Australian Torts Law Fourth Edition Amanda Stickley LLB, Grad Dip Leg Prac, LLM, Grad Cert Ed (Higher Ed) (QUT) Associate Professor, Faculty of Law Queensland University of Technology Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (UK) LexisNexis Butterworths Australia 2016 LexisNexis AUSTRALIA LexisNexis Butterworths 475–495 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood NSW 2067 On the internet at: www.lexisnexis.com.au ARGENTINA LexisNexis Argentina, BUENOS AIRES AUSTRIA LexisNexis Verlag ARD Orac GmbH & Co KG, VIENNA BRAZIL LexisNexis Latin America, SAO PAULO CANADA LexisNexis Canada, Markham, ONTARIO CHILE LexisNexis Chile, SANTIAGO CHINA LexisNexis China, BEIJING, SHANGHAI CZECH REPUBLIC Nakladatelství Orac sro, PRAGUE FRANCE LexisNexis SA, PARIS GERMANY LexisNexis Germany, FRANKFURT HONG KONG LexisNexis Hong Kong, HONG KONG HUNGARY HVG-Orac, BUDAPEST INDIA LexisNexis, NEW DELHI ITALY Dott A Giuffrè Editore SpA, MILAN JAPAN LexisNexis Japan KK, TOKYO KOREA LexisNexis, SEOUL MALAYSIA LexisNexis Malaysia Sdn Bhd, PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR NEW ZEALAND LexisNexis, WELLINGTON POLAND Wydawnictwo Prawnicze LexisNexis, WARSAW SINGAPORE LexisNexis, SINGAPORE SOUTH AFRICA LexisNexis Butterworths, DURBAN SWITZERLAND Staempfli Verlag AG, BERNE TAIWAN LexisNexis, TAIWAN UNITED KINGDOM LexisNexis UK, LONDON, EDINBURGH USA LexisNexis Group, New York, NEW YORK LexisNexis, Miamisburg, OHIO National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Author: Stickley, Amanda. Title: Australian Torts Law. Edition: 4th edition. ISBN: 9780409342048 (pbk). 9780409342062 (ebk). Notes: Includes index. Subjects: Torts — Australia — Textbooks. Dewey Number: 346.9403 © 2016 Reed International Books Australia Pty Limited trading as LexisNexis. First edition 2005. Second edition 2009 (reprinted 2010, 2011 and 2012). Third edition 2013 (reprinted 2014 and 2015). This book is copyright. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part of this publication may be reproduced by any process, electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of the copyright owner. Neither may information be stored electronically in any form whatsoever without such permission. Inquiries should be addressed to the publishers. Typeset in Myriad Pro and Minion Pro. Printed in China. Visit LexisNexis Butterworths at www.lexisnexis.com.au Preface The law of torts covers such a wide range of actions, that when undertaking research and writing, it looms as a very daunting task. However, it also allows research into areas that you rarely consider, and given the variety and constant change, means that it is always interesting. This is the fourth edition of Australian Torts Law, and it follows the same format as the previous edition, attempting to examine the law as it currently operates and provide some historical context. As with previous editions, the aim is to provide a comprehensive coverage of the law of torts in a way that students may appreciate. The action of negligence continues to dominate the monograph, as it does in all torts texts, and with the passing of nearly 15 years since the civil liability legislation was introduced, the case law continues to grow as courts grapple with the subtle differences and issues of interpretation. With the ease of access to unreported judgments and the latest of cases online, it is difficult to know when enough is enough, but hopefully a sufficient range of cases have been included to demonstrate the points of law without going overboard. Extracts of legislation have been included where possible — always an issue when there are usually differences between the eight Australian jurisdictions. Teaching torts law to first-year students at the Queensland University of Technology remains the favourite part of my job, and I thank my students for their feedback over the years. My thanks also go to Jocelyn Holmes at LexisNexis Butterworths for her support and encouragement. My daughter Jaimie is now four years older since the last edition and assures me that she needs no acknowledgement this time. The law is that as generally stated at April 2016, with minor additions during the editing of the book. Amanda Stickley Table of Cases References are to paragraph numbers A A v Hoare [2008] 1 AC 844 …. 14.43 — v New South Wales (2007) 230 CLR 500; 233 ALR 584 …. 1.9, 7.11, 7.13, 7.16, 7.17 A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation), Re [2000] 4 All ER 961 …. 6.44 A, DC v Prince Alfred College Inc [2015] SASCFC 161 …. 20.46 A G Spalding & Bros v A W Gamage Ltd (1915) 84 LJ Ch 449 …. 24.6, 24.14, 24.30 — v — (1918) 35 RPC 101 …. 24.6, 24.14, 24.30 ABN AMRO Bank NV v Bathurst Regional Council (2014) 224 FCR 1; 309 ALR 445 …. 19.22, 19.28, 19.31, 19.45 Abraham bht Abraham v St Mark’s Orthodox Coptic College [2006] NSWSC 1107 …. 9.72 AC Billings & Sons Ltd v Riden [1958] AC 240 …. 9.21 Ace Insurance Ltd v Trifunovski (2011) 284 ALR 489 …. 20.9 ACI Metal Stamping & Spinning Pty Ltd v Boczulik (1964) 110 CLR 372 …. 9.38 ACN 087528774 Pty Ltd (formerly Connex Trains Melbourne Pty Ltd) v Chetcuti (2008) 21 VR 559 …. 3.27, 3.31 AD & SM McLean Pty Ltd v Meech (2005) 13 VR 241 …. 20.71 Adam v Ward [1917] AC 309; [1916–17] All ER Rep 157 …. 22.29, 23.33, 23.36, 23.39, 23.40, 23.46, 23.50 Adams v Ascot Iron Foundry Pty Ltd (1968) 72 SR (NSW) 120 …. 15.16, 15.33 — v Shire of Taringa [1927] QSR 163 …. 25.70 — v Vesco Nominees Pty Ltd [2004] QDC 305 …. 14.9 Adamson v Jarvis (1827) 4 Bing 66; 130 ER 693 …. 21.15 — v Motor Vehicle Insurance Trust (1957) 58 WALR 56 …. 1.27, 11.13 Addie v Dumbreck [1929] AC 358 …. 9.9 Addis v Crocker [1961] QB 11 …. 23.28 Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak (2009) 239 CLR 420; 260 ALR 628 …. 9.24, 11.42, 12.22, 12.33, 12.34, 12.41 Adelaide Chemical Fertiliser Co Ltd v Carlyle (1940) 64 CLR 514 …. 9.122 Admiralski v Stehbens [1960] Qd R 510 …. 15.121, 15.123 Admiralty Commissioners v Owners of SS Amerika [1917] AC 38 …. 17.5 — v SS Valeria [1922] AC 242 …. 15.31 — v Susquehanna (Owners) [1926] AC 655 …. 5.93 Agar v Hyde (2000) 201 CLR 552; 173 ALR 665 …. 10.139, 13.66 Ahern v R (1988) 165 CLR 87; 80 ALR 161 …. 24.63 Ahmedi v Ahmedi (1991) 23 NSWLR 288 …. 15.75 Aircraft Technicians of Australia Pty Ltd v St Clair [2011] QCA 188 …. 15.72, 20.52 Airedale NHS Trust v Bland [1993] AC 789 …. 6.25 Airworks (New Zealand) Ltd v Vertical Flight Management Ltd [1999] 1 NZLR 641 …. 20.24 Aitken Agencies Ltd v Richardson [1967] NZLR 65 …. 5.50 Aktas v Westpac Banking Corporation Ltd (2010) 241 CLR 79; 268 ALR 409 …. 22.60, 23.33, 23.44 Alameddine v Glenworth Valley Horse Riding (2015) 324 ALR 355 …. 13.70 Albrecht v Patterson (1886) 12 VLR 597 …. 22.15, 22.16 Albrighton v Royal Prince Alfred Hospital [1980] 2 NSWLR 542 …. 9.101, 20.13, 20.68 Alcan Give Pty Ltd v Zabic (2015) 325 ALR 1 …. 12.1 Alcoa of Australia Ltd v Apache Energy Ltd [2012] WASC 209 …. 18.6, 18.14, 18.16 Alcock v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police [1992] 1 AC 310 …. 10.57 Aldersea v Public Transport Corporation (2001) 3 VR 499 …. 19.88 Alderslade v Hendon Laundry Ltd [1945] 1 All ER 244 …. 13.104 Aldred v Benton (1610) 9 Co Rep 57; 77 ER 816 …. 25.25 Alexander v Mayor and Corporation of Sydney (1861) 1 SCR (NSW) App 26 …. 25.92 — v North Eastern Railway Co (1865) 6 B & S 340; 122 ER 1221 …. 23.6 — v Perpetual Trustees WA Ltd (2003) 216 CLR 109; (2004) 204 ALR 417 …. 21.17 Alford v Magee (1952) 85 CLR 437 …. 13.3 Ali v Nationwide News Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 183 …. 23.118, 23.139 Al-Kandari v J R Brown & Co [1988] QB 665 …. 9.104 Allen v Chadwick (2014) 68 MVR 82 …. 13.45 — v — (2015) 326 ALR 505 …. 13.29, 13.45 — v Flood [1898] AC 1 …. 24.54, 24.60, 24.81 — v Gulf Oil Refining Ltd [1981] AC 1001 …. 6.49, 25.56, 25.57, 25.101 — v Wright (1838) 8 C & P 522; 173 ER 602 …. 3.70 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v GSF Australia Pty Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 568; 215 ALR 385 …. 12.31 Allsop v Allsop (1860) 5 H & N 534; 157 ER 1292 …. 22.15 Allstate Life Insurance Co v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (1995) 130 ALR 469 …. 24.46, 24.48 Almeroth v W E Chivers & Sons Ltd [1948] 1 All ER 53 …. 25.59 Amaca Pty Ltd v Ellis (2010) 240 CLR 111; 263 ALR 576 …. 12.50 — v King (2011) 35 VR 280 …. 15.152 — v New South Wales (2003) 199 ALR 596; 77 ALJR 1509 …. 21.17, 21.23 — v — (2004) Aust Torts Reports ¶81-749 …. 10.123, 10.128 Amaca Pty Ltd (under NSW administered winding up) v Booth; Amaba Pty Ltd (under NSW administered winding up) v Booth (2011) 283 ALR 461; 86 ALJR 172 …. 12.48, 12.49 Amadio Pty Ltd v Henderson (1998) 81 FCR 149 …. 9.109 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (1998) 43 NSWLR 158 …. 22.50, 22.54 Amess v Hanlon (1873) 4 AJR 90 …. 6.5 AMI Australia Holdings Pty Ltd v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 1395 …. 24.89, 24.92, 24.99 Amstad v Brisbane City Council & Ward (No 1) [1968] Qd R 334 …. 6.49 Anchor Products Ltd v Hedges (1966) 115 CLR 493 …. 11.102, 11.105 Andar Transport Pty Ltd v Brambles Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 424; 206 ALR 387 …. 9.47, 18.22, 18.36 Andary v Burford (1994) Aust Torts Reports ¶81-302 …. 15.21 Anderson v Commonwealth (1932) 47 CLR 50 …. 15.2 — v Enfield City Corporation (1983) 34 SASR 472 …. 9.122, 11.78 — v Gorrie [1895] 1 QB 668 …. 6.55 — v Smith (1990) 101 FLR 34 …. 9.79 Anderson Group Pty Ltd v Tynan Motors Pty Ltd (2006) 65 NSWLR 400; [2006] NSWCA 22 …. 5.11 Andreae v Selfridge & Co Ltd [1938] Ch 1 …. 25.46 Andrewartha v Andrewartha (1987) 44 SASR 1 …. 17.18 Andrews v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1980] 2 NSWLR 225 …. 23.130 Angel v Hawkesbury City Council (2008) Aust Torts Reports ¶81-955 …. 10.150, 11.63, 13.93 Angus v Clifford [1891] 2 Ch 449 …. 19.73 Anikin v Sierra (2004) 211 ALR 621; 79 ALJR 452 …. 9.60 Animal Liberation (Vic) Inc v Gasser [1991] 1 VR 51 …. 25.47 Anns v London Borough of Merton [1978] AC 728 …. 10.9, 10.10, 10.16, 10.33 Anonymous (1535) YB 27 H VIII f 27 …. 25.94 Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd v Australian Federation of Air Pilots [1991] 1 VR 637; (1989) 95 ALR 211 …. 24.2, 24.5, 24.56, 24.69, 24.70, 24.82 Archer v Brown [1985] QB 401 …. 19.84, 19.89 Argent Pty Ltd v Huxley [1971] Qd R 331 …. 17.4 Argentine, The (1889) 14 App Cas 519 …. 15.49 Armory v Delamirie (1722) 1 Stra 505; 93 ER 664 …. 5.38, 5.93, 6.45 Armstrong v Sheppard & Short Ltd [1959] 2 QB 384 …. 4.68 — v Strain [1952] 1 KB 232 …. 19.77, 20.55 Arthur J S Hall & Co (a firm) v Simons [2002] 1 AC 615; [2000] 3 All ER 673 …. 9.113, 9.114 Arthur Robinson (Grafton) Pty Ltd v Carter (1968) 122 CLR 649 …. 15.54, 15.87, 15.152 AS v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2014] VSC 593 …. 9.84 Ascic v Westel Cooperative Ltd (1992) Aust Torts Reports ¶81-159 …. 11.79, 15.79 Ashby v Tolhurst [1937] 2 KB 242 …. 6.46 — v White (1704) 14 St Tr 695; 92 ER 710 …. 18.51 Associated Midland Corporation Ltd v Bank of New South Wales [1983] 1 NSWLR 533 …. 5.88 Associated Newspapers plc v Insert Media Ltd [1991] 1 WLR 571 …. 24.33 Astley v Austrust Ltd (1999) 197 CLR 1; 161 ALR 155 …. 1.29, 9.91, 13.6 Atkinson v Newcastle and Gateshead Waterworks Co (1877) LR 2 Ex D 441 …. 18.10, 18.13 Atlas Tiles Ltd v Briers (1978) 144 CLR 202; 21 ALR 129 …. 15.68, 15.150 Attia v British Gas plc [1988] QB 304 …. 10.41 Attorney-General v Great Cobar Copper Mining Co (1900) 21 NSWR 351 …. 4.18 — v Nottingham Corporation [1904] 1 Ch 673 …. 15.9 — v PYA Quarries Ltd [1957] 2 QB 169 …. 25.78, 25.85, 25.86, 25.87, 25.93 — v Wilson & Horton Ltd [1973] 2 NZLR 238 …. 17.7, 17.8 Attorney-General (NSW) v Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd (1952) 85 CLR 237 …. 17.21 — v — [1955] AC 457 …. 17.4 Attorney-General; Ex rel Pratt v Brisbane City Council [1988] 1 Qd R 346 …. 25.79 .au Domain Administration Ltd v Domain Names Australia Pty Ltd (2004) 207 ALR 521; 61 IPR 81; [2004] FCA 424 …. 24.35, 24.36 Attwells v Jackson Lalic Lawyers Pty Ltd (2016) 331 ALR 1 …. 9.115 Aussie Traveller Pty Ltd v Marklea Pty Ltd [1998] 1 Qd R 1 …. 25.13 Austin v Mirror Newspapers Ltd [1986] AC 299; (1985) 63 ALR 149 …. 23.83 Austral Bronze Co Pty Ltd v Ajaka (1970) 44 ALJR 155 …. 18.32 Austral Pacific Group Ltd (in liq) v Airservices Australia (2000) 203 CLR 136; 173 ALR 619 …. 21.19 Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd v Hunter BNZ Finance Ltd [1991] 2 VR 407 …. 5.75, 5.78 Australian Broadcasting Corp v Chatterton (1986) 46 SASR 1 …. 23.20 — v Comalco Ltd (1986) 68 ALR 259 …. 23.83, 23.125, 23.130 — v Hanson [1998] QCA 306 …. 22.69