murray & Le Miere JJ agreed).
[26] Nobarani v Mariconte [2018] HCA 36 [47] (Kiefel CJ, Gageler, Nettle, Gordon & Edelman JJ); Woodley v Woodley [2018] WASCA 149 [76] (judgment of the court); Moleirinho v Talbot & Olivier Lawyers Pty Ltd [2014] WASCA 65 [51] (judgment of the court).
[27] Appellant's outline of submissions dated 16 June 2025, par 23, page 6.
[28] R v Burton; Ex parte Lowe [2003] WASCA 306 [62], [87] (Barker J, with whom Murray J & Roberts-Smith JJ agreed); Alvaro v Fraser & Downsborough Designers Pty Ltd (1990) 20 ALD 762, 766 (Malcolm CJ, with whom Seaman & Nicholson JJ agreed).
[30] Affidavit of Priscila Cronin sworn 17 April 2025.
[31] See Cameron v Cole [1944] HCA 5; (1944) 68 CLR 571, 589 (Rich J); International Finance Trust Co Ltd v New South Wales Crime Commission [2009] HCA 49; (2009) 240 CLR 319 [54] (French J); see also [88] (Gummow & Bell JJ), [141] - [146] (Heydon J). See also Rowe v Stoltze [2013] WASCA 92 [51] (Newnes JA, with whom Pullin & Murphy JJA agreed).
[32] Rankilor v Circuit Travel Pty Ltd [57].
[33] Defendi v Szigligeti [2019] WASCA 115 [48].
[34] Re Mr P G Cockram; Ex parte Tey [2013] WASCA 104 [7] - [8] (judgment of the court) (Tey).
[35] Magistrates Court transcript of proceedings heard on 13 January 2025 (13 January 2025 ts) 8; MB, page 166.
[36] 13 January 2025 ts 10 - ts 12; MB, pages 169 - 171.
[37] 25 February 2025 ts 8 - ts 10; MB, pages 180 - 182.
[38] 25 February 2025 ts 12 - ts 14; MB, pages 184 - 186.
[39] 25 February 2025 ts 15; MB, page 187.
[40] 25 February 2025 ts 27; MB, page 199.
[41] 25 February 2025 ts 34; MB, page 206.
[42] 25 February 2025 ts 40; MB, page 212.
[43] 25 February 2025 ts 95; MB, page 267.
[44] 25 February 2025 ts 70; MB, page 242.
[45] 25 February 2025 ts 12 - ts 14; MB, pages 184 - 186.
[46] Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University [2009] HCA 27; 239 CLR 175 [112] (Gummow, Hayne, Crennan, Kiefel & Bell JJ).
[48] Ogbonna v CTI Logistics Ltd [2021] WASCA 25 [26].
[49] R v Kelly; Ex parte Hoang Van Duong (1981) 28 SASR 271, 273 (King CJ with whom Zelling & Jacobs JJ agreed).
[50] 25 February 2025 ts 76; MB, page 248.
[51] 25 February 2025 ts 77; MB, page 249.
[52] 25 February 2025 ts 88; MB, page 260.
[53] 25 February 2025 ts 91; MB, page 263.
[54] Re JRL; Ex parte CJL [1986] HCA 39; (1986) 161 CLR 342, 350 (Mason J).
[55] Chin v Legal Practice Board of Western Australia [2011] WASCA 110 [5] (Newnes JA). See also: Smart v Albuquerque [2011] WASCA 231 [9] (judgment of the court); MTI v SUL [No 2] [2012] WASCA 87 [13] (judgment of the court).
[56] Ebner v The Official Trustee in Bankruptcy [2000] HCA 63; (2000) 205 CLR 337 [8].
[57] De Alwis v The State of Western Australia [No 2] [2015] WASCA 42 [70] (McLure P, with whom Buss & Mazza JJA agreed) (De Alwis [No 2]).
[60] District Court of Western Australia Act 1969 (WA) s 64; Rules of the Supreme Court 1971 (WA) O 66 r 1(1).
Alvaro
Fraser & Downsborough Designers Pty Ltd
Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University [2009] HCA 27; 239 CLR 175
Cameron v Cole [1944] HCA 5; (1944) 68 CLR 571
Chin v Legal Practice Board of Western Australia [2011] WASCA 110
De Alwis v The State of Western Australia [No 2] [2015] WASCA 42
Defendi v Szigligeti [2019] WASCA 115
Ebner v The Official Trustee in Bankruptcy [2000] HCA 63; (2000) 205 CLR 337
Glew v Frank Jasper Pty Ltd [2010] WASCA 87
Ibrahim v The Honourable Justice Carolyn Martin [2012] WASC 338
International Finance Trust Co Ltd v New South Wales Crime Commission [2009] HCA 49; (2009) 240 CLR 319
Jones v Darkan Hotel [2014] WASCA 133
Moleirinho v Talbot & Olivier Lawyers Pty Ltd [2014] WASCA 65
MTI v SUL [No 2] [2012] WASCA 87
Nobarani v Mariconte [2018] HCA 36
Ogbonna v CTI Logistics Ltd [2021] WASCA 25
R v Burton; Ex parte Lowe [2003] WASCA 306
Rankilor v Circuit Travel Pty Ltd [2013] WASCA 148
Re JRL; Ex parte CJL [1986] HCA 39; (1986) 161 CLR 342
Re Mr P G Cockram; Ex parte Tey [2013] WASCA 104
Rowe v Stoltze [2013] WASCA 92
Smart v Albuquerque [2011] WASCA 231
Smart v Prisoner Review Board (WA) [2012] WASC 48
Tobin v Dodd [2004] WASCA 288
Woodley v Woodley [2018] WASCA 149
Where a party contends that actual bias exists, the applicant must show that the mind of the decision-maker is so committed to a conclusion already formed as to be incapable of alteration, whatever evidence or arguments may be presented: Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia Legeng [2001] HCA 17; (2001) 205 CLR 507, 532 [72]. Actual bias will exist where the decision-maker has prejudged the case against the applicant, or acted with such partisanship or hostility as to show that the decision-maker had a mind made up against the applicant and was not open to persuasion in favour of the applicant: see Jia Legeng [36], [72]. Such an allegation must be 'distinctly made and clearly proved': Jia Legeng [69], [127].
(1944) 68 CLR 571
(2000) 205 CLR 337
(2009) 240 CLR 319
(1981) 28 SASR 271
(1986) 161 CLR 342
(1986) 6 NSWLR 534
(2001) 205 CLR 507