The scope of equitable contribution in Australian law

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Law.NO FULL TEXT AVAILABLE. Access is restricted indefinitely. The hardcopy may be available for consultation at the UTS Library.NO FULL TEXT AVAILABLE. Access is restricted indefinitely. ----- This thesis examines the theoretical basis for, and scope of, the doctrine of equitable contribution under Australian law. The examination commences with a historical analysis of the development of the right to contribution in the Court of Chancery. This is compared with the right as it developed at common law as an action for money paid. The historical study clarifies the scope of the doctrine in equity and gives context and meaning to important concepts and principles applied in contemporary contribution law in Australia. The common thread across the variety of cases in which contribution has been granted in equity is a pre-existing equality between the parties in the nature of their relationship, shared liability or duty, or common exposure to risk, or other community of interest with respect to the liability incurred by the plaintiff. This thesis concludes that whilst in most cases a shared liability to the same third party founds the right to contribution, this is not an essential requirement of the right in equity. The thesis studies various tests for the availability of contribution, tracing them to their original context, and suggests that there are differences in meaning between some tests which should be recognized so as to assist in the classification of different types of contribution in equity. The modem application of the doctrine of equitable contribution in Australia between mixed concurrent wrongdoers is then examined. The principles which have been applied in these cases are compared with the findings of the historical analysis. The pressure for reform to accommodate contribution claims in this context is also studied and the role of equity to assist in such cases is compared with the statutory schemes for contribution between mixed concurrent wrongdoers which have been introduced in some jurisdictions. The thesis also examines the modem restitutionary analysis of the doctrine of equitable contribution. It examines restitution's focus upon the presence of an 'unjust enrichment' to the defendant in the form of the discharge of the defendant's liability by the plaintiff and considers examples of the application of contribution in equity which do not arise from an unjust enrichment to the defendant in this form. The thesis concludes that a restitutionary analysis is unnecessary to clarify existing equitable principles and has the potential to distort the application of the equitable doctrine if it restricts availability of contribution to cases in which the defendant has been unjustly enriched through the discharge of a legal liability by the plaintiffs payment