Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Campbell [2025] VSC 306 | Case summary

Supreme Court of Victoria|2025-06-03|Before: Matthews J

For the reasons set out above, I will make orders that the Defendant is adjudged guilty of contempt of court and that he be convicted and fined $5,000.
I will also make orders that he pay the Plaintiff's costs of and incidental to the Summons on an indemnity basis.

[1] [2025] VSC 175 (Contempt Reasons).

[2] These materials are listed at Contempt Reasons, [4]-[5].

[3] [2012] VSC 633 (Forster), [43], [46].

[4] Chan v Chen (No 2) [2007] VSC 24, [21]; Advan Investments Pty Ltd v Dean Gleeson Motor Sales Pty Ltd [2003] VSC 201, [26].

[5] Principal Registrar, Supreme Court of New South Wales v Katelaris [2001] NSWSC 506, [14]-[20], [49], [62]‑[63]; Brown v Putnam (1975) 6 ALR 307; Re Goldman [1968] 3 NSWR 325, 327-329.

[7] [2019] VSC 625, [10]-[11] (Hera v Bisognin (No 2)) (citations omitted).

[8] [2022] VSC 603, [20]-[22] (Jensen) (citations omitted). See also Hera v Bisognin (No 2) at [30] and the cases cited therein.

[9] Relying on Barbaro v The Queen [2014] HCA 2.

[10] Relying on s 5(2)(b) of the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic).

[11] Relying on Contempt Reasons, [50].

[12] In this regard, the Plaintiff refers to the Defendant's conduct as described in paragraphs 15 to 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 41, 43, 44, 46 and 49 of the Contempt Reasons.

[13] I have omitted the name of the person referred to in the Defendant's Affidavit, for reasons of privacy.

[14] This is the applicable standard, whether the contempt be civil or criminal: Forster, [46], citing Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525.

[15] [2022] VSC 271, [48], citations omitted.

[16] Dowling v Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales [2018] NSWCA 340.

[17] [2019] NSWSC 511, [35] (Reliance (No 3)).

[18] Citing Jensen, [21]; see also Hera v Bisognin (No 2), [30].

[21] Vaysman v Deckers Outdoor Corp Inc [2011] FCAFC 17; (2011) 276 ALR 596, [54].

[23] [2022] VSC 271, [131]-[133].

[24] The cases surveyed were: Yager v Musa [1961] 2 QB 214; Re Barrell Enterprises [1972] 3 All ER 631; Australian Prudential Regulation Authority v Siminton (No 3) [2006] FCA 397; (2006) 230 ALR 528; Universal City Studios LLLP v Hoey t/as DVD Kingdom [2007] FCA 806; R v Age Co Ltd [2008] VSC 305; Bovis Lend Lease Pty Ltd v CFMEU (No 2) (2009) FCA 650; ASIC v Matthews [2000] NSWSC 392; Alfred v CFMEU (No 2) (2011) FCA 557; Deputy Commission of Taxation v Gashi (No 3) [2011] VSC 448; Vaysman v Deckers Outdoor Corp Inc [2011] FCAFC 17; (2011) 276 ALR 596; R v Derryn Hinch [2013] VSC 554; Grocon v CFMEU (No 2) [2014] VSC 134; Paccar Financial Pty Ltd v Menzies & Menzies (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 1622; Menzies v Paccar Financial Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 280; (2016) 93 NSWLR 88; R v Witt (No 2) [2016] VSC 142; Clipsal Australia Pty Ltd v ACN 134 468 205 (formerly Clipso Electrical Pty Ltd) (No 5) [2017] FCA 1584; Prothonotary of Supreme Court of New South Wales v Battye [2017] NSWSC 48; R v Sherwani [2017] VSC 147; State of Western Australia v Galati [No 4] [2017] WASC 162; Hera Project Pty Ltd v Bisognin (No 2) [2019] VSC 625; Moira Shire Council v Sidebottom Group Pty Ltd [2019] VSC 569; Reliance Financial Services Pty Ltd v Allyma Express Holdings Pty Ltd (No 3) [2019] NSWSC 511; Freeman v Montgomery [2021] QDC 210; NHB Enterprises Pty Ltd v Corry (No 8) [2022] NSWSC 97; Zhang v Shi (No 6) [2022] VSC 271; BCEG International (Australia) Pty Ltd v Xiao (No 3) [2023] NSWSC 554; eSafety Commissioner v Rotondo (No 3) [2023] FCA 1590; Fahey v Bird (No 2) [2023] VSC 540; Yuan v Huang (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 1618.

[25] Hera v Bisognin (No 2), [61], (citations omitted).

Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2015

CONTEMPT - Where defendant failed to comply with court judgment to pay debt or deliver up goods - Defendant's contempt proven - Penalty - Belated purging of contempt - Fine imposed - Legal Services Board v Forster [2012] VSC 633 - Hera v Bisognin (No 2) [2019] VSC 625 - Victorian Legal Services Board v Jensen [2022] VSC 603 - Zhang v Shi (No 6) [2022] VSC 271 - Reliance Financial Services Pty Ltd v Allyma Express Holdings Pty Ltd (No 3) [2019] NSWSC 511.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Campbell

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