Melbourne Office - PO Box 452, COLLINS STREET WEST VIC 8007 AUSTRALIA
Sydney Office - GPO Box 2506, SYDNEY NSW 2001 AUSTRALIA
Telephone: Melbourne Office - +61 3 9629 3709 Sydney Office - +61 2 9233 2600
Facsimile: Melbourne Office - +61 3 9629 3217 Sydney Office - +61 2 9233 3044
Email:adr@arbitrator.com.au Internet:http://www.arbitrator.com.au

User Tools

Site Tools


Sidebar

Technology Arbitrators, Expert Determiners and Mediators

proportionateliability

Is it possible to contract out of the proportionate liability legislation?

  • It depends on the contract and the jurisdiction.
  • Tasmania, New South Wales and Western Australia include a contracting out provision.
  • There is no express provision, either way, as to contracting out in the proportionate liability legislation introduced in the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, South Australia or Victoria, nor in respect of the Commonwealth provisions contained in the Trade Practices Act 1974.
  • Contracting out is prohibited in Queensland, see the Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld), s7(3).
  • In most cases where proportionate liability legislation applies, in order for a claimant to recover 100 per cent of the claimant's loss, the claimant must sue each and every wrongdoer who contributed to that loss.
  • No wrongdoer is liable to the claimant for more than that wrongdoer's share of responsibility for the loss.
  • The following clause was sufficient to contract out. Aquagenics Pty Ltd v Break O'Day Council1)
    • Approval to subcontract shall not relieve the Contractor from any liability or obligation under the Contract.
    • Except where the Contract otherwise provides, the Contractor shall be liable to the Principal for the acts and omissions of subcontractors and employees and agents of subcontractors as if they were acts or omissions of the Contractor.
  • In Curtin University of Technology v Woods Bagot Pty Ltd 2) the Court found that the legislation did not apply to arbitration unless they contractually agreed to do so.

Proportionate Liability Legislative Provisions of Interest for Arbitration

Proportionate Liability Cases of Interest for Arbitration

1) , 4) [2010] TASFC 3
2) [2012] WASC 449
3) [2013] HCA 10
5) [2009] VSCA 245

  © White SW Computer Law 1994-2019. ABN 94 669 684 644. All Rights Reserved.
  Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
  This website is a guide only and should not be used as a substitute for proper legal advice.
  Readers should make their own enquiries and seek appropriate legal advice.
  For legal advice please email wcl@computerlaw.com.au