C.1 The Application
24 In the original jurisdiction proceeding, by an originating application for judicial review dated 31 January 2024 (judicial review application), Ms Storry seeks two orders:
1. An order that the decision of Registrar Stewart be set aside.
2. The decision of Justice Logan be listed to be set aside pursuant to s 25(2B)(ab) [of the FCA Act].
25 The genesis of the judicial review application was an interlocutory application lodged in the Registry in December 2023 (interlocutory application) in the proceeding Venetia Louise Storry v Jonathan David Weir (QUD 423 of 2022) (Weir proceeding). In January 2024, National Registrar Stewart, pursuant to FCR 2.26, rejected the interlocutory application for filing on the basis that the application was an abuse of process and was otherwise vexatious or frivolous.
26 After some initial confusion, it became evident that the interlocutory application rejected by the Registrar was headed "Urgent Interlocutory application". Despite its length, it is appropriate to set out the orders sought in that application (errors in original):
Interlocutory orders sought
1. Pursuant to s25 (2B) (ab) " a single judge (sitting in chambers or in open Court) or a Full Court may... make an interlocutory order pending or after the determination of an appeal to the Court... " the appeal of Storry v Weir QUD 423/22, [2022] FCA 794; pursuant to rule 39.05(b) of the Federal Court Rules be reinstated as His Honour errs that rescinding a decision obtained by fraud is the same jurisdiction as an appeal. However, according to Clone v Players (2018), setting aside a decision for fraud is originating in jurisdiction, not appellant.
2. Storry v Parkyn [2023] FCA1141, an originating application under r39.05 (b) was filed. Nowhere in that judgement is there any decision that r39.05 (b) is an appellant jurisdiction.
3. The HCA disposition on the 7th of December 2023 states that "an appeal to this Court would enjoy no prospects of success". This reasoning is in keeping with the fact that r39.05 (b) is not an application that can be bought before the High Court, as the jurisdiction on appeal from an originating application does not lie with the High Court but with the Federal Court of Australia.
Clone v Players HCA (2018)
44. The distinction between each of the equitable bills is today broadly reflected in the distinction between (i) the power of an appellate court to set aside a lower court judgment and order a new trial, and (ii) the power of a court, by an original action, to set aside a judgment (often its own) based upon fraud. The distinction, and separate requirements in each action, is justified as a matter of principle and history. It is fundamental to these appeals. Each circumstance, and its historical antecedents, is considered separately below.
The equitable and statutory powers to review a decision and order a new trial
45. The first method mentioned above for reversing or altering an enrolled decree in Chancery prior to the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1873 (36 & 37 Viet c 66) was a bill of review. A bill of review could be brought in the Court of Chancery in two different categories of caseill.1. One category was concerned with substantial errors of law. The other category was based upon new matter discovered since the decree. In both cases there was a 20-year time limit, which probably arose from the circumstance that a bill of review was considered as being in the nature of a writ of error, which writ had that time limit.
4. The matter be heard with QUD479/2023 as a matter of urgency.
…
27 It became apparent during oral submissions at the hearing of the judicial review application that the only order sought by Ms Storry in the interlocutory application rejected by the Registrar was that the matter (that is, the Weir proceeding) be heard together with another proceeding, being Venetia Louise Storry v David Clout (QUD 479 of 2023) (sequestration proceeding). In the latter proceeding, Ms Storry seeks to challenge the making of a sequestration order against her and orders for the removal of her trustee in bankruptcy.
28 As can be seen, on its face, the interlocutory application is confused and confusing. It did, however, emerge during the course of oral submissions that in the event that the Weir proceeding was heard together with the sequestration proceeding, what Ms Storry would seek would be an order setting aside an order made by Logan J on 30 November 2022 by which his Honour dismissed an application to reopen or set aside a judgment given on 15 November 2022 by Thomas J: Storry v Weir (No 2) [2022] FCA 1360.
29 This necessitates some explanation.
30 In Storry v Weir (No 2), Thomas J dismissed an application brought by Ms Storry to set aside a final judgment handed down by his Honour by which he dismissed an appeal brought by Ms Storry against a sequestration order made by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia: see Storry v Weir [2022] FCA 794; Weir v Storry [2022] FedCFamC2G 183. In Storry v Weir [2022] FCA 1484, before Logan J, Ms Storry sought to challenge the dismissal of her application to set aside the judgment given on her appeal (that is, Storry v Weir (No 2)) on the basis that the Court was exercising original, rather than appellate, jurisdiction. In short, Logan J found (at [19]) that the jurisdiction Ms Storry had invoked was the appellate jurisdiction of the Court and hence, pursuant to s 24 of the FCA Act, Ms Storry had no right of appeal against the order made by Thomas J on 15 November 2022. His Honour noted (at [27]) that Ms Storry's only avenues of challenging that order lie by special leave to the High Court, pursuant to s 33 of the FCA Act, or, exceptionally, by way of a constitutional writ.
31 As it happens, although Logan J's ex tempore reasons were published on 9 December 2022, his Honour's orders and reasons were "included" in an application for special leave to the High Court filed sometime prior to that date. That application, among other things, sought to challenge the dismissal of the appeal against the sequestration order and an earlier judgment of Collier J refusing interim relief (Storry v Weir [2022] FCA 362).
32 The application for special leave was refused by the High Court on 7 December 2023 on the basis that the appeal would enjoy no prospects of success: Storry v Weir [2023] HCASL 183. Two further applications heard on the same day seeking the removal of the Weir proceeding and the proceeding Venetia Storry v Business Licensing Authority & Anor (QUD 77 of 2023) to the High Court were also refused: Storry v Business Licensing Authority, Office of Fair Trading (Victoria) [2023] HCASL 184; Storry v Parkyn [2023] HCASL 185.