Griffin v Pantzer [2004] FCAFC 113

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Griffin v Pantzer [2004] FCAFC 113

BANKRUPTCY – production of documents to trustee –where documents subject to claim for privilege against self-incrimination – whether privilege abrogated by provisions of Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) – extent of abrogation. PRACTICE & PROCEDURE – privilege against self-incrimination – whether production of the documents to trustee in bankruptcy abrogates privilege – whether the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), s.128, applies to the examination under the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), s. 81.

1825 Bankruptcy Act (6 Geo 4 c 16) ss 12, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 36 Bankrupt Law Consolidation Act 1849 (12 & 13 Vict c 106)ss105, 117, 118, 120 Bankruptcy Act 1869 (32 & 33 Vict c 71) ss 19, 22, 86, 96, 97 Bankruptcy Act 1883 (46 & 47 Vict c 52) ss 5, 9, 15, 16, 17, 20, 24, 25, 27 Bankruptcy Act 1914 (4 & 5 Geo 5 c 59) ss 3, 7, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 25, 154 Bankruptcy Act 1924 (Cth) ss 54, 60, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 76, 77, 80, 210 Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), ss 19AA, 58, 77, 77A, 77C, 78, 81, 129, 130, 178, 265, 265A, 267B, 267E, 267F, 267G Corporations Law, s 596B Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), s 128 Insolvency Act 1871 (Vict) Insolvency Act 1897 (Vict) s 91 Insolvency Act 1915 (Vict) s 226 Insolvent Act 1886 (SA) s 310 Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1990 (Cth) ss 14, 15 Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596 cited Arthur v Bokenham 11 Mod 148; 88 ER 957 referred to Baker v Campbell (1983) 153 CLR 52 cited Beckham v Drake (1849) 2 HL Cas 579 cited Bishop of London v Fytche (1781) 1 Bro CC 96 cited Bishopsgate Investment Ltd v Maxwell [1993] Ch 1 cited Blunt v Park Lane Hotel [1942] 2 KB 253 cited Bropho v Western Australia (1990) 171 CLR 1 cited Brown v Walker 161 US 591 (1896) cited Carmody v Mackellar (1997) 148 ALR 210 cited Cartwright v Green (1803) 8 Ves 405 referred to Cheney v Spooner (1929) 41 CLR 532 cited CIC Insurance Limited v Bankstown Football Club Limited (1995) 187 CLR 384 cited Claridge v Hoare (1807) 14 Ves Jun 59 cited Coco v The Queen (1993) 179 CLR 427 followed Commissioner of Australian Federal Police v Propend Finance Pty Limited (1996) 188 CLR 501 cited Controlled Consultants Pty Ltd v Commissioner for Corporate Affairs (1984) 156 CLR 385 cited Cummings v Claremont Petroleum NL (1996) 185 CLR 124 cited Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v ACCC [2002] HCA 49; 192 ALR 561 followed Davies v The English, Scottish and Australian Bank (1934) 7 ABC 210 cited Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Currockbilly Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 1061 cited Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Refining Co Pty Limited (1993) 178 CLR 477 cited Ex parte Best (1881) 18 Ch D 488 cited Ex parte Hollender [1883] WN 186 cited Ex parte Milne; In re Denton (1873) 28 LTNS 175 cited Ex parte Schofield; In re Firth (1877) 6 Ch D 230 discussed Ex parte Symes (1805) 11 Ves 521 cited Fiorentino v Irons (1997) 79 FCR 327 cited Friedrich v Herald & Weekly Times (1989) 1 ACSR 277 cited Hammond v The Commonwealth (1982) 152 CLR 188 cited Harbert's Case (1584) 3 Co Rep 11b; 76 ER 647referred to In re a Solicitor (1890) 25 QBD 17 followed In re Atherton [1912] 2 KB 251 referred to In re Beall [1894] 2 QB 135 referred to In re Cronmire; Ex parte Cronmire [1894] 2 QB 246 referred to In re Fuller 262 US 91 (1923) cited In re Jawett [1929] 1 Ch 108 referred to In Re Paget; Ex parte Official Receiver [1927] 2 Ch 85 approved In re Standard Gold Mining Co [1895] 2 Ch 545 cited In re Wagner [1958] QWN 49 referred to Johnson v United States 228 US 457 (1913) cited Karounos v Official Trustee (1988) 80 ALR 626 cited Lamb v Munster (1882) 10 QBD 110 cited Mortimer v Brown (1969) 122 CLR 493 cited Network Ten Pty Limited v TCN Channel Nine Pty Limited [2004] HCA 14 cited Newcastle City Council v GIO General Limited (1997) 191 CLR 85 cited Oliver v Haywood (1792) 1 Anst 82cited Parkhurst v Lowten (1819) 2 Swans 194; 26 ER 589 cited Paxton v Douglas (1812) 19 Ves Jun 225 cited Plaintiff S157/2002 v Commonwealth of Australia [2003] HCA 2; 195 ALR 24 referred to Police Service Board v Morris & Martin (1985) 156 CLR 397 cited Potter v Minahan (1908) 7 CLR 277 discussed Pyneboard Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1983) 152 CLR 328applied R v Erdheim [1896] 2 QB 260 discussed R v Scott (1856) Dears & Bell 47; 169 ER 909 followed R v Zion [1986] VR 609 cited Re Aarons (1880) 6 VLR (L) 56 cited Re Andrews (1958) 18 ABC 181 cited Re Appleton, French & Scrafton Ltd [1905] 1 Ch 749 cited Re Auto Import Co (Australia) Ltd (1925) 25 SR (NSW) 587 cited Re Bolton; Ex parte Beane (1987) 162 CLR 514 cited Re Bond; Ex parte Ramsay (1994) 54 FCR 394 referred to Re Burns Philp Trustee Co Ltd (in liq) (No2) (1992) 29 NSWLR 713 cited Re Clyne; Ex parte Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (1986) 15 FCR 128 followed Re Csidei; Ex parte Andrew (1979) 28 ALR 381 cited Re Gordon (1988) 80 ALR 289 referred to Re Harris 221 US 274 (1911) referred to Re Heath (1833) 2 Deac & Ch 214 discussed Re Hickman (1909) 15 Argus LR (CN) 21 cited Re HJ Price (No 4) (1948) 14 ABC 142 cited Re Interchase Corporation Ltd (1996) 68 FCR 481 disapproved Re Jacka; Ex parte Jacka (1986) 66 ALR 564 cited Re Kirby and Thomas; Ex parte Kirby (1829) Mont & M 212 discussed Re Lawrence (1870) 22 LTNS 246 cited Re Oliver; Ex parte Oliver (1813) 1 Rose 407 cited Re Royal Commission; A Brisbane Hotel (No 2) [1964] QWN 29 cited Re Schaumann (1909) 26 WN (NSW) 2 cited Re Smith (1833) 2 Deac & Ch 230 discussed Re Weiss; Ex parte The Official Trustee; Clyne v The Official Trustee (1983) 74 FLR 259 referred to Re Worrall; Ex parte Cossens (1820) Buck 531 followed Redfern v Redfern [1891] P 139 cited Rees v Kratzmann (1965) 114 CLR 63 followed Reid v Howard (1995) 184 CLR 1 referred to Rio Tinto Zinc Corporation v Westinghouse Electric Corporation [1978] AC 547 cited Rose v Buckett [1901] 2 KB 449 cited Smith v Read (1737) 1 Atk 526 cited Sorby v The Commonwealth(1983) 152 CLR 281 referred to The King v Associated Northern Collieries (1910) 11 CLR 738 referred to The Queen v West (1971) 18 FLR 333 referred to US v Fisher 2 Cranch 358 (1804) referred to Federal Bankruptcy Law and Practice (Butterworth, 1928) Halsbury's Laws of England (2nd Ed), Vol 2 Phipson on Evidence (8th Ed, 1942) Ringwood's Bankruptcy Law (5th Ed, 1927) Heydon Cross on Evidence (5th Aust Ed) Holdsworth A History of English Law (3rd Ed, 1944) Keay "Bankruptcy Examinations under s 81 of the Bankruptcy Act" (1992-93) 17 Uni Qld LJ 35. McCormick Evidence (3rd Ed) McNicol Law of Privilege (LBC 1992) Wigmore Evidence 1961, Vol 8 Williams The Law and Practice of Bankruptcy (2nd Ed, 1876) Final Report of the Australian Law Reform Commission Report on Evidence (No 38) DAVID JAMES GRIFFIN v WARREN PANTZER (AS TRUSTEE OF THE BANKRUPT ESTATE OF DAVID JAMES GRIFFIN N 822 of 2003 RYAN, HEEREY & ALLSOP JJ 11 MAY 2004 SYDNEY