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[2023] VSCA 227
General information, not legal advice.
Court of Appeal (Vic)
2023-09-19
Mr DP, Niall JA
Original judgment source is linked above.
(1) Leave to appeal is refused on proposed grounds 1, 2, 3 and 4.
(2) Leave will be granted to amend Ms Austin's application for leave to appeal dated 30 June 2023 to add a fifth proposed ground of appeal, that Judge Tran erred in making a self-executing order on 5 June 2023.
(3) Leave to appeal is allowed on proposed ground 5.
(4) The appeal is allowed on ground 5.
(5) Orders 5 and 7 of her Honour Judge Tran's orders of 5 June 2023 are set aside.
(6) In place of those orders, Ms Austin is by 1 December 2023 to file an amended writ and amended statement of claim against the State of Victoria.
[1] See, eg, Austin v Dobbs [2018] VSC 755 (Garde J); Austin v Dwyer [2018] VSC 770 (Derham AsJ); Austin v Dwyer (Special Witness Proceeding) [No 1] [2019] VSC 206 (Daly AsJ); Austin v Dobbs [No 1] [2019] VSC 355 (Ginnane J); Austin v Dwyer (Special Witness Proceedings) [No 2] [2019] VSC 545 (Coghlan JA); Austin v Dobbs [No 2] [2019] VSC 588 (Ginnane J); Austin v Dobbs [2019] VSCA 296 (Whelan and Kyrou JJA); Austin v Dwyer [2019] VSC 837 (Forbes J); Austin v Dwyer (Costs Ruling) [2020] VSC 18 (Forbes J); Austin v Dobbs [2021] VSC 508 (Forbes J); Austin v Dwyer [2021] VSCA 306 (Beach and Sifris JJA); DPP (Vic) v Austin [2022] VCC 1571 (Judge O'Connell); Austin v The King [2022] VSCA 240 (Priest JA); Austin v Dwyer [2023] VSC 76 (John Dixon J); Austin v Dwyer (Ruling) [2023] VCC 889 (Judge Tran) ('Reasons').
[2] [2019] VSCA 296, [1]-[3] (citations omitted).
[3] [2021] VSCA 306, [2]-[7] (citations omitted).
[4] DPP (Vic) v Austin [2022] VCC 1571, [3] (Judge O'Connell).
[5] See ss 72-5 of the Victoria Police Act 2013.
[6] For convenience, each proposed ground will be referred to as a 'ground' from here on.
[7] Pastor v Aegis Aged Care Staff Pty Ltd [No 3] [2023] WASCA 128, [38] (the Court) ('Pastor'), citing Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia (2001) 205 CLR 507; [2001] HCA 17.
[8] Pastor [2023] WASCA 128, [38] (the Court), citing Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy [2000] HCA 63; (2000) 205 CLR 337, 345 [8] (Gleeson CJ, McHugh, Gummow and Hayne JJ); [2000] HCA 63 ('Ebner').
[9] [2019] HCA 50; (2019) 268 CLR 76, 88 [21]; [2019] HCA 50 (citations omitted).
[10] See Ebner [2000] HCA 63; (2000) 205 CLR 337, 345 [8] (Gleeson CJ, McHugh, Gummow and Hayne JJ); [2000] HCA 63; Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd v Nicholls (2011) 244 CLR 427, 445 [63] (Gummow ACJ, Hayne, Crennan and Bell JJ); [2011] HCA 48.
[11] [2002] HCA 11; (2002) 209 CLR 597, 611 [40]; [2002] HCA 11 (citations omitted).
[12] Sali v SPC Ltd [1993] HCA 47; (1993) 116 ALR 625, 628-9 (Brennan, Deane and McHugh JJ), 632 (Toohey and Gaudron JJ); Newton v Ellis [2012] NSWCA 106, [17]-[19] (Macfarlan JA, Beazley JA agreeing at [1], Whealy JA agreeing at [36]).
[17] [2009] HCA 27; (2009) 239 CLR 175, 211-12 [93]; [2009] HCA 27.
[18] [2023] VSCA 170, [49].
[19] House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499, 504-5 (Dixon, Evatt and McTiernan JJ).
[20] Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Philip Morris Inc [1981] HCA 39; (1981) 148 CLR 170, 176-7 (Gibbs CJ, Aickin, Wilson and Brennan JJ); Billington v Sussan Corporation Australia Pty Ltd [2020] VSCA 12, [24] (Beach, Kaye JJA and Croucher AJA).
[21] [1916] HCA 81; (1916) 22 CLR 490, 517. See also Banque Commerciale SA, En Liquidation v Akhil Holdings Ltd [1990] HCA 11; (1990) 169 CLR 279, 286-7 (Mason CJ and Gaudron J).
[22] [2020] VSCA 186; (2020) 61 VR 580, 599-600 [50]; [2020] VSCA 186, quoting [2013] VSC 316, [25] (citations omitted).
[30] Reasons, [88]-[90], citing National Builders Group IP Holdings Pty Ltd v ACN 092 675 164 Pty Ltd (in liq) and Richard Trygve Rohrt [2015] VSCA 260, [40]-[43] (Maxwell P and Kaye JA) ('National Builders').
[31] [2015] VSCA 172, [33], quoting Ultra Thoroughbred Racing Pty Ltd v Those Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London [2011] VSC 370, [9] (J Forrest J). See also Billington v Sussan Corporation Australia Pty Ltd [2020] VSCA 12, [25] (Beach, Kaye JJA and Croucher AJA); Baptcare Ltd v Ingpen (as Executor of the Estate of Margaret Beatrix Colborne) [2022] VSCA 250, [39] (Macaulay JA and J Forrest AJA).
[32] [2015] HCA 41; (2015) 256 CLR 569, 610 [94]; [2015] HCA 41 (citations omitted).
[33] See, eg, Ruddock v Taylor (2005) 222 CLR 612, 632 [70] (McHugh J); [2005] HCA 48; CPCF v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] HCA 1; (2015) 255 CLR 514, 569 [155] (Hayne and Bell JJ); [2015] HCA 1; Minister for Home Affairs v Benbrika (2021) 272 CLR 68, 132 [138] (Gordon J); [2021] HCA 4.
[34] (2018) 262 CLR 478, 488 [25]; [2018] HCA 23.
[36] Reasons, [89], citing National Builders [2015] VSCA 260, [40]-[43] (Maxwell P and Kaye JA).
[37] National Builders [2015] VSCA 260, [34] (Maxwell P and Kaye JA) (emphasis in original).
[38] National Builders [2015] VSCA 260, [39] (Maxwell P and Kaye JA).
[39] National Builders [2015] VSCA 260, [39]-[41] (emphasis added) (citations omitted).
[40] National Builders [2015] VSCA 260, [16]-[28].
[41] [2018] VSCA 215; (2018) 57 VR 334, 356-7 [54]-[56]; [2018] VSCA 215 (emphasis added).
[44] See, eg, R v Slaveski [2011] VSC 643, [25]-[63], [153]-[154], [156]-[157] (Whelan J), where a self‑represented litigant was excluded from court and found guilty of contempt; decision upheld in Slaveski v The Queen (on the Application of the Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of Victoria) [2012] VSCA 48.
Austin
Dwyer [2023] VSCA 227
[2023] VCC 889 (Judge Tran)
AML (a pseudonym) v Longden Super Custodian Pty Ltd [2023] VSCA 170; Aon Risk Services Australia Ltd v Australian National University [2009] HCA 27; (2009) 239 CLR 175; CNY17 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2019] HCA 50; (2019) 268 CLR 76; Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Bhardwaj [2002] HCA 11; (2002) 209 CLR 597; Roberts v Harkness [2018] VSCA 215; (2018) 57 VR 334; Uber Australia Pty Ltd v Andrianakis [2020] VSCA 186; (2020) 61 VR 580.
(2019) 268 CLR 76
(2002) 209 CLR 597
(2018) 57 VR 334
(2001) 205 CLR 507
(1993) 116 ALR 625
(1916) 22 CLR 490
(1990) 169 CLR 279
(2009) 239 CLR 175
(2000) 205 CLR 337
(2011) 244 CLR 427
(2015) 256 CLR 569
(2005) 222 CLR 612
(2018) 262 CLR 478
(2020) 61 VR 580
(1936) 55 CLR 499
(1981) 148 CLR 170
(2015) 255 CLR 514
(2021) 272 CLR 68