Cascade Coal Pty Limited & Ors v. The State of New South Wales

Catchwords

Constitutional law – Chapter III – Judicial power – Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) commenced public inquiry styled “Operation Acacia” investigating the application and allocation of mining lease – ICAC commenced second public inquiry styled “Operation Jasper” investigating, amongst other things, decision of Minister for Mineral Resources to open mining area for coal exploration and award mining licences – Both inquiries produced reports which recommended Parliament pass special legislation to expunge or cancel authorities granted under Mining Act 1992 (NSW) (“Mining Act”) – Mining Amendment (Operations Jasper and Acacia) Act 2014 (NSW) inserted Sch 6A into Mining Act – Whether cl 1 to 13 of Sch 6A of Act are invalid because they constitute exercise of judicial power and Parliament of NSW may not exercise judicial power.
Constitutional law – Commonwealth Constitution, s 109 – Inconsistency between Commonwealth law and State law – Cl 11 of Sch 6A of Mining Act authorises appropriate official to publish or reproduce literary or artistic works in which plaintiffs hold copyright – Whether cl 11 of Sch 6A of Mining Act inconsistent with Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).

Short Particulars