approval of the settlement
57 I have given careful consideration to the question of whether I ought to make an order dispensing with the requirement of Part IVA that the Court is to fix a date for group members to opt out of a representative proceeding.
58 The relevant provisions are contained in ss 33J and 33X(1).
59 The opt-out requirements of Part IVA are an important element of the scheme laid down by that part of the Act. In King v GIO Australia Holdings Ltd [2001] FCA 270 at [15], a Full Court observed that these requirements ensure that group members can make an informed decision about their rights. The Full Court said at [15] and [16] that the opt-out notice must not mislead group members and must be expressed with clarity and simplicity.
60 Section 33Y provides for the Court to approve the form and content of an opt-out notice. Section 33Y(2) would ordinarily also require the Court to approve the form and content of the notice to group members advising them of the settlement. Section 33ZB(b) provides that persons who exercise the right to opt out of a proceeding under s 33J are not bound by a judgment given in a representative proceeding.
61 In Multiplex Funds Management Ltd v P Dawson Nominees Pty Ltd (2007) 164 FCR 275, a Full Court considered the question of whether a compulsory funding agreement in similar terms to the funding agreement of the present matter contravened the opt-out nature of representative proceedings.
62 Although not stated explicitly in Multiplex, it is clear enough from the analysis of the relevant provisions of Part IVA that s 33J and the right to opt out is an essential ingredient of the scheme. In spite of that, the Court came to the view that the conditions of the funding agreement which effectively imposed an opt-in requirement did not contravene the provisions of Part IVA.
63 I observed at [149] that the execution of the funding agreement as a condition of inclusion in the represented group operates as a substantial practical disincentive to a group member to exercise the right to opt out of the proceeding. Although the appellants in that case submitted that this subverts a fundamental principle of Part IVA, I said at [150] that group members are nevertheless entitled to opt out, and I came to the view that the funding agreement did not contravene the provisions of Part IVA. French J (as his Honour then was) and Lindgren J agreed with the views that I expressed.
64 I do not consider that Multiplex is authority for the proposition that the Court lacks power to dispense with the requirements of s 33J. I do not consider that the general dispensing power contained in s 33X(2) is applicable. However, in my view, there is power in s 33ZF to dispense with the requirements of opt-out notices.
65 In McMullen v ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd (1998) 84 FCR 1 at 4, Wilcox J observed that the power in s 33ZF(1) was:
intended to confer on the Court the widest possible power to do whatever is appropriate or necessary in the interests of justice being achieved in a representative proceeding.
66 His Honour expressed the view that Part IVA involved the introduction of a novel procedure and that it was at the time impossible to foresee all the issues that might arise in the operation of the Part. He said that for that reason, it was desirable to empower the Court to make orders necessary to resolve unforeseen difficulties. As his Honour observed, the only limitation is that the Court must consider the order to be appropriate or necessary to ensure that justice is done in the proceeding.
67 In Courtney v Medtel Pty Ltd (2002) 122 FCR 168 at [48], Sackville J observed that there are good reasons to give s 33ZF a generous interpretation. His Honour did not refer expressly to the remarks of Wilcox J in McMullen,however the passage to which I have referred from McMullen was approved by Tamberlin J in Johnstone v HIH Limited [2004] FCA 190 at [103]-[104].
68 It seems to me that there are a number of reasons why I ought to exercise the discretion to dispense with compliance with the opt-out requirements stated in ss 33J and 33X(1)(a). In essence, this is because group members have been notified on at least two occasions of their right to opt out, and they have been invited on both of those occasions in the letters from Slater & Gordon to indicate whether, if given the opportunity to do so, they would wish to exercise their entitlement to opt out. As I have said on several occasions, no group member has indicated any wish to do so.
69 I would also take into account the cost of providing a further notice to group members which would have to be borne by the applicants. Not only would there be the cost of any mail-out, there would be further costs involved because I would need to adjourn the hearing of this application pending the dispatch of opt-out notices and the receipt of any responses from group members. In light of what has already taken place, this would seem to be a futile exercise.
70 I have been taken to the terms of a draft opt-out notice which I would be asked to send in the event that I should decide not to exercise my discretion under s 33ZF. The information contained in the draft opt-out notice, with the exception of three paragraphs, has already been provided to the group members by Slater & Gordon. The only additional information is to refer the group members to the allegations made in the Statement of Claim and to point out the nature of the cause of action, as well as to observe that the respondents deny any of the contraventions of the law alleged in the Statement of Claim.
71 It seems to me to be clear enough that all group members, whilst they would not have read the pleadings, would at very least understand the general nature of the matters alleged against the respondents, and the fact that the respondents deny contraventions of the law would seem to be fairly obvious.
72 Mr Cheshire concedes that I have power to dispense with the provisions of ss 33J and 33Z(1)(a). He also submitted that I ought to exercise the power, although he said I ought to do so for reasons other than those put by Mr Abadee. In particular, Mr Cheshire submitted that the effect of the settlement agreement is that the group members are contractually bound not to opt out.
73 I do not think that I need to consider the correctness of that submission because, as I have already said, sufficient information has been supplied to group members.
74 Nor do I need to consider whether a further submission put by Mr Abadee is correct. He submitted that the policy considerations informing the opt-out requirements of the Act do not readily apply where the class is effectively closed from the outset by the requirement of a compulsory litigation funding agreement.
75 It seems therefore to me that I ought to exercise my power under s 33ZF to order that the requirements of ss 33J and 33X(1)(a) of the Act be dispensed with.
76 What I have said about the correspondence from Slater & Gordon to group members satisfies me that notice has been given to group members in order to satisfy the requirements of s 33X(4). Whilst it is true that the form and content of the letters was not sent with the prior approval of the Court, to the extent necessary, I would make an order dispensing with that requirement.
I certify that the preceding seventy-six (76) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Jacobson.