High Court of Australia

Alexander and Ors (t/as Minter Ellison) v Perpetual Trustees WA Ltd and Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd [2001] NSWCA 240 ; [2002] NSWCA 101 .

Wilkinson v Feldworth Financial Services Pty Ltd (1998) 29 ACSR 642 .

cf James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd v Seltsam Pty Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 53 at 64-65 [22]-[24].

cf John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson (2000) 203 CLR 503 .

s 4(1) and Sch 1.

s 3(1) and the Third Schedule.

See Youyang Pty Ltd v Minter Ellison Morris Fletcher (2003) 77 ALJR 895 at 897 [4]; 196 ALR 482 at 484.

(2003) 77 ALJR 895 ; 196 ALR 482 .

(1998) 29 ACSR 642 at 727.

Explanatory Memorandum, Wrongs (Contribution) Bill.

See Bitumen and Oil Refineries (Australia) Ltd v Commissioner for Government Transport (1955) 92 CLR 200 at 211-212; James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd v Seltsam Pty Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 53 at 59-60 [7], 69-70 [46].

See Law Reform (Married Women and Tortfeasors) Act 1935 (UK), s 6, adopting a recommendation of the Law Revision Committee, Third Interim Report, (1934), Cmd 4637 at 8.

Report on Contribution, (1977), No 79 at 23. See also Hong Kong, Law Reform Commission, Report on the Law relating to Contribution between Wrongdoers, (1984) at 50; Ontario, Law Reform Commision, Report on Contribution among Wrongdoers and Contributory Negligence, (1988) at 268; New Zealand, Law Commission, Apportionment of Civil Liability, (1998), No 47 at 1; New South Wales, Law Reform Commission, Contribution between Persons liable for the Same Damage, (1999), No 89 at 51.

Victoria, Chief Justice's Law Reform Committee, Contribution, (1979) at 1-2.

[2002] 1 WLR 1397 at 1401 , 1409-1410 , 1417; [2002] 2 All ER 801 at 805-806 , 813 , 820-821.

K v P (J, Third Party ) [1993] Ch 140 at 148; Friends' Provident Life Office v Hillier Parker May & Rowden [1997] QB 85 at 102-103 , 113; Bialkower v Acohs Pty Ltd (1998) 83 FCR 1 at 11-12.

cf DP v Commonwealth Central Authority (2001) 206 CLR 401 at 417-418 [41]-[44].

[2002] 1 WLR 1397 at 1401; [2002] 2 All ER 801 at 806.

James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd v Seltsam Pty Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 53 at 61 [12].

[2002] 1 WLR 1397 at 1410; [2002] 2 All ER 801 at 814.

[2002] 1 WLR 1397 at 1401; [2002] 2 All ER 801 at 805-806.

[2002] 1 WLR 1397 at 1401 , 1410; [2002] 2 All ER 801 at 806 , 813-814.

See Mahony v J Kruschich (Demolitions) Pty Ltd (1985) 156 CLR 522 at 527.

See Mahony v J Kruschich (Demolitions) Pty Ltd (1985) 156 CLR 522 at 527.

cf Tame v New South Wales (2002) 211 CLR 317 at 373-375 [168]-[172].

(1998) 29 ACSR 642 at 756-757.

(1997) 41 NSWLR 353 .

(1966) 84 WN (Pt 1) (NSW) 399 at 406.

(2003) 77 ALJR 895 at 901-902 [35]; 196 ALR 482 at 490-491.

Pilmer v Duke Group Ltd (in liq ) (2001) 207 CLR 165 at 201-202 [86], 230-231 [170]-[173].

(1998) 29 ACSR 642 at 756.

Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic), s 26.

Astley v Austrust Ltd (1999) 197 CLR 1 .

Young v Murphy [1996] 1 VR 279 at 286.

15 & 16 Vict, c 86, s 42, r 9.

See also Young v Murphy [1996] 1 VR 279 at 283. In England, see RSC O 15 r 14 ; Daniell, The Practice of the High Court of Chancery, 5th ed (1871), Vol 1 at 196.

(1988) 12 NSWLR 84 at 91-93.

(1873) LR 8 Ch App 597 at 609-610.

(1873) LR 8 Ch App 597 at 609.

(1988) 12 NSWLR 84 at 91-92.

Scott on Trusts, 4th ed (1989), Vol 4, §282.

[1987] AC 730 .

[1987] AC 730 at 748.

(1998) 29 ACSR 642 at 751.

[1995] 2 AC 145 at 194.

(1999) 197 CLR 1 at 22 [46].

(1992) 37 FCR 363 .

Mahoney v McManus (1981) 180 CLR 370 at 378 per Gibbs CJ.

James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd v Seltsam Pty Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 53 Burke v LFOT Pty Ltd (2002) 209 CLR 282 .

Barnett, "The Uneasy Position of Unjust Enrichment After Roxborough v Rothmans", (2002) 23 Adelaide Law Review 277 at 289.

James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd v Seltsam Pty Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 53 at 69-70 [46] referring toBitumen and Oil Refineries (Australia) Ltd v Commissioner for Government Transport (1955) 92 CLR 200 at 211Brambles Constructions Pty Ltd v Helmers (1966) 114 CLR 213 at 219-220Bakker v Joppich (1980) 25 SASR 468 at 472.

Burke v LFOT Pty Ltd (2002) 209 CLR 282 at 321-324 [106]-[117].

Joint reasons at [5]-[17].

Reasons of Callinan J at [122]-[137].

Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic), s 23B(1).

Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic), s 24(2).

Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic), s 23B(6).

Youyang Pty Ltd v Minter Ellison Morris Fletcher (2003) 77 ALJR 895 ; 196 ALR 482 .

Wrongs (Contribution) Act 1985 (Vic), s 4, with effect from 12 February 1986.

ss 11(1), 37(1). See reasons of Callinan J at [154].

eg Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), s 5(1)(c) considered Brambles Constructions Pty Ltd v Helmers (1966) 114 CLR 213 at 219 , 222 , 224. See also George Wimpey & Co Ltd v British Overseas Airways Corporation [1955] AC 169 at 196; Harvey v R G O'Dell Ltd Galway (Third Party ) [1958] 2 QB 78 at 108-110.

Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic), s 23B(6). See also reasons of Callinan J at [148].

See also James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd v Seltsam Pty Ltd (1998) 196 CLR 53 at 70 [46].

Law Reform (Married Women and Tortfeasors) Act 1935 (UK), s 6(1).

Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic), s 24(1) (since repealed).

Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), s 5(1)(c); Law Reform (Contributory Negligence and Tortfeasors' Contribution) Act 1947 (WA), s 7(1)(c); Wrongs Act 1954 (Tas), s 3(1)(c); Law Reform Act 1995 (Q), s 6(c); Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (NT), s 12(4).

England and Wales, The Law Commission, Contribution, Law Com Working Paper No 59, (1975) at 33 [56].

England and Wales, The Law Commission, Report on Contribution, Law Com No 79, (1977).

England and Wales, The Law Commission, Report on Contribution, Law Com No 79, (1977) at 10 [33].

England and Wales, The Law Commission, Report on Contribution, Law Com No 79, (1977) at 11 [33] (footnote omitted).

England and Wales, The Law Commission, Report on Contribution, Law Com No 79, (1977) at 10 [33].

Victoria, Chief Justice's Law Reform Committee, Contribution, (1979), para 1.

Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978 (UK). See United Kingdom, House of Lords, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 18 July 1978 at 245-255.

The Committee referred to Belous v Willetts [1970] VR 45 A S James Pty Ltd v C B Duncan [1970] VR 705 ; De Meza v Apple [1974] 1 Lloyd's Rep 508 : Victoria, Chief Justice's Law Reform Committee, Contribution, (1979), paras 10.1-10.2. See now Astley v Austrust Ltd (1999) 197 CLR 1 .

United Kingdom, House of Lords, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 18 July 1978 at 255.

United Kingdom, House of Lords, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 18 July 1978 at 255.

Only minor changes have been introduced in other jurisdictions. See Law Reform (Contributory Negligence and Apportionment of Liability) Act 2001 (SA), s 6(1) replacing Wrongs Act 1936 (SA), s 25(1)(c); Civil Law (Wrongs) Act 2002 (ACT), s 21.

Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic), s 23A(1).

The South Australian contribution legislation extends to liability in contract and under statute but that liability must be established in an action for contribution: Law Reform (Contributory Negligence and Apportionment of Liability) Act 2001 (SA), ss 4(1) and 6(1) and (3).

Alexander (T/as Minter Ellison) v Perpetual Trustees WA Ltd [2001] NSWCA 240 at [137] per Davies AJA.

Alexander (T/as Minter Ellison ) v Perpetual Trustees WA Ltd (No 2 ) [2002] NSWCA 101 .

eg Roy Morgan Research Centre Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue (Vict ) (2001) 207 CLR 72 at 89 [46]; Victorian WorkCover Authority v Esso Australia Ltd (2001) 207 CLR 520 at 545 [63]; Commonwealth v Yarmirr (2001) 208 CLR 1 at 111 [249]; Allan v Transurban City Link Ltd (2001) 208 CLR 167 at 184-185 [54]; Conway v The Queen (2002) 209 CLR 203 at 227 [65]; Visy Paper Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2003) 77 ALJR 1893 at 1897 [24]-[25], 1906 [73]-[75]; 201 ALR 414 at 420, 432.

Conway v The Queen (2002) 209 CLR 203 at 227 [66].

The relevant provisions are set out in the reasons of Callinan J at [148].

Powers v Maher (1959) 103 CLR 478 at 484-485State Government Insurance Office (Qld) v Crittenden (1966) 117 CLR 412 at 416McDowell v Baker (1979) 144 CLR 413 at 419; Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd v Reilly [1941] VLR 110 at 111; Trustees of the Will of Cunard v Inland Revenue Commissioners [1946] 1 All ER 159 at 164.

Burke v LFOT Pty Ltd (2002) 209 CLR 282 .

Reasons of Callinan J at [149]-[166].

Reasons of McHugh J at [67].

Joint reasons at [27], [33].

Joint reasons at [5]; see also at [33].

Reasons of Callinan J at [149]-[166].

Alexander (T/as Minter Ellison ) v Perpetual Trustees WA Ltd (No 2 ) [2002] NSWCA 101 at [27].

Alexander (T/as Minter Ellison ) v Perpetual Trustees WA Ltd (No 2 ) [2002] NSWCA 101 at [29].

Alexander (T/as Minter Ellison ) v Perpetual Trustees WA Ltd (No 2 ) [2002] NSWCA 101 at [27]. His Honour referred to the reasons of that court given in [2001] NSWCA 240 .

Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic), s 24(2).

Wilkinson v Feldworth Financial Services Pty Ltd (1998) 29 ACSR 642 at 756.

Wilkinson v Feldworth Financial Services Pty Ltd (1998) 29 ACSR 642 at 756.

Wilkinson v Feldworth Financial Services Pty Ltd (1998) 29 ACSR 642 at 756.

Pilmer v Duke Group Ltd (In liq ) (2001) 207 CLR 165 at 201-202 [85]-[86] per McHugh, Gummow, Hayne and Callinan JJ, 230-232 [171]-[174] of my own reasons.

Pilmer v Duke Group Ltd (In liq ) (2001) 207 CLR 165 at 224-225 [151].

Breen v Williams (1996) 186 CLR 71 at 113; Pilmer v Duke Group Ltd (In liq ) (2001) 207 CLR 165 at 201 [85], 224 [150].

[1991] 3 SCR 534 at 543 cited Pilmer v Duke Group Ltd (In liq ) (2001) 207 CLR 165 at 225 [152].

Pilmer v Duke Group Ltd (In liq ) (2001) 207 CLR 165 at 201 [86], 228-232 [165]-[174]. See alsoMaguire v Makaronis (1997) 188 CLR 449 at 496.

Breen v Williams (1996) 186 CLR 71 at 113.

Wilkinson v Feldworth Financial Services Pty Ltd (1998) 29 ACSR 642 at 757.

Wren v Mahony (1972) 126 CLR 212 at 225-226; Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd (1981) 147 CLR 589 at 595; Sunbird Plaza Pty Ltd v Maloney (1988) 166 CLR 245 at 254.

McGrath v Fairfield Municipal Council (1985) 156 CLR 672 at 679-680.

Wynne v Tempest [1897] 1 Ch 110 at 114 per Chitty J.

eg Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946 (NSW), s 5(1)(c): "[N]o person shall be entitled to recover contribution under this section from any person entitled to be indemnified".

cf Bennett v Minister of Community Welfare (1992) 176 CLR 408 at 429-430 per McHugh J, concerning multiple causes in negligence claims.

(2001) 51 NSWLR 624 .

(1860) 3 Macq 833 at 844.

1987 SLT 345 at 347.

(1995) 56 FCR 588 .

(2001) 51 NSWLR 624 at 632 [28].

[1987] AC 730 at 748.

[1983] 3 NSWLR 221 .

The Fair Trading Act 1985 (Vic) was repealed on 1 September 1999. Section 11 of that Act has been re-enacted as s 9 of the Fair Trading Act 1999 (Vic).

The Fair Trading Act 1985 (Vic) was repealed on 1 September 1999. Section 37 has been substantially re-enacted as s 159 of the Fair Trading Act 1999 (Vic).

(1992) 37 FCR 363 .

(1992) 37 FCR 363 at 372.

See Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd v Pfizer Pty Ltd (1992) 37 FCR 526 Pacific Coal Pty Ltd v Idemitsu Queensland Pty Ltd (1992) ATPR (Digest) ¶46-094.

[1987] AC 730 at 748. See also the summary of Powell J of other cases which demonstrates that there is no absolute rule of preclusion of action by beneficiaries in Ramage v Waclaw (1988) 12 NSWLR 84 at 91-92.

[1983] 3 NSWLR 221 .