(1) If, in respect of any proceedings, the Tribunal decides a question with respect to a matter of law, a party in the proceedings who is dissatisfied with the decision may, subject to this section, appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision.
(2) …………..
(3) After deciding the question the subject of such an appeal, the Supreme Court may, unless it affirms the decision of the Tribunal on the question:
(a) make such order in relation to the proceedings in which the question arose as, in its opinion, should have been made by the Tribunal, or
(b) remit its decision on the question to the Tribunal and order a rehearing of the proceedings by the Tribunal. "
6 When an appeal is brought under s 67(1) it is necessary for the summons to state grounds "which clearly identify the decision of a question with respect to a matter of law which is the subject of appeal, and to state grounds on which the decision is claimed to be incorrect": see Kalokerinos & Anor v HIA Insurance Services P/L & Anor [2004] NSWCA 312 per Bryson J at [58].
7 The plaintiffs contended before the Tribunal that Mrs Whan was liable to remedy the defects in the pump-out systems by reason of the statutory warranties found in s 18B of the Home Building Act 1989 (the HBA). The plaintiffs argued that Mrs Whan was an owner-builder and they as immediate successors in title to an owner-builder were entitled to the benefit of the statutory warranties as a result of the operation of s 18C of the HBA. Section 18C provides:
" Warranties as to work by others
A person who is the immediate successor in title to an owner-builder, a holder of a contractor licence, a former holder or a developer who has done residential building work on land is entitled to the benefit of the statutory warranties as if the owner-builder, holder, former holder or developer were required to hold a contractor licence and had done the work under a contract with that successor in title to do the work. "
8 The definition of owner-builder is found within s 3 of the HBA:
Owner-Builder means a person who does owner-builder work (within the meaning of Part 6) and who is issued an owner-builder permit for that work. "
9 Section 90 which is within Part 6 of the HBA defines owner-builder work to mean:
"owner-builder work within the meaning of Division 3 of Part 3 that involves:
(a) the construction of a dwelling, or
(b) the alteration of, or additions to, a dwelling, or
(c) the construction of an inground swimming pool."
10 Within Division 3 of Part 3 s 29 is found. Subsection 29(1) defines in this Division owner-builder work to mean residential building work:
"(a) the reasonable market cost of the labour and
materials involved in which exceeds the prescribed amount, and
(b) that relates to a single-dwelling house or a dual
occupancy:
(i) that may not be carried out on the land concerned except with development consent under Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, or
(ii) that is complying development within the meaning of that Act. "
11 There was no dispute before the Member that the subject work was residential building work which exceeded the prescribed amount.
12 The Tribunal Member in the Reasons for Decision set out the following Background to the proceedings:
"The building works the subject of these applications are at numbers 9 and 11 Lieutenant Bowen Rd, Bowen Mountain. It is not disputed that the land on which both houses are constructed was purchased by Mrs Whan and was in her name alone.
The land which was two lots had one building which straddled the boundary of the two lots at the time of purchase. In early 2001 a development application was lodged in the name of Mrs Whan to make alterations and additions such that one building would be partly demolished and rebuilt as two separate residences and sold separately. After the granting of development consent Mrs Whan entered into a contract with a builder, AFPA Building Services, to do some of the required work to achieve this objective. The contract was in the names of both Elizabeth Whan and Garry (sic) Whan, but was only signed by E Whan as owner, and witnessed by Garry Whan. The contract had a number of exclusions, that is the following items were specifically excluded: bulk excavation, part demolition, plumbing, electrical, painting, rubbish removal, P.C items. These items were not the responsibility of the builder, but of the owner.
….…..Mrs Whan and her husband lived very briefly in the two properties, which were then sold to the two sets of applicants in this matter. It is not disputed that Mrs Whan did not apply for an owner builder permit in relation to these properties."