[2023] VSCA 170
General information, not legal advice.
Court of Appeal (Vic)
2023-07-27
MacAulay JA
Original judgment source is linked above.
[2023] VSCA 170
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - Judicial review - Procedural fairness - Appeal from decision of judge summarily dismissing appeal from decision of Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to not adjourn and proceed to hear landlord's application for a possession order - Whether judge erred in holding that appeal had no real prospect of success - Whether Tribunal breached procedural fairness by refusing or not considering adjournment - Application for leave to appeal refused.
Isbester v Knox City Council [2015] HCA 20; (2015) 255 CLR 135; Sullivan v Department of Transport [1978] FCA 48; (1978) 20 ALR 323.
The adjournment application and the VCAT hearing
There was a notice of hearing yesterday. I attach it. The hearing has to be rescheduled because I have other things next week on a Friday morning. Is a civil case. Was booked two weeks ago. I'd like please not to disclose anything.
On an application for adjournment by the renter VCAT finds:
1. The application for an adjournment was made on 22 August 2022 because the renter has a civil court case on the same day as the VCAT hearing but has not provided a copy of any notice of the civil hearing in support of the adjournment application.
2. The consent of the residential provider has not been obtained.
3. There are insufficient grounds for granting an adjournment.
4. The renter has not provided sufficient evidence to support the application for an adjournment such as a redacted notice of hearing.
5. The renter may appoint a person to represent the party at the hearing.
VCAT orders:
1. The application for adjournment is refused.
2. The principal registrar is directed to send the parties a copy of this order as soon as possible, including by email if practical.
Note: VCAT may consider a further application for adjournment if the consent of the residential rental provider is obtained or sufficient evidence in support of the application is provided.
I confidentially attach the correspondence from the Magistrates' Court saying that there is an appointment with a registrar on 2 September 2022 at 11.30am.
Please do not disclose this to the other party.
The court has booked you in for an appointment via telephone, to discuss your application with a registrar via telephone on 2 September 2022 at 11.30am ...
Please ensure you are available via telephone at the time of the appointment. You will receive a phone call from an unknown number during this time. If you do not answer at the time of appointment, the court will not process your application and will await to hear from you to book an appointment again.
This matter has been protracted for some months, included a previous similar application having previously being appealed to the Supreme Court by the Respondent Renter. I am also mindful of the heavy case load currently facing VCAT.
My client would oppose an adjournment and respectfully seeks that the matter proceed as listed next Friday 2 September 2022.
I was informed yesterday at 4.30pm that the previous request to reschedule the 2 September hearing was not granted because it said it had to have evidence. There was no notification of this decision. I made the request on 23 August at 8.00am. I sent the evidence at 2.48pm, confidentially. Seems the decision was made before this. Thus, I make a second request to reschedule it with the evidence sent on 23 August at 8 am and 2.48pm to be taken into account.
I was informed that the hearing tomorrow was not adjourned. Was said that a decision about the 25 August request I made, was not made the previous six days. Thus the hearing may be adjourned at the hearing tomorrow.
I'm not going to be at the hearing.
QUESTIONS OF LAW:
1. Was the Tribunal in error in the way it handled the renter's adjournment application by not replying for 7 days up to the hearing, among other? Thus, it didn't exercise jurisdiction and there was procedural unfairness?
2. Was the Tribunal in error in the way it proceeded to make the possession order, by not replying to the renter's adjournment application, not providing the adjournment application messages and evidence to the member at the hearing, not being aware of it at the hearing, thus not taking into account the adjournment application and that the renter has a civil court case and thus is not there to present his case because of it? It didn't exercise jurisdiction, there was an error in jurisdiction or procedural unfairness?
3. The possession order has to be set aside?
THE GROUNDS RELIED UPON ARE:
1. The renter said that has a civil court case on the day the Tribunal scheduled the hearing and asked to reschedule it. The Tribunal didn't reply to the renter's request (the second), there is no evidence of taking it into account, there is no evidence of taking into account the renter's evidence about it, didn't provide the adjournment request messages and evidence to the member at the hearing, the renter wasn't at the hearing to present his case. Then the Tribunal made a possession order. It didn't exercise jurisdiction, there was an error in jurisdiction and procedural unfairness.
62 Defendant may apply for summary judgment in proceeding
A defendant in a civil proceeding may apply to the court for summary judgment in the proceeding on the ground that a plaintiff's claim or part of that claim has no real prospect of success.
63 Summary judgment if no real prospect of success
(1) Subject to section 64, a court may give summary judgment in any civil proceeding if satisfied that a claim, a defence or a counterclaim or part of the claim, defence or counterclaim, as the case requires, has no real prospect of success.
(2) A court may give summary judgment in any civil proceeding under subsection (1) -
(a) on the application of a plaintiff in a civil proceeding;
(b) on the application of a defendant in a civil proceeding;
(c) on the court's own motion, if satisfied that it is desirable to summarily dispose of the civil proceeding.
The Associate Judge's judgment is underpinned by two principal findings. First, that AML did not establish that he was denied procedural fairness. Second, if there had been any denial of procedural fairness, AML did not establish that he was deprived of the opportunity of making a submission on 2 September 2022 that might have affected the outcome of the proceeding.[8]
had to opportunity to reschedule his telephone appointment at 11:30am with a registrar at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. He elected to participate in a telephone call with registrar rather than participate in the Tribunal hearing... This was his choice... He was not denied a reasonable opportunity to oppose the making of the possession order'.[13]
AML did not provide any evidence about whether he attempted to find someone who could represent him at the VCAT hearing and did not explain why this option was impossible or unacceptable.[15]
His Honour held that Irving AsJ was correct to take into account AML's failure to send a representative, and his failure to explain that failure; and that AML's failure to send a representative was 'relevant to the question of whether AML was denied an opportunity to be heard'.[16]
AML's request for an adjournment of the hearing on 2 September 2022 was not a reasonable request. He elected to participate in the telephone appointment with a registrar at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court rather than attending the hearing in the Tribunal. He could have sent a representative to appear on his behalf and make an application for an adjournment. He has provided no explanation for his failure to do this. He was not denied procedural fairness because he was provided with a reasonable opportunity to respond to the application for a possession order. The Associate Judge was correct to conclude that there had been no denial of procedural fairness. In reaching this conclusion I have had the benefit of access to the 10 August 2022 email which supports a conclusion that AML was not denied procedural fairness.[17]
This application for leave to appeal the decision of McDonald J
(a) the VCAT 'mishandled' the adjournment application; > > (b) the possession order was made in AML's absence; > > (c) Irving AsJ erred in issuing summary judgment on the basis that AML had failed to provide the evidence and submissions that he would have provided to VCAT had he been afforded procedural fairness; > > (d) Member Galvin had not been made aware of certain 'evidence in the renter's correspondence' which was material, and Irving AsJ had also failed to consider said evidence; and > > (e) AML did not need to justify not sending a representative, because he was not obliged to send one.
In Isbester v Knox City Council,[21] Gageler J stated:
The standard incidents of procedural fairness, as it ordinarily conditions the exercise of a statutory power, include 'the absence of the actuality or the appearance of disqualifying bias' in addition to 'the according of an appropriate opportunity to be heard'. The content of each of those incidents of procedural fairness accommodates to the particular statutory framework as well as to the particular factual context of a particular exercise of the power.[22]
The Tribunal is bound by the rules of natural justice: s 98(1) VCAT Act. A refusal to grant a reasonable request for an adjournment can constitute a failure to provide a party the opportunity of adequately presenting their case.[23] The duty of the Tribunal is to ensure that a party is given a reasonable opportunity to present their case. Neither s 98(1) of the VCAT Act nor the common law 'imposes upon the Tribunal the impossible task of ensuring that a party takes the best advantage of the opportunity to which he is entitled'.[24]
(a) he was aware before the commencement of the VCAT hearing that his second adjournment request had not been determined; > > (b) he could have sent a representative to request an adjournment and provided no explanation for failing to do so; > > (c) from the terms of the 10 August 2022 email from the Magistrates' Court he could have rescheduled his telephone appointment with the Magistrates' Court registrar; and > > (d) he elected to participate in a telephone appointment with a Magistrates' Court registrar (if he did so) rather than attend the VCAT hearing.
A further problem arises if AML's line of argument were to be accepted. That is, it would leave the process before VCAT to his convenience. Such a position is beyond what the duty to provide procedural fairness requires and is contrary to modern case management principles and the need for finality in litigation. It also does not strike the appropriate balance between the interests of both parties to the litigation.[25]
Appeal ground 9 contends:
- The Associate Judge didn't properly consider what was really done in VCAT, including that the landlord and his solicitor misled the Member (made a wrong consideration/didn't make a relevant consideration/didn't exercise jurisdiction).
This ground of appeal has no merit. The Associate Judge's judgment refers to the eight documents exhibited to AML's affidavit of 12 October 2022. These documents set out the correspondence between AML, the respondent and the Tribunal during the period 23 August 2022 and 1 September 2022. The Associate Judge also referred to the transcript of the proceedings in the Tribunal on 2 September 2022:
- The transcript of the VCAT hearing on 2 September 2022 shows that Mr Murdoch, Longden's solicitor, brought to the VCAT Member's attention AML's further email indicating that AML would not be at the hearing. The Member noted that AML may apply to review the Member's order but that, in doing so, AML would have to provide a good excuse for not attending the hearing and a good defence to the possession order. The Member noted that there was nothing in the material before him that indicated the requirements for making the possession order were not met or that it would not be reasonable and proportionate to make the possession order.
- The transcript records that Mr Murdoch then said to the Member that AML's email of 1 September 2022 does not constitute, in terms, a further request for an adjournment and that even if it had, AML's adjournment application had been denied only days before. The Member responded by stating that he had a discretion to consider any adjournment request received overnight on the day of the hearing but that there was no one present asking for an adjournment.[29]
Ground 3 - Mandatory considerations: VCAT did not perform its statutory duty and did not exercise jurisdiction
At the hearing on 5 June 2023 AML sought leave to amend his notice of appeal by adding the following ground of appeal:
- Did not consider that the possession order was invalid or unlawful because the member had not made the mandatory considerations required in s 330 and s 330A of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. The appellant said at the 23 March 2023 hearing that the member would have to consider s 330A and the landlord gave no evidence.
The grounds of appeal in AML's application for leave to appeal do not raise the issue of whether the possession order was invalid by reason of the Tribunal Member failing to address the mandatory consideration required by s 330 and 330A of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. As the appeal grounds did not raise the alleged failure of Member Galvin to consider s 330 and 330A, the proposed ground of appeal is not a basis for challenging the Associate Judge's finding that the application for leave to appeal had no real prospect of success. In any event, [3] of the possession order made on 2 September 2022 records the Member's finding that having regard to the matters in s 330A of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 it was reasonable and proportionate to make the possession order. The gravamen of AML's complaint is that the possession order was made without the Member having submissions from AML as to why it was not reasonable and proportionate. The proposed appeal ground does not add anything to the grounds which raise the issue of whether the appellant was denied procedural fairness. The application for leave to amend is refused.
[1] These reasons for judgment have been anonymised by the adoption of a pseudonym in place of the name of the applicant.
[2] AML (a pseudonym) v Longden Super Custodian Pty Ltd [2023] VSC 146 (the 'summary judgment').
[3] AML (a pseudonym) v Longden Super Custodian Pty Ltd [2023] VSCA 118.
[4] AML (a pseudonym) v Longden Super Custodian Pty Ltd [2023] VSC 345 ('Reasons').
[5] The application was amended on 14 July 2023.
[6] This information about the nature of the hearing at VCAT was conveyed to the Court by AML at the hearing of the application for leave to appeal, and confirmed by counsel appearing for Longden.
[9] Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2015 r 77.06 ('Rules'); Reasons [9].
[11] AML did not exhibit the 10 August email in the evidence on the summary judgment application. Longden did not have it in its possession because it had been kept confidential as requested by AML. Hence, it was not considered by the associate judge nor were submissions made about it. It was introduced into evidence by AML on the appeal before McDonald J and accepted as 'fresh evidence' pursuant to r 77.06(9) of the Rules: Reasons [37].
[15] Reasons, [30], quoting the summary judgment, [36].
[19] We will refuse leave to appeal under each of these three grounds, but for convenience, each proposed ground will be referred to as a 'ground'.
[20] Reasons, [21]-[22] (emphasis in original).
[23] Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Bhardwaj [2002] HCA 11; (2002) 209 CLR 597, 611 [40] (Gaudron and Gummow JJ); [2002] HCA 11; Sullivan v Department of Transport [1978] FCA 48; (1978) 20 ALR 323, 343 ('Sullivan').
[24] Sullivan [1978] FCA 48; (1978) 20 ALR 323, 343.
[26] Nathanson v Minister for Home Affairs (2022) 96 ALJR 737; [2022] HCA 26.
AML (a pseudonym)
Longden Super Custodian Pty Ltd [2023] VSCA 170
(2015) 255 CLR 135
(1978) 20 ALR 323
(2002) 209 CLR 597
(2022) 96 ALJR 737