(4) nevertheless, similar policy considerations may arise in relation to a review, including:
(a) a court may be less inclined to intervene in relation to a decision concerned with the management of an on-going proceeding, as opposed to one which terminates the proceeding or prevents its commencement;
(b) different factors may need to be addressed in relation to breach of time limits in relation to the commencement of proceedings, as compared with breach of time limits for steps to be taken in the course of proceedings properly commenced, and
(c) a court may be more inclined to intervene on a review based on fresh evidence, changed circumstances or where error is demonstrated in the decision under review."
23 The other members of the court were Hodgson JA and Ipp JA. Ipp JA agreed with what was said by Basten JA, subject to the adoption of the additional remarks of Hodgson JA. Those additional remarks appear in paragraphs 6 to 10 of the decision which is as follows:
"[6] I agree that a review of a decision of a Registrar is not an appeal, subject to s 75A of the Supreme Court Act; and that in such a review a court must exercise its own discretion.
[7] In my opinion, this discretion extends to a discretion as to whether, and if so how, to intervene; and in my opinion, there is an onus on a person seeking to have a court set aside or vary a Registrar's decision to make out a case that the court, in the interests of justice, should exercise its discretion to do so.
[8] In the case of a decision on practice or procedure, this will normally require at least demonstration of an error of law, or a House v. The King error, or a material change of circumstances, or evidence satisfying the strict requirements for fresh evidence. Even then, a court may not think that the interests of justice require intervention. This could be so, for example, if the error of law is a deficiency of reasons and the result is on its face not an unreasonable one.
[9] In the case of a decision which finally determines a party's rights, or which (albeit one of practice or procedure) has a decisive impact on those rights, a court may be more willing to intervene. It may permit further evidence to be led which does not satisfy the strict requirements for fresh evidence, if it is satisfied that the interests of justice require this. It may decide to substitute its own discretionary decision for that of the Registrar, even though no House v. The King error is shown, again if it is satisfied that the interests of justice require this. To that extent, the review may be considered a de novo hearing.
[10] In my opinion, this approach is consistent with the position that such reviews are not appeals and involve the exercise of discretion by the reviewing body; and with the policy considerations referred to by Jordan CJ in In Re the Will of Gilbert (1946) 46 SR(NSW) 318 at 323. It is also consistent with the general principles concerning interlocutory applications: they do not finally decide matters, and successive applications can be brought for the same orders; but generally, a later application for orders that have previously been refused will be summarily dismissed unless a change of circumstances is shown or there is evidence satisfying the strict requirements for fresh evidence."
24 Hodgson JA recently reaffirmed those views in Dae Boong International Co Pty Ltd v Gray [2009] NSWCA 11. His Honour said the following at paragraphs 16 - 19:
"[16] As I have said, the matter comes before me on an application to review the Registrar's decision.
[17] As regards the nature of such a review and the grounds on which such decisions can be reviewed, I adhere to what I said in Tomko v Palasty (No 2) [2007] NSWCA 369 at paras [4] to [10].
[18] Thus in my view a review of a decision of a Registrar is not an appeal, and in such a review a court must exercise its own discretion. This discretion extends to a discretion as to whether and if so how to intervene, and there is an onus on a person seeking to have a court set aside or vary a Registrar's decision to make out a case that the court in the interests of justice should exercise its discretion to do so.
[19] In a case of a decision on practice or procedure, this will normally require at least a demonstration of error of law or an error of the kind referred to in House v The King [1936] HCA 40; (1936) 55 CLR 499, or a material change of circumstances or evidence satisfying the requirements of fresh evidence."
25 Plainly this is a matter which is concerned with practice and procedure and the limitations referred to by Hodgson JA will apply.
The Registrar's Decision
26 The Registrar decided that the documents sought related to the valuation that was the subject of the main proceedings.
27 The applicant argues that this finding was an error. The documents do not relate to the valuation for the following reasons,