Croker v Commissioner of Taxation

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT THE COURT 1 The motion before the Court is for an order for costs after the Court has made orders in the appeal in this matter, those orders being that the appeal be allowed and the orders made in the court below be set aside and, in lieu thereof, the bankruptcy notice issued on 18 June 2002 be set aside. 2 The position in relation to moving the Court for an order for costs in circumstances where the Court's order has in fact been extracted is limited to where there is a slip in the Court's process. Notwithstanding that there may be an argument that the Court is no longer seized of the matter, the Court heard from the appellant, that is, the applicant in the motion, to give the opportunity for all circumstances to be put before the Court in case something had been overlooked. 3 The Court, as has been indicated, turned its mind to the question whether there would have been disbursements in this matter and was satisfied that there was nothing before it to indicate that there were, and so made no order as to costs. The submissions on the motion made by the appellant do not disclose that the Court has overlooked anything that would require it to revisit the issue and there has been nothing pointed to in the way of disbursements that would justify an order being made in the matter. The appellant is in a position where his court fees have been waived at all times and no order for costs would be appropriate in the circumstances. 4 There is plain authority (see: Cachia v Hanes (1994) 179 CLR 403) that time and trouble spent in preparation of one's own litigation is not recompensable by a costs order in favour of a person who is not a legal practitioner. The Court has done no more than follow that precedent. In these circumstances the motion must be dismissed with costs.

I certify that the preceding four (4) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment of the Court.

Appellant appeared in person. Counsel for the respondent: T Reilly

Solicitor for the respondent: Australian Government Solicitor