Matthews v SPI Electricity Pty Ltd

In approving the settlement of the Black Saturday (Kilmore East) bushfire group proceeding under Part 4A of the Supreme Court Act 1986 (Vic), the Court held that a class-action settlement (here approximately $494-500 million) and the associated litigation-funding and costs arrangements must be fair and reasonable as between the parties and, in particular, as among the group members, before judicial approval can be given.