As at 1 July 2010
Reprint history:
Reprint No 1
25 June 1981
Reprint No 2
12 November 2002
Long Title
An Act to amend the law relating to frustrated contracts.
Part 1 – Preliminary
1 Name of Act
This Act may be cited as the Frustrated Contracts Act 1978.
2 Commencement
(1) This section and section 1 shall commence on the date of assent to this Act.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (1), this Act shall commence on such day as may be appointed by the Governor in respect thereof and as may be notified by proclamation published in the Gazette.
4 Act binds the Crown
This Act binds the Crown, not only in right of New South Wales but also, so far as the legislative power of Parliament permits, the Crown in all its other capacities.
5 Interpretation
(1) In this Act, except to the extent that the context or subject-matter otherwise indicates or requires:"agreed return", in relation to performance of a contract by a party, means such performance of the contract by another party as is contemplated by the contract as consideration for the first-mentioned performance."court", in relation to any matter, means the court or arbitrator before whom the matter falls to be determined."frustration" includes avoidance of an agreement under section 12 of the Sale of Goods Act 1923."party" includes the assigns of a party."performance", in relation to a contract, means:
(a) performance, wholly or in part, of a promise in the contract, or
(b) fulfilment, wholly or in part, of a condition of or in the contract.
(2) Where performance of a contract is referred to in a provision of this Act:
(a) a reference in the provision to the performing party is a reference to the party to the contract by whom the performance was, or was intended to be, given, and
(b) a reference in the provision to the other party to the contract is a reference to the party by whom performance of the contract is contemplated by