Esso Australia Resources Ltd v The Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia [1997] FCA 1332

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA DISCOVERY AND INTERROGATORIES - Discovery and inspection of documents - client legal privilege - effect of ss 118 and 119 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) on pre-trial processes - whether test for privilege in discovery proceedings is "dominant purpose" test or "sole purpose" test - whether Court can refuse to order production of documents on basis that they could not be admitted at trial.

Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) - ss 118 and 119 Federal Court Rules - O 15 r 15

Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674 - applied Telstra Corporation v Australis Media Holdings Limited and Ors (1997) 41 NSWLR 277 - not followed Towney v The Minister for Land and Water Conservation for New South Wales and Ors (1997) 147 ALR 402 - not followed Abigroup Ltd v Akins and Ors (Bainton J, unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Commercial Division, 2 October 1997) - considered Zemanek v The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Hill J, unreported, Federal Court of Australia, 2 October 1997) - considered Commonwealth of Australia v Northern Land Council (1991) 30 FCR 1 - considered Trade Practices Commission v CC (NSW) Pty Limited (No 4) (1995) 58 FCR 426 - considered Compagnie Financiere et Commerciale du Pacifique v Peruvian Guano Company (1882) 11 QBD 55 - considered Attorney-General (NT) v Maurice (1986) 161 CLR 475 - considered Trade Practices Commission v Port Adelaide Wool Company Pty Limited and Anor (1995) 60 FCR 366 - not followed BT Australasia Pty Limited v State of New South Wales and Ors (1996) 140 ALR 268 - not followed Sparnon v Apand Pty Limited (1996) 68 FCR 322 - not followed Meltend Pty Limited and Anor v Restoration Clinics of Australia Pty Limited and Ors (1997) 145 ALR 391 - considered ESSO AUSTRALIA RESOURCES LIMITED v THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA