Void Contracts
Void contracts are basically those which contravene a provision in a statute or are contrary to public policy at
common law but to which the ex turpi causa principle does not apply.
Void by Statute
A statute may declare expressly that a particular contract is void, eg s 45 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 which
provides that clauses purporting to exclude, restrict, or modify the liability of a corporation imposed by Division 2
Part V of the Act (that is the implication of terms such as an implied condition of merchantability and of fitness for
purpose) are void. The effect is a question of statutory interpretation.
Restraint on Trade
A restraint on trade is a promise by one party, the covenantor, to give up a freedom that he would otherwise enjoy in
relation to his or her trade, for the benefit of another party, the covenantee: Amoco Aust v Rocca Bros Motor
Engineering Co.
Trading activities will include employment, operating a business and restrictive practices such as agreeing to obtain
supplies exclusively from one supplier for a lengthy period of time.
While prima facie all restraints of trade are void, a restraint is valid if it can be shown to be reasonable in the
interests of (Nordenfelt v Maxim Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition):
1. the parties; and
2. the public.
The onus is on the covenantee to show the restraint is reasonable in the interests of the parties. If successful, it will
shift to the covenantor to show that it is unreasonable in the interest of the public: Amoco Aust v Rocca Bros Motor
Engineering Co.
The validity of a restraint must be decided as at the date of the agreement: Lindner v Murdock's Garage.
Whether an interest is legitimate will depend on the nature of the contract eg the covenantee’s interest to protect the
goodwill of a business from competition by the seller (Butt v Long) cf the prevention of a competitor from the
purchase of similar equipment form the same supplier (ICT v Sea Containers).
Whether the restraint does no more than provide adequate protection of the covenantee’s legitimate interest depends
upon the balancing of a number of relevant factors:
• The scope of the restraint, in terms of both area and duration. The wider and longer the restraint, the more
likely it will be unreasonable: Butt v Long.
• The activities covered by the restraint. If the restraint purports to restrict activities that are unrelated to the
covenantee’s legitimate interest, the more likely it will be unreasonable: Nordenfelt v Maxim Nordenfelt
Guns and Ammunition.
• The relative bargaining power of the parties. Relevant, not conclusive, if the covenantee is in a stronger
position than the covenantor: A Schroeder Music Publishing Co v Macauley. The court may be willing to
show more latitude if the parties are on equal footing: Amoco Aust v Rocca Bros Motor Engineering Co.
• The consideration paid in exchange for the restraint. The restraint allowed may be greater where the
covenantor has received large consideration: Nordenfelt v Maxim Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition.
• The context of the contract. Setting may be relevant eg restraint upheld where inserted into a partnership
agreement between two solicitors: Bridge v Deacons.
Master and Servant
Interests which the master is entitled to protect are his/her trade secrets, including secret manufacturing processes
(Foster Ltd v Suggett) and his/her business connections, if any, of which the servant has knowledge: Herbert Morris
Ltd v Saxelby.
General skill and knowledge that an employee obtains in the course of employment does not qualify as ‘trade
secrets: Drake Personnel v Beddison.
An agreement between employers restricting the employment of each other's former employees may be void: Kores
Co. Ltd v Kolok Co Ltd.
Sale of Business
Restraints are more readily upheld as ti allows the vendor to obtain full value for the business bing purchased and
enables the purchaser to obtain exactly what he or she is bargaining for: Esso Petroleum v Harpers Garage. will be
judged strictly in relation to duration.
The purchaser is only entitled to protect the business bought: Nordenfelt v Maxim Nordenfelt Guns Ltd
Factors such as length and an obligation to purchase minimum quantities regardless of market condition may render
an exclusive dealing arrangement unreasonable: Qld Cooperative Milling Association v Pamag.
Statute
Section 45 of the TPA prohibits corporations from entering into or giving effect to any contract arrangement or
understanding which is an exclusionary provision or which has the purpose or would likely to have the effect of
substantially lessening competition. Section 51(2) contains exception to s 45 providing that a restraint of trade
provision will not breach s 45 unless it is an unreasonable restraint of trade at law. Specifically:
• A provision in a contract of service or for services restricting the work in which a person may engage during
or after termination
• A provision in a contract of partnership relating to competition between the partnership and a partner before
or after cessation of the partnership; and
• A provision in a contract for thee sale of a business that is solely for the protection of the purchaser in
respect of the goodwill of a business.
However, parties are entitled to agree that any dispute arising between them may be settled by a particular person or
body, provided that recourse to the courts remains open for determination of questions of law eg third party
arbitration: Scott v Avery; s10(1) Arbitration Act 1973.
This is a policy head of diminishing significance due to changes in society’s attitude to marriage. Pursuant to the
Family Law Act 1975 prenuptial agreements can be binding.
Illegal Contracts
Illegal contracts are those to which the ex turpi causa principle applies. This may occur where the contract is
expressly or impliedly prohibited by statute, or where there is a contravention of public policy at common law
where the contract is for an illegal or immoral purpose.
Formed vs Performed
If there was a way in which the contract could have been performed without infringing the prohibition the contract
will be illegal as performed. If not, it will be illegal as formed.
Illegal by Statute
Express Prohibition
A contract may be expressly prohibited by statute as formed or performed eg. “contracts entered into for the capture
of stray dogs are prohibited in the absence of the catcher possessing a current licence”: Re Mahmoud and Ispahani.
Implied Prohibition
In some cases, although the statute does not expressly prohibit a contract, a court may be prepared to hold that by its
terms the statute impliedly prohibits the contract, as formed or performed.
The old fixed list of “heads” may now serve as useful examples of cases held to be immoral or illegal and therefore
contravene public policy.
Where the offence is of a public nature, the public has an interest in seeing it prosecuted eg a contract to provide
compensation for any harm done to a victim by the accused will be regarded as contrary to public policy. Where the
offence is of a private nature a valid contract may be made for compensation in return for the victim not to purse any
prosecution of the offence: Kerridge v Simmonds.
Effect of Illegality
Ex turpi causa principle
Where a contract is illegal by statute or at common law the ex turpi causa rule applies. The contract is wholly void
and neither party can enforce it. Therefore, neither party can claim, eg damages, amounts due under the contract,
specific performance, injunction.
Title of goods delivered or money paid may pass under a contract notwithstanding any illegality: Taylor v Chester.
Where a transaction is illegal, the rights of a person who is not a party to the illegal contract is not effected by the
illegality unless they are a knowing participant in it: Cannon b Bryce. However, a person who has rendered services
under an illegal contract, may be able to recover a quantum meruit for those services: Clay v Yats.
Exceptions
In Nelson v Nelson per McHugh J; Fitzgerald v F J Leonhardt Pty Ltd per McHugh, Gummow J and Kirby J four
exceptions to the general rule were approved where the parties were not equally at fault (in pari delicto).
If the contract is ex facie unlawful it will be illegal as formed and both parties will be seen to have shared the
intention to break the law. If the contract is ex facie lawful and legal as performed and one party is ignorant of the
illegality (did not know and should not have known of illegality), that party will be able to claim a remedy as usual.
Mistake
A similar position applies as to that of ignorance.
Where the party repents before performance has taken place (Payne v McDonald) or where partial performance has
taken place but he illegal purpose is still wholly executory (Clegg v Wilson) the party will have contractual relief.
Severance
In appropriate circumstances, an illegal or void part of a contract may be severed by taking out the objectionable
part enabling that which remains to be enforced. There are three main forms of severance: