A Supreme Court judge says communities in the Torres Strait have better things to spend money on than mounting legal costs between the council and a major shipping company.
A series of invoices the Torres Strait Island Regional Council sent to one of northern Australia's major shipping operators, totalling more than $66 million, have been found to be invalid.
Supreme Court Justice Peter Applegarth on Monday found the fees were "not a charge for a service or facility" as authorised by the Local Government Act, and were issued beyond the council's power. In urging the parties to enter mediation, Justice Applegarth said the "costs to date … must be enormous".The book of documents tendered to the Supreme Court exceeded 9,000 pages, including more than 150 pages of written legal submissions.
In his 42-page judgement, Justice Applegarth said the funder was "not supporting TSIRC's litigation as an act of charity or out of love for the people of the Torres Strait" whom he noted were "among the financially poorest people in our state".
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dan Evans fights hard but unable to stop supreme Carlos Alcaraz at US OpenThe world No 1, Carlos Alcaraz, beat Britain’s Dan Evans 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to reach the fourth round of the US Open
Read more »
Football boss releases dramatic statement as Spanish sports court begins probe into controversial WC kissSpanish boss releases dramatic statement as court begins probe into controversial WC kiss
Read more »
The expensive brain scans that landed an AFL player agent in court“The AFL scan that I undertook said I had little or no structural damage. The MEG scan confirmed I had 42 points of damage to my brain,” says Peter Jess.
Read more »
Democracy on trial: millions taken to court to keep opposition busyWith an election on the way, thousands of political leaders, members and supporters of opposition parties stand before a judge nearly every day in Bangladesh.
Read more »
Democracy on trial: millions taken to court to keep opposition busyWith an election on the way, thousands of political leaders, members and supporters of opposition parties stand before a judge nearly every day in Bangladesh.
Read more »
Driver charged over crash that killed siblings in Sydney ‘extremely upset’ over deaths, court toldJohnson Kokozian is denied bail after being charged over a crash in Sydney's south-west that killed a brother and sister.
Read more »