Subject: NCAT Appeal Panel Decisions - January 2017

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NCAT Appeal Decisions Digest
January 2017 Decisions
The NCAT Appeal Decisions Digest provides monthly keyword summaries of decisions of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) Internal Appeal Panel.  

The following NCAT Appeal Panel decisions were handed down during the month of January 2017. Each case title is hyperlinked to the full decision available on NSW Caselaw
Significant Decisions
The following case summaries are of significant decisions handed down by the NCAT Appeal Panel during January 2017.
Montales-Cook v Wilson [2017] NSWCATAP 2
Consumer & Commercial Division - General
Judgment of: A Britton, Principal Member
 
Summary: The Appeal Panel considered whether or not to grant a stay for a decision pending appeal relying at [7] on the principles applicable to stays pending appeal set out in the earlier decision of Wright J in Bentran Pty Ltd v Sabbarton [2014] NSWCATAP 37. The Appeal Panel refused to grant a stay because the appellant failed to adduce evidence to establish that there was any likelihood that the money paid under the order appealed against would be irrecoverable or that there were other relevant grounds for granting a stay: 

[11] [The appellant] has not adduced any evidence which might suggest that if the appeal is successful she is unlikely to be able to recover the amount the subject of the disputed order from [the respondent]. Nor has she adduced any evidence which might support a finding that compliance with the order made by the Tribunal would subject her to any particular hardship. Further, she has not identified any public interest which might favour the granting of stay:

Lettau v Artwork Transport Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCATAP 14
Consumer & Commercial Division - General
Judgment of: A P Coleman SC, Senior Member; D Fairlie, Senior Member
 
Summary: The Appeal Panel considered the onus of proof that a bailor of goods bears in bailment cases. Although the Appeal Panel affirmed that the onus of proof generally rests with a bailee to “prove that any damage to the bailed goods was not caused its negligence or actions” [27], the Appeal Panel observed that, nevertheless:

[42] [the] principle, and the duty of care on a bailee, does not mean that the bailee has as the appellant phrased it the "entire onus”. That is, there must be proof by the bailor of the condition of the goods at the time of delivery to the bailee [if the bailor is to succeed in a claim that the goods were not returned in the same condition]. 
Corcoran v Far [2017] NSWCATAP 16
Consumer & Commercial Division - Tenancy
Judgment of: M Schyvens, Deputy President; Prof G Walker, Senior Member
 
Summary: The Appeal Panel considered the requirements of section 10 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW) (the RT Act). The Appeal Panel determined that, on a proper reading of the provision, a residential tenancy agreement need not contain a fixed term for s 10 to be enlivened.

[47] The definition of a residential tenancy agreement provided in s 13 of the RTA does not state that there is a requirement for an agreement to contain a fixed term to amount to a residential tenancy agreement. The RTA explicitly provides for the existence of a periodic agreement which is defined as a residential tenancy agreement that is not a fixed term agreement (s 3(1)). Whilst in practical terms it is more common than not that residential tenancy agreements commence as fixed term agreements and are subsequently replaced by a periodic agreement as contemplated by s 18 of the RTA , there is no prohibition in the RTA of a residential tenancy agreement commencing in the form of a periodic agreement.
Keyword Summaries
Keyword summaries for NCAT Appeal Panel decisions made during January 2017.
Montales-Cook v Wilson [2017] NSWCATAP 2
Consumer & Commercial Division - General
Judgment of: A Britton, Principal Member
Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — stay of the decision under appeal — whether the decision under appeal would be rendered nugatory
Bentley v Garage 88 Sydney Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCATAP 3
Consumer & Commercial Division - General
Judgment of: M Harrowell, Principal Member; G Walker, Senior Member
Catchwords: Mistake- unilateral mistake, unconscionable conduct. Damages- breach of contract, time for assessment
Access Housing Pty Ltd ACN 065902936 v Rayfield [2017] NSWCATAP 4
Consumer & Commercial Division - Home Building
Judgment ofDr J Renwick SC, Senior Member; Mr D Fairlie, Senior Member 
Catchwords: CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL – Appeal Panel – home building – consumer claim – breach of statutory warranty – defective work – compensation based on demolition of building works – denial of procedural fairness – misapplication of Belgrove v Eldridge – refusing to receive evidence of director of the appellant as expert evidence – no error of law
Dimunova v Vega [2017] NSWCATAP 5
Consumer & Commercial Division - Home Building
Judgment of: S Westgarth, Deputy President; R Titterton, Senior Member
Catchwords: Duty to maintain – premises in strata scheme
T & S Nominees Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue [2017] NSWCATAP 6
Administrative & Equal Opportunity Division - Administrative Review
Judgment of: K P O'Connor, AM, ADCJ, Deputy President; J McAteer, Senior Member 
Catchwords: PROCEDURE – Discretion to extend time – Application for reinstatement of an appeal made one day late – In the circumstances, extension of time refused. Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013, s 41
Steven Mace v Christopher John McPherson t/as CMC Building Works [2017] NSWCATAP 8
Consumer & Commercial Division - Home Building
Judgment of: I H Bailey SC, Senior Member; D Goldstein, Senior Member 
Leisure Brothers Pty Ltd v Smith [2017] NSWCATAP 11
Consumer & Commercial Division - Home Building
Judgment of: Hon B Tamberlin QC Principal Member; M Harrowell, Principal Member 
Catchwords: Procedure- Failure to comply with directions, refusal to adjourn hearing. Evidence- Sufficiency of evidence where no competing evidence, lump sum quotation prepared by reference to detailed scope of work. Leave to appeal- new evidence not reasonably available at the time of the hearing
Beattie v Wesley Mission [2017] NSWCATAP 12
Consumer & Commercial Division - Retirement Villages
Judgment of: ADCJ Cowdroy QC, Principal Member; A Boxall, Senior Member
Catchwords: Leave to appeal; appeal as of right; guiding principles; retirement village budget; budget amendments; variation of expenditure; making good deficit; carry forward of deficit; contingencies
Lettau v Artwork Transport Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCATAP 14
Consumer & Commercial Division - General
Judgment of: A P Coleman SC, Senior Member; D Fairlie, Senior Member
Catchwords: BAILMENT: onus of proof; APPEAL: whether Tribunal applied correct onus, standard of proof; EVIDENCE: new evidence on appeal not allowed
Champion Homes Sales Pty Ltd v Commissioner for Fair Trading, Office of Finance, Services and Innovation [2017] NSWCATAP 15
Administrative & Equal Opportunity Division - Administrative Review
Judgment of: L P Robberds QC, Senior Member; L Pearson, Principal Member 
Catchwords: Appellant company holder of contractor licence under Home Building Act 1989 – disciplinary action by an acting director, Department of Finance Service and Innovation against appellant and four office bearers for breach of statutory warranty under s18 (B) (1) (a) of the Act – appellant required to pay a penalty of $3,500 – appellant and office bearers lodged applications for administrative review of decisions – orders that determinations against office bearers set aside and decisions made that no action be taken – order that determination against appellant be set aside but appellant cautioned – appeal by appellant – failure by Tribunal to give reasons why the appellant should be cautioned
Corcoran v Far [2017] NSWCATAP 16
Consumer & Commercial Division - Tenancy
Judgment of: M Schyvens, Deputy President; Prof G Walker, Senior Member 
Catchwords: APPEAL – Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NSW) – Residential Tenancies Act (NSW) – question of law – jurisdiction – shared households – requirements of s 10 of the Residential Tenancies Act – appeal allowed
Baxter v Telgate Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCATAP 17
Consumer & Commercial Division - General
Judgment of: L Pearson, Principal Member; D Charles, Senior Member
Catchwords: APPEAL – consumer claim – defects in appearance and finish of bed furniture - finding of no major failure under ACL NSW - whether question of law – procedural fairness – bias - no error of law – leave to appeal – whether substantial miscarriage of justice – leave refused
AIN v Medical Council of New South Wales [2017] NSWCATAP 21
Administrative & Equal Opportunity Division - Administrative Review
Judgment of: Hennessy LCM, Deputy President; P Durack SC, Senior Member 
Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW – application under Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 – access to personal information – scope of application – meaning of s 14 of PPIP Act – identification of matters relevant to liability and remedy
AIN v Medical Council of New South Wales [2017] NSWCATAP 22
Administrative & Equal Opportunity Division - Administrative Review
Judgment of: Hennessy LCM, Deputy President; P Durack SC, Senior Member
Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW – application under Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 – collection of personal information – meaning of lawful purpose – failure to exercise jurisdiction by not addressing Appellant’s case on unlawfulness - disclosure of information – effect of non-publication order
AIN v Medical Council of New South Wales [2017] NSWCATAP 23
Administrative & Equal Opportunity Division - Administrative Review
Judgment of: Hennessy LCM, Deputy President; P Durack SC, Senior Member 
Catchwords: ADMINISTRATVIE REVIEW – application under Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 – use and disclosure of personal information – duration of disclosure contravention - nature and content of disclosure - whether use as well as disclosure – errors of fact and law
NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Level 9, 86-90 Goulburn Street, 2000, Sydney, Australia
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