State Administrative Tribunal (WA)|2025-05-01

For the reasons set out above, we are satisfied Ventura Homes demonstrated it is fair and reasonable for Ms Cairnes to pay its costs and disbursements fixed at $116,863.31.

The application of the applicant is dismissed.
The applicant is to pay to the respondent costs fixed at $116,863.31, in respect of the costs in CC 976/2020, CC 38/2022, CC 1588/2020, CC 39/2022 and CC 196/2021 within 60 days of the date of this order.
The parties have liberty to apply to the Tribunal within 14 days of the date of this order to be heard with respect to the issue of the time to pay the costs set out above.

[1] Cairnes and Ventura Home Group Pty Ltd [2024] WASAT 111.

[3] Applicant's Submission on Costs filed 30 December 2024 (ASC) at para 15.

[4] Barnett at [16]; Hand and Arasi Constructions Pty Ltd [2020] WASAT 154 at [16].

[5] Calderbank v Calderbank (1975) 3 All ER 333.

[6] McLerie and Koleszko [2014] WASAT 160 (S) (McLerie) at [4].

[7] Wright v de Kauwe [No 2] [2024] WASCA 51 at [276].

[8] Evans and Imperial Pools [2020] WASAT 113 (S).

[9] ASC at para 3 and Appendices 1(a), 2, 3(a), 4 and 5.

[11] Owners of Strata Plan 58161 and Hanssen Pty Ltd [No 2] [2023] WASAT 7.

[12] Applicant's Responsive Submissions on Costs filed 27 January 2025 (ARSC) at paras 2 - 5, 28 and 29.

[13] Respondent's Submissions and Schedule of Costs filed 24 December 2024 (RSSC) at para 30 and Annexure A; Respondent's Submissions in Response to Applicant's Application for Costs filed 24 January 2025 (RSR) at paras 72 - 74.

[15] RSR at paras 1, 13 - 15, 43 - 48, 53 - 61 and paras 67 - 69.

[16] Affidavit of AW Buchan sworn 24 December 2024 (Buchan affidavit) at Annexure AWB-1.

[19] Buchan affidavit at Annexure AWB-2.

[20] Buchan affidavit at Annexure AWB-3.

[21] Affidavit of RA Cairnes sworn 30 December 2024 (Cairnes affidavit) at Annexure 2.

[22] Buchan affidavit at Annexure AWB-5.

[25] Buchan affidavit at Annexure AWB-7.

[27] Buchan affidavit at Annexure AWB-9.

[28] Buchan affidavit at Annexure AWB-10.

[29] Lodged in CC 196/2021 on 14 May 2021.

[30] Lodged in CC 976/2020 on 7 September 2020.

[31] Lodged in CC 976/2020, CC 1588/2020 and CC 196/2021 on 20 May 2021.

[32] Buchan affidavit at Annexure AWB-11.

[34] Substantive decision at paras [248] - [249].

[35] SAT Act s 9(b); Marvelle Investments Pty Ltd and Argyle Holdings Pty Ltd [2010] WASAT 125 (S) (Marvelle) at [26].

[36] Macquarie Dictionary Online, 2025, Macquarie Dictionary Publishers, an imprint of Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd, www.macquariedictionary.com.au.

[38] Exhibit 1, page 1187 at points 3.2, 3.3, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4.

[39] ASC at paras 39, 64, 92, 215 and 254.

[40] ASC at Appendices 1(a), 2, 3(a),4 and 5.

[41] Total costs claim $91,674.65 less $15,000 claim regarding loss, inconvenience and embarrassment.

[42] Cairnes and Ventura Home Group Pty Ltd at [255].

[48] Fitzgerald and Mercedes Group Pty Ltd [2024] WASAT 33 (S) at [34]; Dickinson and Charuga [2021] WASAT 122 at [55].

[50] See [47], [51](a) and [61(e)] above.

[51] For example, the expense and inconvenience of attending the hearings as per Springmist at [58].

[53] Save for one document which was included only because it was later relodged by Ms Cairnes as part of her books of documents.

[54] For example, Hippydayze Pty Ltd and Mener Group Pty Ltd [2019] WASAT 92 (S) at [12].

[55] J & P Metals Pty Ltd and Shire of Dardanup [2006] WASAT 282 (S) at [9].

[56] Terravision Pty Ltd v Black Box Control Pty Ltd [No 5] [2018] WASC 340 at [25].

[62] Marvelle at [47]; Edge Investments WA Pty Ltd and Q Group WA Pty Ltd [2024] WASAT 9 (S) at [61] - [64].

[63] Not including special or indemnity costs to which other considerations apply.

Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011

Administrative Tribunal Act 2004

Administrative Tribunal Rules 2004

CAIRNES and VENTURA HOME GROUP PTY LTD [2024] WASAT 111 (1 May 2025)

Barnett and Barrier Reef Pools (WA) Pty Ltd [2016] WASAT 50

Dickinson and Charuga [2021] WASAT 122

Edge Investments WA Pty Ltd and Q Group WA Pty Ltd [2024] WASAT 9 (S)

Evans and Imperial Pools [2020] WASAT 113 (S)

Famiano and Antonelli Investments Pty Ltd [2012] WASAT 230

Fitzgerald and Mercedes Group Pty Ltd [2024] WASAT 33 (S)

Goodrick and J-Corp Pty Ltd [2023] WASAT 70

Hand and Arasi Constructions Pty Ltd [2020] WASAT 154

Hippydayze Pty Ltd and Mener Group Pty Ltd [2019] WASAT 92 (S)

Hoskins and Daniel Vinci T/As D'Vinci Contracting [2011] WASAT 188

J & P Metals Pty Ltd and Shire of Dardanup [2006] WASAT 282 (S)

Marvelle Investments Pty Ltd and Argyle Holdings Pty Ltd [2010] WASAT 125 (S)

McLerie and Koleszko [2014] WASAT 160 (S)

Owners of Strata Plan 58161 and Hanssen Pty Ltd [No 2] [2023] WASAT 7

Owners of Strata Plan No 46493 and Smith [2012] WASAT 218

Pearce & Anor and Germain [2007] WASAT 291 (S)

Springmist Pty Ltd and Shire of Augusta-Margaret River [2005] WASAT 143 (S)

Terravision Pty Ltd v Black Box Control Pty Ltd [No 5] [2018] WASC 340

Western Australian Planning Commission v Questdale Holdings Pty Ltd [2016] WASCA 32

Wright v de Kauwe [No 2] [2024] WASCA 51

CAIRNES and VENTURA HOME GROUP PTY LTD [2024] WASAT 111 (1 May 2025)

At a glance

Court

Decision date

Source

Judgment (44 paragraphs)

Legislation Cited (3)

Cases Cited (21)

CAIRNES and VENTURA HOME GROUP PTY LTD [2024] WASAT 111 (1 May 2025)