“Understandably, the ruling of Acting Judge Tim Owen QC of Matrix Chambers handed down this morning is not the outcome that the Government had hoped for.

“While the Court determined that the Referendum Law was incompatible with section 70 of the Constitution, the question of the appropriate relief to be granted is still outstanding. We understand that it will take some time before an order on this issue is made.

“Pending the Court’s final order, aside from the immediate issue of an appeal, the Government will take time to consider its next steps regarding the port project, and will issue another statement in due course.”

END

This follows on from Wednesday, after Justice Tim Owen QC allowed Shirley Roulstone’s judicial challenge to the government’s referendum law for the port. He said the law drawn up by government was, as argued, unconstitutional. Owen also ordered government to pay $66,000 to Roulstone in legal costs. However, he also granted government leave to appeal the ruling.