Towney, David v Minister for Land & Water Conservation for the State of NSW & Ors [1997] FCA 656

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA EVIDENCE - client legal privilege - application for inspection of subpoenaed documents relating to the preparation of expert anthropological reports filed in native title proceedings - whether privilege lost - whether the test stated in the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) applies or whether the common law principles concerning implied waiver apply - whether inspection of documents reasonably necessary to enable a proper understanding of the expert reports, within s 126 of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth).

WORDS AND PHRASES - Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), s 126 - "reasonably necessary" - "proper understanding". Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), ss 117(1), 118, 119, 122, 126. Australian Law Reform Commission, Evidence (Report No 26 (Interim), August 1985). Australian Law Reform Commission, Evidence (Report No 38 (Final), June 1985). Attorney-General for the Northern Territory v Maurice (1986) 161 CLR 475, considered. Goldberg v Ng (1995) 185 CLR 83, cited. Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674, cited. General Accident Corp v Tanter [1984] 1 WLR 100, cited. Telstra Corporation Ltd v Australis Media Holdings Pty Ltd, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Equity Division, McLelland CJ in Eq, 20 February 1997, unreported, followed. Telstra Corporation Ltd v Australis Media Holdings Pty Ltd, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Equity Division, McLelland CJ in Eq, 26 February 1997, unreported, cited. Trade Practices Commission v Port Adelaide Wool Co Pty Ltd (1995) 60 FCR 366, followed. Buttes Gas and Oil Co v Hammer (No 3) [1981] 1 QB 223, cited. Infields Ltd v P Rosen & Son [1938] 3 All ER 591, cited. TOWNEY v MINISTER FOR LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FOR THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES & ORS NG 6001 of 1995

SACKVILLE J SYDNEY 23 JULY 1997

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ) ) NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY ) NG 6001 of 1995 ) GENERAL DIVISION )