Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v FFE Building Services Ltd [2003] FCAFC 132

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION & CONSUMER COMMISSION v FFE BUILDING SERVICES LTD [2003] FCAFC 132

PRACTICE & PROCEDURE – privilege against exposure to penalty – whether order requiring provision of statements of evidence prior to trial would infringe privilege – where corporate and individual respondents – where conflicting authority between Federal Court and Victorian Court of Appeal

Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 45, 76, 77, Pt VC, Pt VI Excise Act 1901 (Cth)

ASIC v ABC Fund Managers Ltd [2001] VSC 92 cited ASIC v Rich [2003] NSWSC 328 considered Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Amcor Printing Papers Group Ltd (1999) 163 ALR 465 followed Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v FFE Building Services Ltd [2003] FCA 157 affirmed Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v J McPhee & Son (Australia) Pty Ltd (1997) 77 FCR 217 cited Australian Securities Commission v Marlborough Gold Mines Ltd (1993) 177 CLR 485 cited Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Plymin (2002) 4 VR 168 cited Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 192 ALR 561 cited Ganin v NSW Crime Commission (1993) 32 NSWLR 423 cited Pyneboard Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1983) 152 CLR 328 cited Refrigerated Express Lines (A/Asia) Pty Ltd v Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation (1979) 42 FLR 208 cited Registrar, Court of Appeal (NSW) v Craven (1994) 126 ALR 663 cited Reid v Howard (1995) 184 CLR 1 cited Sidebottom v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2003) 52 ATR 184 not followed Sorby v Commonwealth of Australia (1983) 152 CLR 281 cited Trade Practices Commission v Abbco Iceworks Pty Ltd (1994) 52 FCR 96 cited AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION & CONSUMER COMMISSION v FFE BUILDING SERVICES LTD (FORMERLY CHUBB BUILDING SERVICES LTD) (FORMERLY JAMES HARDIE BUILDING SERVICES P/L) t/as FIRE FIGHTING ENTERPRISES ACN 000 067 541, TYCO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD (FORMERLY WORMALD AUSTRALIA PTY LTD) t/as WORMALD FIRE SYSTEMS ACN 008 399 004, PREMIER FIRE PROTECTION (NSW) PTY LTD (DEREGISTERED) ACN 067 652 895, METROPOLITAN FIRE SYSTEMS PTY LTD ACN 061 519 471, ALLEN EDWARD SMITH, COLIN SIMPSON, VITO FODERA, JAMES BELL, ALLAN CARR, MITCHELL GRICE AND BILL LAWSON N440 OF 2003 EMMETT, HELY & JACOBSON JJ 16 JUNE 2003 SYDNEY