Dizac Pty Ltd v Vivendum Projects Pty Ltd & Ors [2026] VCC 199

County Court of Victoria|2026-03-02

For the reasons set out above, I propose to make the following orders:

(a) The plaintiff's claim is dismissed.

(b) The defendant's counterclaim is dismissed.

Any application for costs other than on the usual basis must be made within 21 days of the date of this judgment.

[1] Second Further Amended Defence and Counterclaim dated 2 May 2025.

[2] Transcript of Proceedings, Dizac Pty Ltd v Vivendum Pty Ltd [2025], Day 3, 253 (27-31) ('TS').

[3] Vivendum's Answers to Parties' Agreed List Of Issues [7].

[4] Parties' Agreed Chronology dated 22 April 2025 [2].

[5] Court Book, Dizac Pty Ltd v Vivendum Pty Ltd, CI-22-03991, 447 ('CB').

[7] As to the concept of a joint venture at law, see the discussion by Vickery J in Ambridge Investments Pty Ltd v Baker & Ors [2010] VSC 59 [29]-[35]; cited by Macnamara J in Satchell v 70 Esplanade Pty Ltd [2021] VCC 194 [108].

[10] SAS (VIC) Pty Ltd v Urban Ecological Systems Ltd [2021] VSCA 335 [64] adopting the comments in Greater Union Pty Ltd v Sportsgirl [2021] VSCA 299 [32] applied in Copper (Qld) Investment Pte Ltd v Hallion [2025] VSCA 221 [186].

[11] J&P Morgan (No 2) Pty Ltd v Hayes [2023] NSWCA 117; (2023) 112 NSWLR 29 [99]-[100].

[12] VS Property & Holding Pty Ltd v Zurzolo [2024] VSCA 199, 13-14 [54] (Niall, Walker and Kenny JJA), summarising Adaz Nominees Pty Ltd v Castleway Pty Ltd [2020] VSCA 201, 22-5 [70] (Whelan JA and Riordan AJA) ('Adaz Nominees'). See also Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; (2014) 251 CLR 640, 656-7 [35] (French CJ, Hayne, Crennan, and Kiefel JJ); [2014] HCA 7; Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104, 116 [47] (French CJ, Nettle and Gordon JJ) ('Mount Bruce'); Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd [2017] HCA 12; (2017) 261 CLR 544, 551 [16] (Kiefel, Bell and Gordon JJ).

[13] In the matter of Peak Invest Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 1288 [95].

[14] Newey v Westpac Banking Corporation [2014] NSWCA 319 [91] per Gleeson JA (with whom Basten and Meagher JJA agreed).

[15] Seymour Whyte Constructions Pty Ltd v Ostwald Bros Pty Ltd (In liquidation) [2019] NSWCA 11 [8], [10] ('Seymour Whyte').

[16] Seymour Whyte (n 15) [9]; Mainteck Services Pty Ltd v Stein Huertey SA [2014] NSWCA 184, [119]. See also Energy World Corp Ltd v Maurice Hayes & Associates Pty Ltd [2007] FCAFC 34 [11] (Moore, Tamberlin and Gyles JJ).

[17] James Adam Pty Ltd v Forbeza Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 311; (2020) 103 NSWLR 850 [33] ('James Adam') citing National Australia Bank Ltd v Clowes [2013] NSWCA 179 [38].

[18] James Adam (n 17) citing Chartbrook Ltd v Persimmon Homes Ltd [2009] UKHL 38; [2009] AC 1101 [23].

[19] Perpetual Limited v Myer Pty Ltd [2019] VSCA 98 [126]-[127] ('Perpetual v Myer').

[20] HDI Global Specialty SE v Wonkana No 3 Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 296 [31] (Meagher JA and Ball J); Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) v Ferratum Australia Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2023] FCA 1043; (2023) 169 ACSR 553 [35].

[21] Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353 [360] ('Masters v Cameron').

[22] Wilkie v Gordian Runoff Ltd [2005] HCA 17; (2005) 221 CLR 522 [17]; Zivkovic v Parke [2022] VSCA 43 [8], [90]; Beyond Rest Collingwood Case [2025] VSC 291 [52].

[23] Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd [1973] HCA 36; (1974) 129 CLR 99 [109] (Gibbs J).

[24] Mount Bruce (n 12) [46]; Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1982) 149 CLR 337.

[26] Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd [1973] HCA 36; (1973) 129 CLR 99 [109].

[31] Shot One Pty Ltd (in liq) & Anor v Day & Anor [2017] VSC 741.

[32] Whitton v Regis Towers Real Estate Pty Ltd [2007] FCAFC 125; (2007) 161 FCR 20.

[33] Australian Securities Investment Commission v Rich [2009] NSWSC 1229; (2009) 236 FLR 1 [397].

[36] TS, Day 3, 311(15-31); 312 (1-13).

[42] Lakic v Prior [2016] VSC 293.

[43] Williams' Supreme Court Practice and since 2009 continued as LexisNexis Butterworths, Civil Procedure: Victoria, editors David Bailey and John K Arthur.

[46] Further Joint Statement of Experts (Messrs Wheeler and Shulman) dated 29 May 2025 (emphasis added).

[47] Vivendum's Answers to Parties' Agreed List Of Issues [7]; TS, Day 5, 406 (7).

[4]9 Dizac's Closing Submissions dated 6 June 2025, 17 [69].

[48] TS, Day 1, 98(26-29); TS, Day 2, 174(10-11); TS, Day 2, 150(22-24).

[50] Dizac's Closing Submissions dated 6 June 2025, 11 [37].

Court Civil Procedure Rules 2018

Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001

Seymour Whyte Constructions Pty Ltd v Ostwald Bros Pty Ltd (In liquidation) [2019] NSWCA 11; Mainteck Services Pty Ltd v Stein Huertey SA [2014] NSWCA 184; Energy World Corp Ltd v Maurice Hayes & Associates Pty Ltd [2007] FCAFC 34; James Adam Pty Ltd v Forbeza Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 311; (2020) 103 NSWLR 850; National Australia Bank Ltd v Clowes [2013] NSWCA 179; Chartbrook Ltd v Persimmon Homes Ltd [2009] UKHL 38; [2009] AC 1101; Perpetual Limited v Myer Pty Ltd [2019] VSCA 98; HDI Global Specialty SE v Wonkana No 3 Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 296; Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) v Ferratum Australia Pty Ltd (In Liq) [2023] FCA 1043; (2023) 169 ACSR 553; Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353; Wilkie v Gordian Runoff Ltd [2005] HCA 17; (2005) 221 CLR 522; Zivkovic v Parke [2022] VSCA 43; Beyond Rest Collingwood Case [2025] VSC 291; Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd [1973] HCA 36; (1974) 129 CLR 99; Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1982) 149 CLR 337; Shot One Pty Ltd (in liq) & Anor v Day & Anor [2017] VSC 741; Whitton v Regis Towers Real Estate Pty Ltd [2007] FCAFC 125; (2007) 161 FCR 20; Australian Securities Investment Commission v Rich [2009] NSWSC 1229; (2009) 236 FLR 1; Lakic v Prior [2016] VSC 293

(2020) 103 NSWLR 850

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