BT (Australasia) Pty Ltd v State of New South Wales (No 7) [1998] FCA 294

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

EVIDENCE - client legal privilege - loss of privilege - whether holder of privilege has put in issue the legal advice received - effect of Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) on common law principles governing loss of client legal privilege - whether implied consent to disclosure of privileged communications - whether substance of privileged communication has been disclosed. Evidence Act 1995(Cth) ss 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 126, Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd v Spalvins, 2 March 1998, unreported (FCA/FC), followed. Ampolex v Perpetual Trustee Co (Canberra) Ltd (1995) 37 NSWLR 405 (S Ct NSW/Giles CJ Comm D), cited. Ampolex v Perpetual Trustee Co (Canberra) Ltd (1996) 40 NSWLR 12 (S Ct NSW/Rolfe J), followed. Ampolex v Perpetual Trustee Co (Canberra) Ltd (1996) 70 ALJR 603 (Kirby J), cited. Attorney-General for the Northern Territory v Maurice (1986) 161 CLR 475, cited. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd, 18 March 1998, unreported (FCA/Goldberg J), cited. Benecke v National Australia Bank Ltd (1993) 35 NSWLR 109 (NSW CA), cited. Goldberg v Ng (1995) 185 CLR 83, cited. Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674, cited. Hongkong Bank of Australia Ltd v Murphy [1993] 2 VR 419 (S Ct Vic/Smith J), discussed. Kershaw v Whelan [1996] 1 WLR 358 (QBD), cited. Lillicrap v Nalder & Son [1993] 1 WLR 94 (CA), cited. Nederlandse Reassurantie Groep Holding NV v Bacon & Woodrow [1995] 1 All ER 976 (QBD), cited. Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc v The Home Indemnity Company 32 F 3d 851 (3rd Cir. 1994), cited. Thomason v Council of the Municipality of Campbelltown (1939) 39 SR (NSW) 347 (S Ct NSW/FC), discussed.

BT AUSTRALASIA PTY LTD V STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED NG 572 OF 1997 JUDGMENT NO 7 SACKVILLE J SYDNEY 1 APRIL 1998

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA