Westpac Banking Corporation & Anor v. Lenthall & Ors

Lower Court Judgment

1/03/2019 Federal Court of Australia (Allsop CJ, Middleton J, Robertson J)

[2019] FCAFC 34

Catchwords

Constitutional law – Separation of powers – Principle of legality – Acquisition on just terms – Where representative proceeding under Part IVA of Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) – Where primary judge determined making of common fund order appropriate to do justice in proceedings – Whether Full Court erred in holding that properly construed s 33ZF of Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) (“FCAA”) empowers court to make common fund order – Whether Full Court erred in holding that s 33ZF permitted creation of right in litigation funder to share of any settlement or judgment in favour of a group member – Whether Full Court erred in holding principle of legality does not apply because common fund order "supports and fructifies" rather than diminishes rights of group members – Whether Full Court erred in holding as matter of construction and notwithstanding Anthony Hordern principle s33ZF supported making of common fund order – Whether Full Court erred in holding s 33ZF conferred judicial power or power incidental to the exercise of judicial power on court – Whether Full Court erred in holding neither s 33ZF nor common fund order resulted in acquisition of property for purposes of s 51(xxxi) of Constitution – Whether Full Court erred in holding if s 33ZF is law with respect to acquisition of property it is not invalid because appellants failed to demonstrate group members would not receive pecuniary equivalent of property acquired.